Implementing period: November 2023 – December 2026
Budget: $1,862,540
The aim of the project implemented by UNDP Serbia is to further improve the forensic capacities of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia in the entire investigative cycle in order to support criminal investigations and proceedings in the area of firearm-ammunition-explosive (FAE)-related crimes as well as the Small Arms and Light Weapon (SALW)-control system in the jurisdiction. The project builds upon and consolidates results of the previous interventions that started with the first phase of the project in 2019 and continued with the second phase from 2021 to 2023.
Building upon previous results, the project will concentrate on further strengthening capacities of the National Forensic Center to analyze and investigate cases related to weapons, ammunition and explosives, focusing on the crime scene investigation, ballistic examinations; explosion examinations; as well as capacities of the chemical laboratory for examinations of traces of explosives and of gunshot residues. Further to the central level, the project will expand the support to the three decentralized (regional) forensic centers in Serbia and upgrade their operations and facilities in line with international requirements. The project will further improve validity and visibility of achieved forensic capacities in line with recognized standards. In addition, the project will further advance SALW-control capacities and handling of firearms of the police administrative affairs directorate.
The project contributes to Roadmap Goals 2, 3 and 5 and key performance indicators 2, 3, 8, 10 and 11 of the Roadmap for a sustainable solution to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of SALW their ammunition and explosives in the Western Balkans by 2030.