Virtual training on investigation and prosecution of firearms trafficking and related offences was delivered in Bolivia by UNODC Global Firearms Programme
From 31 May to 3 June 2021, in the framework of the project “Countering transnational illicit arms trafficking through the implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and its Firearms Protocol”, and in line with the National Firearms Roadmap adopted between Bolivia and UNODC Global Firearms Programme (GFP), GFP delivered a course to train national agents in charge of law enforcement, criminal justice and investigations to effectively investigate and prosecute firearms-related criminal offences. The project delivered a virtual training facilitated by experts from both UNODC and national institutions, and it focused on providing participants with a better understanding of topics such as the international, regional and national legal framework on firearms; firearms identification and tracing; international judicial and law enforcement cooperation, as well as inter-institutional cooperation at national level, and investigation techniques. Participants also worked together to conduct a practical exercise involving a simulated real case of firearms trafficking. In addition to the skills and knowledge gained during the training, participants particularly appreciated the opportunity to meet peers from other institutions and increase cooperation between the different agencies at national level, which will also improve coordination to conduct effective investigations and prosecution of firearms related criminality.
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.
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UNODC Latin America meeting against firearms trafficking
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