Caribbean Cohort Launches UN Fellowship on Firearms Control

28 July 2025— Amid rising gun violence and weapons trafficking across the region, fifteen officials from across the Caribbean began a three-week intensive training under the United Nations Small Arms and Light Weapons Fellowship Programme, hosted for the first time in the region.

The Fellowship—established by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly—was developed to strengthen the technical and operational capacity of states, particularly in developing regions, to prevent and combat the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. Participants from law enforcement, defence, border control, research and diplomacy will receive advanced training in arms control measures including weapons marking and tracing, stockpile management, border security, destruction protocols and disarmament processes.

The Caribbean cohort is the first of three global groups participating in this year’s rollout, ahead of upcoming sessions in Africa and Asia. It builds on the region’s leadership in adopting the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap—the second such roadmap globally, after the Western Balkans.

Speaking at the opening ceremony in Cumuto, UN Resident Coordinator a.i. and UNDP Resident Representative, Ugo Blanco, emphasised the stakes:

“If the only path to power for a young person is through a weapon, we are solving only half the problem. This Fellowship is not just about tools—it is about transformation.”

The programme aligns with the UN Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace, launched in 2023, which calls for a renewed global approach to conflict prevention—one that balances strong control measures with social investment in education, youth empowerment, mental health, and community resilience.

The training is organised by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) in partnership with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry of Homeland Security, and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). It follows a foundational online module and will be delivered in-person over three weeks.

Mr. Blanco also highlighted the important role of UNLIREC, the UN’s regional disarmament centre for Latin America and the Caribbean, in strengthening national firearms legislation, building forensic capacity, and guiding implementation of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap.

As Mr. Blanco told participants, their work is critical in translating international frameworks like the Programme of Action on SALW and the International Tracing Instrument into results on the ground. “Your presence here represents a moment of determination,” he said. “You are the stewards of this region’s next chapter in arms control and violence prevention.”