UNRCCA, UNOCT-UNCCT AND UNODC CONDUCT A REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON PREVENTING AND COMBATING THE ILLICIT TRAFFICKING OF SMALL-ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS AND THEIR SUPPLY TO TERRORISTS

16 Mar 2021

UNRCCA, UNOCT-UNCCT AND UNODC CONDUCT A REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON PREVENTING AND COMBATING THE ILLICIT TRAFFICKING OF SMALL-ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS AND THEIR SUPPLY TO TERRORISTS

ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan

On 16 March, the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Center within the United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT- UNCCT) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in partnership with the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) started a three-day workshop on preventing and combating the illicit supply of small-arms and light weapons and their illicit supply to terrorists through fostering judicial and law enforcement cooperation and information sharing.

SRSG Natalia Gherman addressing the workshop stated that the Central Asian states have made significant efforts to prevent and combat the illicit-trafficking of small-arms and light weapons. At the same time, in our globalized world risks remain and the militarization of terrorist groups becomes a threat not only to countries torn by conflicts, but also to countries that are free from instability.          

The regional workshop, which brought together more than one hundred representatives from all five Central Asian states, relevant UN entities and regional organization, will address the challenges posed by the terrorism-arms-crime nexus. The workshop aims at fostering cooperation in detection, investigation and prosecution of arms trafficking for terrorist purposes at the international, regional and national levels. Participants will explore possibilities to establish national and international networks and mechanisms to exchange judicial and other information.     

A review of international legal instruments, including relevant UN Security Council resolutions, will be provided by international experts. The workshop will also include a scenario based exercise on cases of information sharing and cooperation with regard to suspected terrorists involved in illicit arms trafficking.