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.
Some Challenges
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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
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
UNODC Activities On Firearms
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
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
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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
For further information:
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Organized Crime and Criminal Justice
Section, Division for Treaty Affairs
Tel: +43-1-26060-5484
Fax: +43-1-26060-75484
THANK YOU
FOR YOUR
ATTENTION
THANK YOU
Organized Crime and Criminal Justice Section
Division for Treaty Affairs