The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), in collaboration with the National Superintendence for the Control of Security Services, Arms, Ammunition and Explosives for Civilian Use (SUCAMEC), imparted a two-day training session (22-23 July 2015) to personnel from 16 private security companies. This initiative forms part of the Technical Workshop on Good Practices and International Standards for the Management of Arms and Ammunition Inventories of Private Security Companies in Lima.
Workshop participants, in charge of the storage, control and safe-keeping of firearms and ammunition in their respective companies, received training on security procedures in arms and ammunition storage installations with a view to minimizing risks and avoiding their diversion into illegal channels. It is widely known that weapons and ammunition stolen or lost from both state and private arsenals represent an important source of for criminal use. These risks can be significantly mitigated if those in charge of the control and administration of these arms deposits implement internationally-recognized standards and good practices.
The workshop covered topics, such as the classification of arms and ammunition, secure storage and inventory management, risk evaluation, security plans and incident notification, among others. Theoretical sessions were complemented by practical exercises led by the UNLIREC Public Security Programme team.
This workshop forms part of a project entitled ‘Strengthening Oversight and Building Capacities for Small Arms Control and Non-proliferation in the Private Security Sector’, which is financed by the Federal Republic of Germany. One of the main goals of this project implemented in association with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), is to promote internationally-accepted standards, good practices, and initiatives, such as the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC) and the United Nations International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS).
By providing assistance to Latin American and Caribbean States, UNLIREC supports improvements in public security and the implementation of the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate 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).