In Buenos Aires, from 4 to 15 of November, 2013, the Ministry of Security of Argentina and the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latina America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) progressed on their technical cooperation to update arms control practices and policies.
During this event, UNLIREC assessed the four federal security forces on firearms and ammunition management. This assessment is based on International Small Arms Control Standards (ISACS) and International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG) and it aims to improve stockpile infrastructures, strengthen staff capacity, and enhance stockpile management practices within the federal forces. In addition, different weapons and ammunition marking proposals and techniques were analyzed and discussed.
The current year, UNLIREC conducted assessments in several stockpile facilities and gave recommendations to improve infrastructures, standard operating procedures and training processes. During next year, besides working on these areas, UNLIREC will provide assistance in a destruction process for obsolete firearms. Additionally, the scope of activities will be extended to reach different areas of the country. The collaboration, ongoing since 2012, falls within the framework of the citizen security project led by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Argentina.
In 2013, UNLIREC provided assistance in stockpile management and weapons and ammunition destruction to 17 Member States in the region providing equipment and training, and conducting evaluations. More than 50 tons of ammunition and almost 45.000 firearms were destroyed, including surplus, obsolete and confiscated weapons, and more than 130 stockpile facilities were improved. Implementing firearms destructions and stockpile management standards is one of the main commitments assumed by the States within the framework of the UN 2001 Programme of Action on Small Armas and Light Weapons.
For more information on UNLIREC visit (www.unlirec.org). For enquiries, please contact Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer (cowl@unlirec.org).