Mar 16, 2016 | Uncategorized
As part of its “Strengthening Oversight and Building Capacities for Small Arms Control and Nonproliferation in the Private Security Sector” project, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in partnership with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF), conducted an international seminar on good practices and international experiences in the private security sector on 16 March 2016 in Lima, Peru.
This seminar marks the successful completion of phase one of this joint project which commenced in June 2015 and is being implemented in both El Salvador and Peru in collaboration with the respective national authorities – the national directorate for the control of security services, firearms, ammunition and explosives (SUCAMEC) in Peru and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence in El Salvador.
During this seminar, UNLIREC and DCAF presented the project`s achievements in the two countries, including: small arms and ammunition inventory management training for more than 40 private security companies; assessments of eight private security companies aimed at providing technical recommendations on stockpile management and physical security measures; and secondary marking with laser technology of more than 1000 firearms. All of these activities – in line with the United Nations International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG) – have contributed to improvements in the private security companies` arms and ammunition warehouses as well as the adoption of practices and procedures to improve small arms control in this sector.
Likewise, UNLIREC and DCAF described the available international initiatives and standards that are applicable to the private security sector, such as the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC), with the goal of promoting their accession and implementation. This seminar also provided a forum for discussion and experience sharing between government authorities, private security companies, civil society and other actors on mechanisms for good governance in the private security sector.
This project has been made possible due to the financial support of the Federal Republic of Germany. In the second phase, UNLIREC aims to expand the project to include additional countries in the region.
Through this assistance package, UNLIREC supports Latin American and Caribbean States strengthen public security and the implementation of the UN Programme of Action on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects (UN 2001 PoA).
For more information about UNLIREC, visit (www.unlirec.org) or contact Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer, (cowl@unlirec.org).
Mar 14, 2016 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) continues advancing with the implementation of its “Strengthening Oversight and Building Capacities for Small Arms Control and Nonproliferation in the Private Security Sector” project in El Salvador.
In March 2016, UNLIREC supported the government of El Salvador in the secondary marking of small arms belonging to the private security companies participating in this project. This type of marking, conducted with laser technology, contributes to improvements in the private security companies` stockpile management systems. Likewise, secondary marking – taking place after the initial marking phase, which occurs at the time of manufacture– allows for the identification and tracing of weapons, in a timely and reliable manner from the point of manufacture to importation to transit to the ultimate end user, supporting administrative and criminal investigations.
The marking process consists of placing unique markings on firearms, including the importing country code, a three-letter code – assigned by national authorities – which identifies the company that is purchasing the weapons, and the year of marking. This marking process is in line with El Salvador`s legislation that requires that weapons marked upon import since 2013. Accordingly, El Salvador is making important progress in meeting its international obligations to tackle the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons. To date, within the framework of this project, more than 200 private security weapons have been marked in El Salvador.
Since July 2015, UNLIREC has been implementing this project, which provides technical assistance to both the Salvadoran national responsible for regulating the private security sector, as well as to the private security companies that provided armed security services. This project is made possible with the financial support from the Federal Government of Germany.
UNLIREC conducts these project activities in collaboration with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). The project`s main goal is to promote internationally accepted standards, good practices and initiatives in the private security sector, in line with the United Nations International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATGs).
Through this assistance package, UNLIREC supports Latin American and Caribbean States strengthen public security and the implementation of the UN Programme of Action on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects (UN 2001 PoA).
For more information about UNLIREC, visit (www.unlirec.org) or contact Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer, (cowl@unlirec.org).
Feb 6, 2016 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) attended the inauguration of the newly renovated arms and ammunition depot of the National Regulatory Entity for Security Service, Firearms, Ammunition and Explosives for Civilian Use (SUCAMEC). The depot was modernized with new furniture and high-security equipment as part of the technical assistance that UNLIREC is providing to SUCAMEC within the framework of its project entitled: Strengthening Oversight and Building Capacities for Small Arms Control and Non-proliferation in the Private Security Sector.
This renovated depot keeps arms and ammunition for civilian use in temporary custody, particularly those belonging to private security companies. A total of 16 clauses of the International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and 12 clauses of the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATGs) were incorporated into the redesign and remodelling of the depot, thus allowing for improvements in the physical security, access control, and storage, registration and record-keeping management of the arms and ammunition.
UNLIREC provided expert guidance on the arms depot remodelling process and donated equipment and materials to SUCAMEC, such as steel shelves, metallic doors, high-security padlocks, barcode reader and printer. Furthermore, 28 bullet traps were donated to all SUCAMEC’s offices nationwide, as well as HAZMAT signs that should be placed in the vicinity of ammunition storage as a supplementary security measure. The SUCAMEC’s arms depot is now in compliance with high-security international standards and good practices to ensure proper management of arms depots. The renovated arms depot will serve as a model for other SUCAMEC offices and private security companies nationwide, among other state agencies .
Under the umbrella of UNLIREC’s private security project, the Regional Ceentre promotes international standards on arms and ammunition management by private security companies and SUCAMEC, as a control and regulatory agency responsible for private security services in Peru, in order to prevent diversion, theft, or firearms accidents. This project is implemented by UNLIREC in partnership with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) with the economic support of the Federal Republic of Germany.
UNLIREC supports Latin American and Caribbean States in strengthening public security and the UN Programme of Action on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in all its Aspects (UN 2001 PoA).
Jan 3, 2016 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) continues its progress in the implementation of its project entitled ‘Strengthening capacities for the effective and transparent management of small arms and ammunition in the private security sector‘.
In collaboration with the national directorate for the control of security services, firearms, ammunition and explosives (SUCAMEC), UNLIREC has promoted protocols, procedures and good practices in small arms and ammunition management in the private security sector, in line with the United Nations International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC). The implementation of these standards improves the efficiency of small arms and ammunition inventory management in these companies to prevent accidents and avoid their diversion to illicit markets and actors.
As part of this project, UNLIREC assessed levels of compliance of three Peruvian private security companies with ISACS and made a number of recommendations for areas of improvement, such as infrastructure, physical security and inventory management. UNLIREC and SUCAMEC also supported these private security companies in strengthen their small arms and ammunition inventory management by facilitating the secondary marking of their small arms with laser technology to affix unique markings including the importer, year of import and end user. This marking process helps Peru comply with international and regional agreements on secondary marking of imported small arms. In addition, these markings allow for lost or stolen firearms to be traced more expeditiously.
UNLIREC`s ‘Strengthening capacities for effective and transparent management of small arms and ammunition in the private security sector’ project is financed by the Federal Republic of Germany and is implemented in collaboration with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). Its main goal is to promote internationally accepted standards, good practices and initiatives, such as the ISACS and the ICoC.
By assisting Latin American and Caribbean States, UNLIREC supports improvements in public security and the implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms (UN 2001 PoA).
For more information about UNLIREC, visit (www.unlirec.org) or contact Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer, (cowl@unlirec.org).
Nov 23, 2015 | Uncategorized
The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) carried out a mission to El Salvador on 23-27 November 2015 with a view to advancing the coordination and implementation of activities that form part of the project entitled strengthening capacities for the effective and transparent management of small arms and ammunition in the private security sector.
The main goal of the mission, carried out by UNLIREC, in conjunction with its partners in the Salvadoran government and the country’s private security sector, was to promote best practices in arms and ammunition management in private security companies based on the United Nations International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS), in particular ISACS module 05.20 on stockpile management. The objective of this project is to prevent arms theft and the diversion of arms and ammunition from the private security sector into illegal channels.
Over the course of the week, UNLIREC experts analyzed the levels of ISACS compliance in five Salvadoran security companies and made recommendations for increasing those levels of compliance and improving security and management. Additionally, they met with arms manufacturers and arsenal managers from private security companies to follow up on the training they received in the UNLIREC stockpile management course imparted in July 2015.
Upon completion of the mission, all interested parties agreed upon the 2016 roadmap and the inclusion of secondary markings to arms belonging to security companies with the use of laser technology. This type of secondary marking helps to improve stockpile management and comply with international agreements on combating illicit small arms trafficking. The technical guidelines for the markings are based on various international instruments and on ISACS module 05.30 on marking and registry management.
The project entitled ‘strengthening capacities for effective and transparent management of small arms and ammunition in the private security sector’, which is financed by the Federal Republic of Germany, is implemented in association with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). Its main goal is to promote internationally-accepted standards, good practices, and initiatives, such as the ISACS and the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC).
By providing assistance to Latin American and Caribbean States, UNLIREC supports improvements in public security and the implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms (UN 2001 PoA).
For more information about UNLIREC, visit (www.unlirec.org) or contact Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer, (cowl@unlirec.org).
