UNODC Regional meeting to strengthen cooperation in South America to prevent and combat illicit trafficking in firearms and related crimes II

13/11/2019
-
15/11/2019
Activity description

On 13-15 November 2019, UNODC's Global Firearms Programme has organised, in close collaboration with the Government of Mexico and UNODC Mexico, a regional meeting to strengthen cooperation in Latin America to prevent and combat illicit trafficking in firearms and related crimes.

Several conclusions were formulated during the meeting, such as the necessity to improve the cooperation and information sharing both at national and international level, the importance of data collection and analysis for evidence-based decisions, the need to strengthen legal frameworks, and the capacity building of prosecution, law enforcement and customs authorities to carry out effective detections, criminal investigations and prosecution for illicit arms trafficking. Themeeting offered the opportunity for Latin American experts in countering illicit firearms to establish channels of communication and cooperation among them

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 the 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
Sensitization and outreach
Focus of Activity
Ammunition
Border controls
Import controls
International instruments
Inventory and stockpile management
Marking
Regional cooperation
Tracing
Transfer controls
Partners
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
Mexico
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
Venezuela
Implementers
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Donors
European Union (EU)
Contact Details

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – UNODC     

Vienna International Centre, Room E1245

Tel.: (+43-1) 26060
E-mail: gfp@un.org
Point of Contact: Silvia de Pedro
Phone: (+43-1) 26060-83288
E-mail: silvia.depedro@un.org