From 19-21 October, UNLIREC conducted two training sessions for 25 officials and sub-officials from the Logistics Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of El Salvador. The first session, held on 19 October, consisted of a Seminar on the classification of firearms and ammunition, which provided a general introduction to concepts, types of firearms and ammunition, their characteristics, technical specifications, among other aspects.
Subsequently, on 20 and 21 October, UNLIREC conducted a virtual technical workshop on physical security and effective management of firearms and ammunition applicable to judicial deposits. Worldwide, it is widely recognized that state deposits, including deposits or storage facilities where seized firearms or ammunition are safeguarded and serve as evidence in judicial processes, may be prone to loss, theft and robbery. Consequently, they compromise the integrity of the evidence, not only affecting the investigation and criminal justice processes, but also the imminent risk that firearms and ammunition will be diverted to criminal groups with the implications this has in terms of citizen security for societies.
In this context, and with the objective of strengthening technical capabilities of personnel in charge of custody and control of firearms and ammunition that are safeguarded in the country’s judicial deposits, these sessions provided participants with training in risk assessment and management, guidelines on physical security, as well as management and storage of firearms and ammunition applicable to judicial deposits. All of this is based on good practices and international standards such as the Modular Small Arms Control Implementation Compendium (MOSAIC) and the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATGs). These sessions were complemented by a practical exercise where participants applied the knowledge developed during this workshop, specifically on risk assessment and management.
Both activities were developed as part of the technical assistance that UNLIREC provides the Government of El Salvador to strengthen and develop national capacities to effectively and transparently manage small arms and ammunition, in line with international instruments and commitments regarding the subject. These events were financed by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and the UN Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation (UNSCAR), respectively.