The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament, and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) facilitated a two-day training (23-24 February 2017) to representatives of private security companies in Guatemala through the Technical Workshop on International Standards for the Management of Arms and Ammunition Warehouses of Private Security Companies.
In order to minimize the risk of diversion to illegal channels, participants received training on physical security procedures in the weapons and ammunition storage facilities within the security companies. It is well known that stolen or lost weapons and ammunition from both state and private locations, represent a major source of crime-related weapons. These risks can be significantly reduced by implementing international standards and good practices that are recognized at the global level. Therefore, training those who are in charge of storing, controlling, transporting, and custody of firearms and ammunition, is a key step in arms control and armed violence prevention.
The UNLIREC-led workshop focused on topics, such as firearm and ammunition classification, safe storage and inventory management, risk assessment, safety plans, and incident reporting, among other topics.
This workshop forms part of the UNLIREC project entitled Strengthening Oversight and Building capacities for Small Arms Control and Nonproliferation in the Private Security Sector, which is funded by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany. One of the main objectives of this project, implemented in partnership with the Geneva Center for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), is the promotion of standards, good practices and global recognition initiatives to strengthen good governance, and arms control in the private security sector.
Through this assistance package, UNLIREC supports Latin American and Caribbean States in the strengthening of 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).