On 29 September 2020, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) held an online legal workshop for Haitian authorities to present the main findings of its recent legal study on weapons, ammunition and explosives, as well as the legal dictum on the country’s Bill on the manufacture, commercialization, possession, control and carrying of firearms, approved by the Senate of Haiti.
Representatives of various national institutions, among which were the Ministers of Defense, Interior and Justice, were presented with recommendations on how to align the national legal framework with international instruments on firearms and ammunition control. Additionally, UNLIREC also shared the conclusions deriving from the legal dictum and recommendations for the improvement of the Bill.
The legal workshop promoted dialogue between national authorities about the importance of effective legal tools to reduce the risk of illegal proliferation and diversion. UNLIREC highlighted the importance of the national discussion process for the improvement of the current bill, and therefore, for the reduction of armed violence and illicit trafficking.
During the sessions, participants stressed the need to strengthen national legislation by harmonizing the national framework with international instruments while UNLIREC emphasized its willingness to continue to support national efforts in this process.
The Seminar was organized with the financial support of the Peacebuilding Fund, implemented by UNDP and in response to a request from the Department of Peace Operations (DPO), the Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA), and the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti.
For more information on UNLIREC, visit www.unlirec.org. Please direct all questions or inquiries to: Ms. Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer at cowl@unlirec.org.