Training on strengthening the cooperation for the investigation and prosecution of firearms trafficking between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay by the UNODC Global Firearms Programme

04/03/2022
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07/03/2022
Activity description

From 4 to 7 March 2022, in the framework of the project “Countering transnational illicit arms trafficking through the implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime and its Firearms Protocol”, the UNODC Global Firearms Programme organised a regional training course to strengthen cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of firearms trafficking between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, which took place in Asuncion, Paraguay. The objective of the course was to promote judicial and police cooperation between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, based on the knowledge acquired during previous activities organised by UNODC’s Global Firearms Programme, in order to identify common cases that could lead to the establishment of joint investigation teams; and sought to provide advanced tools and techniques on skills required in the investigation and prosecution of firearms-related crimes; as well as to strengthen the knowledge of participating public officials in charge of law enforcement, criminal justice and investigation by introducing new practices to make their profession more efficient. To that end, the training gathered 24 criminal justice practitioners from Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, from relevant institutions involved in international cooperation in criminal matters, including police officers, prosecutors, judges, and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Project description

The project “Countering transnational illicit arms trafficking through the implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and its Firearms Protocol” has as its overall objective to prevent and counter the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, and their links to transnational organised crime and terrorism, through the ratification and implementation of the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). The project is implemented by the Global Firearms Programme (GFP), established by the first project funded by the European Union (EU) (IFS /2010 /259-204), which builds upon five interconnected pillars, including: (1) adequate policy and legislative frameworks, (2) implementation of comprehensive firearms control and regulatory frameworks, (3) effective criminal justice responses to illicit trafficking and related crimes, (4) broad international cooperation and regular exchanges of information and expertise through communities of practitioners, and (5) enhanced knowledge and intelligence on firearms trafficking to monitor illicit trafficking flows.

The project’s outcomes aim at supporting these interconnected building blocks, and the activities programmed in order to achieve them include four outputs, namely: (1) increase awareness of the firearms issue and its international responses, and adequate policy and legislative frameworks in place, in line with relevant international and regional instruments; (2) increase capacities of countries and sub-regions to implement effective firearms control regimes in line with the Firearms Protocol and other relevant instruments, and to prevent, investigate and prosecute firearms trafficking and related offences through effective national response and international law enforcement and judicial cooperation; (3) support effective cooperation and sharing of information and good practices among communities of firearms and organised crime/terrorism practitioners, through regular contacts and use of specialised cooperation networks and platforms and taking advantage of existing initiatives; and (4) improve capacity to monitor, analyse and identify synergies for firearms legislation and case-law with and amongst other forms of transnational organised crime, including cybercrime, money laundering, illicit drug trafficking, smuggling of migrants, or terrorism, inter alia.

Type of Activity
Institutional capacity-building
Sensitization and outreach
Focus of Activity
Border controls
Enforcement
Import controls
International instruments
Regional cooperation
Regional instruments
Risk assessments
Small arms and light weapons (SALW) controls
Tracing
Transfer controls
Transit and trans-shipment controls
Partners
Argentina
Brazil
Paraguay
Implementers
Interpol
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Donors
European Union (EU)
Budget
3248537.00
EUR
Contact Details
Contact Person
Simonetta Grassi, Chief of Firearms Trafficking Section, simonetta.grassi@un.org
Organization
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – UNODC, Firearms Trafficking Section, Organised Crime and Illicit Trafficking Branch, Division for Treaty Affairs
Phone
(+43-1) 26060
Email