Division 1.2 Objectives

Through this three-year project, the DPS aims to strengthen the capacity of the governments of OAS Member States to control and reduce the illicit proliferation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and conventional munitions in the region, and to strengthen the capacity of selected communities to prevent armed violence. Technical assistance and cooperation with Member States that support the overall aim of the project will be based upon the following objectives to:

• Strengthen physical security and management systems for national military and other institutional stockpiles through improved site security measures and inventory control;

• Reinforce national capabilities for destruction of seized, excess or unsafe SALW and ammunition;

• Enhance national SALW marking and tracing capacity and foment regional cooperation on tracing confiscated weapons and ammunition;

• Improve SALW transfer mechanisms through national legislation, border controls, and regional coordination; and

• Promote socially responsible behaviours in selected communities, targeting groups that are severely affected by armed violence, including the use of turn-in campaigns or other strategies designed to reduce local incidence of violent crimes.