Regional Workshop: Complementarities and Synergies of International and Regional Treaties in Latin America and the Caribbean (12 December 2024)

The webinar regional workshop titled “Complementarities and Synergies of International and Regional Treaties in Latin America,” held on December 12, 2024, was organized by IANSA in collaboration with the University for Peace of Costa Rica. The event was designed for representatives of IANSA member organizations and other professionals working on small arms control. It featured two panels: one providing a general overview of international and regional instruments related to small arms and light weapons (SALW), and the other exploring complementarities among these instruments regarding import, export, transit, and transshipment. The primary goal was to inform attendees about the synergies between key treaties, including the UN Programme of Action (UNPoA), the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), the Firearms Protocol, and the Inter-American Convention (CIFTA). It was expected that NGO engagement with public officials and parliamentarians would help states fulfill their commitments under these treaties and raise public awareness. A key outcome of the event was a jointly agreed statement by participants, to be presented at the upcoming CCPCJ meeting in Vienna.

The webinar opened with remarks from Yasmin Espinoza Goecke, who emphasized the importance of collaboration between international organizations, academics, and civil society in tackling the proliferation of SALW. The first panel, moderated by Josué Cabalceta, featured experts discussing various treaties, including Maria Pia Devoto on UNPoA, Cristian Wittmann on ATT, Leonardo Lara on the Firearms Protocol, and Michael Bejos on CIFTA. They addressed topics such as voluntary firearm surrender programs, gender considerations, and emerging threats like 3D-printed firearms. The second panel, moderated by Espinoza Goecke, examined how different legal instruments complement each other in regulating firearm transfers. Experts including León Castellanos-Jankiewicz, Carlos Orozco, and others explored how these treaties integrate human rights concerns, enforcement mechanisms, and cooperation frameworks. The event concluded with a group discussion on key takeaways, focusing on enhancing cooperation and ensuring the effectiveness of legal frameworks through engagement with civil society and academia.