On 26 January 2021, UNODC GFP has organized a workshop to support the participation of BiH institutions in the UNODC’s Illicit Arms Flows Monitoring Initiative through regular collection and sharing of consolidated criminal justice data on firearms. The workshop gathered representatives from 18 institutions responsible for collection, analysis and exchange of firearms related data.
The event has provided an opportunity to identify the capacity of BiH institutions to develop comparable data sets on firearms that foster data sharing among countries for more effective investigations and operational use. The participants have reviewed the UNODC’s illicit arms flows questionnaire and have established the data that can be collected and shared on an annual basis. The workshop has allowed for review of the practices in collecting criminal justice data and has contributed towards identification of gaps and formulation of recommendations how to improve them in order to ensure regular participation of BiH in UNODC’s Illicit Arms Flows Monitoring Initiative through the submission of high quality of data.
This activity supports Goal 2 of the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap: “By 2024, ensure that arms control policies and practices in the Western Balkans are evidence based and intelligence led”, and specifically to the Target: “Institutionalize systematic collection of criminal justice data across the Criminal Justice Sector (at the level of Police and Customs, Prosecutors service, Court Service, Correctional and Penitentiary Services)”. It supports also the Target “Ensure full implementation and monitoring of legal, policy and procedural framework on trafficking of FAE” under Goal 3 “By 2024, significantly reduce illicit flows of firearms, ammunition and explosives (FAE) into, within and beyond the Western Balkans”.
This activity is implemented with the financial support provided by Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, and Norway through the Western Balkans SALW Control Roadmap Trust Fund and supported by the European Union.