United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs Provides Small Arms

Destruction Equipment to Dominican Republic

 

NEW YORK, 1 June (Office for Disarmament Affairs) — In May 2012, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, through its Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) provided a set of small arms destruction equipment to the Dominican Republic and trained national officers on the use of the equipment.  These activities aim to strengthen the capacity of the Dominican Republic to combat the illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons nationally, as well as in the Caribbean region.

UNLIREC provided a set of hydraulic shears to assist the Dominican Republic in having a permanent and sustainable capacity to destroy surplus, obsolete and confiscated small arms and light weapons.  The Centre also provided training to officers of the country’s Armed Forces.  These shears will contribute to the destruction of approximately 30,000 obsolete small and light weapons from the arsenals of the Armed Forces and the National Police.

UNLIREC previously undertook a national baseline assessment and provided 40 international standard padlocks to strengthen weapons stockpile safety and security.

The provision of this equipment by UNLIREC is part of its “Firearms Destruction and Stockpile Management Assistance Package for Caribbean States”.  This Assistance Package aims at assisting Caribbean States in combating illicit arms trafficking and in implementing relevant international and regional disarmament instruments such as the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms.  The Assistance Package aids States to reduce the risk of theft and diversion from government holdings of operational, confiscated, surplus and obsolete small arms, light weapons, ammunition and explosives.

UNLIREC’s assistance to Caribbean States also includes the development of independent weapons monitoring and verification methodologies; the establishment of safe and efficient methods for the destruction of small arms, light weapons, ammunition and explosives based on United Nations standards; and the legal review of national small arms legislation.

This Assistance Package is implemented with the financial support of the United States.

For more information on UNLIREC, visit www.unlirec.org.  Please direct all questions or enquiries to:  Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer, e-mail:  cowl@unlirec.org.

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For information media • not an official record