PROTOCOL AGAINST THE ILLICIT MANUFACTURING OF AND TRAFFICKING IN FIREARMS, THEIR PARTS, COMPONENTS AND AMMUNITIONS Working Group on Technical Assistance Vienna – 1-2 October 2009

Introduction Armed violence is often associated with armed conflicts, although a predominant part of it is linked to common criminality and to transnational organized crime activities (trafficking in drugs, human beings, terrorism) Firearms are both the object if illegal activities (arms trafficking, violation of arms embargoes) and the means for the commission of crimes The link between firearms and transnational organized crime is not sufficiently been addressed by countries. Firearms trafficking is a transnational and global crime that crosses borders and regions and needs to be addressed through global solutions, such as the Firearms Protocol.

Multiple complementary global and regional instruments Inadequate legal framework create incentives for trafficking Different legal regimes on arms possession and controls Lack of harmonized practices in marking and record keeping hamper tracing and identification of arms Lack of harmonized international transfer controls systems Weak controls at borders and over transfer documentation, insufficient information exchange and cooperation facilitate diversion of legal arms “Balloon effect”: Traffickers target countries with weak control regimes for their triangulation Need for global strategies to link exporting, transit and importing countries and promote cooperation FP as common denominator to build bridges among regions and facilitate cooperation Some Challenges

TA Priorities for Firearms  Criminalization  International Cooperation  Assistance in Responding Questionnaires  Marking of Firearms  Record-keeping  Deactivation  Identification of Competent Authorities

Decision 4/6  UNODC to support States in the ratification and implementation of the Firearms Protocol.  UNODC to develop technical assistance tools to assist States parties in the implementation  States to consider the advisability of establishing an open-ended intergovernmental working group on the Firearms Protocol

UN Wide Coordination & Partnerships Promotion of Awareness and Knowledge on the FP Legislative Assistance and Capacity Building work Development of Legal and Operational Tools Development of TA projects The way forward UNODC Activities On Firearms

UN Wide Coordination UN CASA Mechanism Adoption of a Joint Strategy (July 2009)  Promotion and support for ratification and implementation of global instruments  Coordination and information exchange  Joint SG/GA reports on arms related issues  Promotion of armed violence and crime prevention programmes  Follow up to Geneva Declaration and accompany ATT process  Development of International Standards on SALW – ISACS Int. & Regional Organizations  UNODA’s Regional Centres, UNDP, CTED  OAS CIFTA Secretariat & OAS/CICAD  CARICOM & CARICOM/IMPACS  SICA/CASAC  INTERPOL  EC, OSCE, RACVIAC  CSO & NGO  Geneva Forum, IANSA Network, GRIPP, Safer world, Small Arms Survey, Viva Rio

Promotion of Awareness and Knowledge on the FP  UNODC continues to participate in seminars and workshops organized by other organizations and CSO to present the FP and promote its ratification and implementation –UNODA Workshops on ITI (Kenya and Brazil, 2008) –OAS meetings (2008 and 2009) –Geneva Forum Meeting (2009) –Regional Workshop for Central American countries (US/SICA, Belize, July 2009) –Several awareness raising events at the field level in Colombia, Peru and Bolivia

Legislative Assistance and Capacity Building Regional workshops on firearms control organized by UNODC in partnership with others –For South Eastern Europe (Croatia 2008, with Racviac) –Follow up workshop (Croatia 2008, with Racviac –Regional Worksop for Caribbean countries (Barbados June 2009, with CARICOM Secretariat and CARICOM IMPACS) National and Regional workshops on firearms control organized at field level –781 officials trained through the Colombia based project (including train of trainers) in cooperation with UN-LiREC Legislative advice provided to Bolivia

Legal and Operational Tools Traveaux Preparatoires & Legislative Guide Technical Guide –2 EWG held in 2007 and 2008 (To be published 2009) Model Legislation –EWG in 3-6 November 2009 (Expected mid 2010) International Standards on Small Arms – ISACS – –CASA Initiative adopted by Principals in July 09 –Several modules covering entire range of SALW issues –FP, PoA and ITI legal basis Envisaged tools –Automated Standardized end user certificates, import/export requests and authorizations, tracing request tools –Development of manuals and training material –Expansion of the computer-based training programme

Field based TA work  Colombia: Joint project with UN-LiREC (training, awareness raising, destruction of firearms)  UNODC/SICA Regional Programme for Central America: Section 6: Fight Against Illicit Trafficking In Firearms  Several Awareness raising activities undertaken by several FO in cooperation with local partners

The way forward: Global Project Proposal on Firearms Geographical Scope: selected countries in Africa, LA&C, Middle East, and major producing countries Goals 1.Adequate legislative and institutional frameworks in line with relevant international and regional instruments 2.Capacity and Institution-Building - Strengthening national and regional capacity to implement the provisions of the Firearms Protocol, including border and transfer controls 3.International cooperation in judicial and law enforcement matters and in tracing firearms and ammunition 4.Private sector cooperation and civil society engagement – Promote cooperation among major exporting, transit and importing countries using UNTOC and FP Promotion of strategic partnerships to add value to ongoing activities  Duration: 5 years  Budget: 2 mill./year at least

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