On 25-27 April 2022, the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) and the Caribbean Community’s Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS), in collaboration with the Government Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, hosted an Executive Seminar and Inter-Institutional Roundtable meeting for the advancement of Saint Vincent & the Grenadines National Action Plan for the implementation of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap.
The Executive Seminar presented the opportunity to introduce the context and process for the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap initiative; provided sensitization on the monitoring and evaluation elements of the Roadmap; and discussed the national issues and challenges around firearms and firearms related crime. CARICOM IMPACS provided regional context, information on regional mechanisms and the role of IMPACS in relation to firearms. The Roundtable meetings covered the four goals of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap and included presentations on the legal aspects of the Roadmap, primarily related to Goal 1, and best practices as they relate to Goals 2, 3 and 4 respectively. The three days of inter-agency dialogue concluded with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines identifying its draft list of national priorities and a significant proportion of its baseline assessment.
A total of 27 national representatives, including 6 women took part in the 3-day event. Participants emanated from the Ministry of National Security, the Police Force, Forensic Laboratory, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Fire Department, Coast Guard, Customs and Immigration, Ministry of Attorney General and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Executive Seminar and Inter-Institutional Roundtables were carried out in line with the 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Sustainable Development Goal 16 and target 16.4, and contribute towards the implementation of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap. The meetings were made possible thanks to support of the government of Canada.
UNLIREC, as the regional office of the UN Office for Disarmament, seeks to advance the cause of practical disarmament in Latin America and the Caribbean as part of its commitment to support Member States in their implementation of international disarmament and non-proliferation instruments, in particular, the 2001 UN Programme of Action on Small Arms.
