On 7 September 2021, UNODC Global Firearms Programme (GFP) has facilitated the 4th Meeting of the Working Group on Firearms Data Collection in Ukraine. The overall objective of the Working Group is to ensure submission of high-quality information to UNODC’s Illicit Arms Flow Initiative (IAFI) on regular basis.
The members of the Working Group, who are representatives of the different departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and National Police of Ukraine and the State Research Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, have continued their work on the review of the data for UNODC’ Questionnaire.
The meeting was dedicated on data required for Part I “Arms seizures” geographical position, Part II “Information on found and surrendered arms” and Part III “Information on tracing results of arms seized, found and surrendered”.
The experts reviewed questions 3.1 through 5.5 and identified problems related to improper compliance with the terms of Ukrainian subsidiary legislation (internal Instruction on the approval and implementation of the Instruction on the procedure for the seizure, recording, storage and transfer of material evidence in criminal cases, valuables and other property by the bodies of inquiry, pre-trial investigation and the courts, dated August 27, 2010, No. 51/401/649/471/23/125).
The experts discussed the availability of these types of data in different law enforcement activities. They have also highlighted the possibility of miscommunications at the stage of exchanging information and its collection according to the above-mentioned Instruction between various agencies and suggested receiving feedback from experts from Security Service of Ukraine and Prosecutor General Office.
The next session of Wrong Group scheduled to be arranged in November 2021 after invitation additional experts.
This activity is supported through a generous contribution by Germany.
