Security ministers and high-ranking officials from six Central American countries and the Dominican Republic will sign on Wednesday, February 12 at 10:00 EDT (15:00 GMT), at the Organization of American States (OAS) headquarters in Washington, DC, a new joint initiative against illegal arms trafficking, ammunition, and explosives. This involves the formal adoption of the "Central American Roadmap to Prevent the Trafficking and Illicit Proliferation of Firearms and Munitions," a regional instrument that will strengthen capabilities and coordination between States to counter one of the region's most significant threats to security and development.
The initiative, promoted by the OAS together with the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC), and with financial support from the European Union, also seeks to promote violence prevention programs, improve control over the lifecycle of weapons, and develop better capabilities for investigation and criminal prosecution, including strengthening border controls, creating specialized units for arms trafficking, and implementing effective tracking systems.
The event will include the participation of:
• OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagro;
• UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu;
• Minister of Interior of Guatemala, Francisco Jiménez;
• Minister of Public Security of Panama, Frank Alexis Abrego;
• Minister of Interior and Police of the Dominican Republic, Faride Raful;
• Vice-Minister for Prevention and Human Rights Affairs in the Ministry of Security of Honduras, Hugo Suazo;
• Minister of Security of El Salvador, Gustavo Villatoro (to be confirmed);
• General Director of Armament of the Ministry of Public Security of Costa Rica, María Eugenia Mata Chavarría; and
• Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries of Belize, Sharole Carr Saldivar.
