(Peru, Dec. 17) – UNLIREC supported the National Regulatory Entity for Security Services, Firearms, Ammunition and Explosives for Civil Use (SUCAMEC) in the destruction of over 3,000 firearms via smelting at the Funvesa foundry in the Andean country’s capital of Lima. The destruction event was attended by numerous high-level officials, including the Peruvian Minister of Interior, Walter Alban; Director General of Peru’s National Police, General Jorge Flores; the Superintendent of SUCAMEC, Derik Latorre; and the Director of UNLIREC, Melanie Régimbal.
During her speech, Ms. Régimbal highlighted the fact that “[…] the destruction of weapons is considered one of the most effective disarmament and arms control measures, which allows States to definitively do away with obsolete and seized weapons, and those handed over by civilians, ensuring that they will no longer be used to commit future acts of crime.”
UNLIREC served as an independent observer both prior to and during the destruction process. In this role, the Regional Centre monitored and conducted on site verification of the serial numbers of over 800 weapons, which is equivalent to roughly 30% of all weapons destroyed. The act of monitoring and verification aims to demonstrate transparency throughout the process and certify that it was conducted in accordance with internationally-accepted standards for weapons destruction.
UNLIREC, as the regional office of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, seeks to advance the cause of practical disarmament in Latin America and the Caribbean and to support Member States in the region in their implementation of international disarmament and non-proliferation instruments, including the UN 2001 Programme of Action on Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons.
For more information about UNLIREC, visit its web page [www.unlirec.com]. For any questions, contact Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer, at [cowl@unlirec.org].