Improvement of data and SALW Collection Practices and SALW related Investigations (UNDP North Macedonia)

Duration

January – December 2023

Beneficiary/ies

Ministry of Interior

Donor/s

Multi-Partner Trust Fund

Funding Amount

USD 513,600

Funding gaps (if any)

N/A

Objective/s

• Building on the country’s commitment to achieve sustainable solutions to the illegal possession, misuse and trafficking of SALW and its ammunition, the project will adopt a systematic and holistic approach to solving most pertinent issues of improving SALW-related practices of the national authorities and create synergies with already implemented activities in the area of SALW control.
• By focusing on attaining three of the seven Roadmap goals (namely, Goal 2, and Goal 7) the project objective will be to further improve data collection, analysis, and dissemination of information on SALW, to increase the speed and reliability of firearm investigations, and improve SALW stockpile management, thus contributing to the fight against illegal arms trafficking (IAT) and illegal possession of SALW.

Contributing to the Roadmap goal/s

Contributing to the Roadmap overall targets

Goal 2:

• Standardize and institutionalize data collection on firearms, by gender and age, regarding legal and illegal SALW/firearms interdictions, armed violence incidents, ballistic evidence, and other firearms related data resulting in periodic regional FAE risk analysis and threat assessment.
• Increase national analytical capacities and institutionalize firearms data analysis

Goal 7:

• Strengthen the capacities of relevant state institutions (armed forces, law enforcement, forest guards, customs, correctional services) to establish inspection systems and implement Life Cycle Management of SALW and ammunition (where relevant).
• Ensure safe and secure SALW/firearms and ammunition storage facilities designated based on identified needs and in accordance with international standards.
• Increase human resources and administrative capacities of state institutions for monitoring, oversight and evaluation of the firearms and ammunitions stocks

Key activities implemented up to date

Output 1.1

• The implementation plan of the Information Management System (IMS) that allows gathering of SALW related data was developed, three Pilot Police Units have been established.
• The needs-based analysis related to domestic violence cases committed with firearms was prepared and has been confirmed from MoI.

Output 1.2

• The specialized equipment for Forensic Department, recognized as microscope for gunshot residue DESKTOP SEM-EDD, was successfully delivered including installation of the device and training of relevant personnel. A study visit was conducted to the National Forensic Center of the Republic of Serbia, in September 2023 with high-level representatives of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of North Macedonia.

Output 1.3

• The construction works for upgrade of electrical installations in order to strengthen the security of the weapons warehouses in Gjorche Petrov were completed, marking significant progress towards fortifying and improving the security of weapons warehouses. This upgrade was implemented as a result of budget savings, as the original project only foresaw the preparation of technical documentation.
• The Laser Marking Machine for marking of firearms was successfully donated to the Ministry of Interior, with installation and training of relevant staff members within the Ministry of Interior.