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….sign MoU to bring down numbers
The Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS) and the Small Arms Survey (SAS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize existing cooperation with the primary aim of reducing gun violence in the Caribbean.
On Thursday, the CARICOM Secretariat said the agreement will support efforts to improve the capacity of CARICOM States to prevent the illicit circulation of small arms and light weapons and enhance States’ implementation of commitments under international and regional arms control instruments.
It said that particular focus will be on advancing more evidence-based policy to reduce armed violence in the Region. The signing took place during a virtual ceremony between the CARICOM IMPACS Executive Director (Ag.), Lieutenant Colonel Michael Jones and SAS Director, Daniel de Torres on Wednesday.
“The MoU comes as the region embarks on an ambitious roadmap to tackle the illicit arms trade and its impacts. We look forward to working with CARICOM IMPACS to achieve the roadmap’s important targets, in particular providing reliable data – with indicators tailored to the region – to support monitoring and evaluation, as well as exploring opportunities for developing sustainable and effective interventions,” the SAS Director said.
Lt. Col. Jones said it is important for everyone to play their part in the fight to stop gun trafficking, which fuels violence by criminal organizations and negatively impacts the Region’s sustainable development. “This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to working together to reduce illicit firearms violence throughout CARICOM States. Through enhanced evidence-based research, we will be better able to implement relevant policy to disrupt firearms trafficking while strengthening efforts to combat criminality,” Lt. Col. Jones he added.
The first instance of cooperation between the two entities dates back to 2011, and has been followed by numerous collaborative efforts centered on assisting States to implement the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects (PoA), the Arms Trade Treaty, and other international arms control instruments.
CARICOM has a wealth of experience in working to prevent the illicit circulation of small arms. Similarly, the Small Arms Survey has worked on regional efforts on gun violence, as well as in other in parts of the world.
The Small Arms Survey is a global centre of excellence which generates impartial, evidence-based, and policy-relevant knowledge and analysis on small arms and armed violence and acts as a resource for governments, policy-makers, researchers, and civil society, while CARICOM IMPACS is an institution of CARICOM with primary responsibility for the implementation of the CARICOM Crime and Security Agenda.
The CARICOM Secretariat said that under the MoU, the partners agreed to assist each other in realizing their respective strategic objectives in general. It was noted that the collaboration will be both consultative and substantive, with the partners working together on common policy issues.
