Virtual regional meeting on illicit firearms trafficking and related criminal justice responses to support of the implementation of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap by UNODC Global Firearms Programme with CARICOM IMPACS
From 22 to 23 June 2021, as part of the project “Supporting the implementation of the crime prevention and criminal justice component of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap”, the UNODC Global Firearms Programme worked in collaboration with CARICOM IMPACS to organise a virtual regional meeting on strengthening criminal justice responses to counter illicit proliferation and misuse of firearms in the context of the Caribbean Roadmap. The meeting also focused on reinforcing legislative and regulatory frameworks to comply with international and regional instruments. Over 150 national agents in charge of law enforcement, criminal justice and investigation, and representatives from the competent agencies from Caribbean countries and territories took part in the event.
The meeting provided an overview of the different activities carried out in the Caribbean by the different actors operating in the region and their possibilities to provide support, such as CARICOM, UNLIREC, INTERPOL, EUROPOL, SEACOP, OAS, US HSI, US ATF, UK-NABIS, UNODC Aircop and the UNODC Global Maritime Programme.
The activity was part of the project “Supporting the implementation of the crime prevention and criminal justice component of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap”, aimed to prevent and counter illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms and their links to transnational organised crime and other serious crimes, and ultimately to address the scourges of armed violence in the region by:
- Enhanced capacity of criminal justice system to counter illicit proliferation and misuse of firearms in the context of the Caribbean Roadmap and reinforce legislative and regulatory frameworks to comply with international and regional instruments
- Enhanced capacity of criminal justice institutions and border management services to detect, investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate illicit firearms trafficking cases and related offences, and to engage in effective law enforcement and judicial cooperation for that purpose.
- Promote effective international cooperation and sharing of information and good practices among firearms and organised crime practitioners on the prevention and combat of firearms trafficking and related crimes, through regular contacts and use of specialised cooperation networks and platforms.
- Monitoring illicit trafficking flows through enhanced periodic data collection and analysis on firearms and related matters.