Illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW) drive violence and insecurity across Latin America and the Caribbean, accounting for most homicides and enabling organized crime. Their illicit trafficking can also finance and sustain terrorist activity, with weapons flows creating points of cooperation between criminal and terrorist actors, particularly in contexts marked by porous borders, limited resources and governance challenges.
This side event will examine the links between SALW proliferation, terrorism and organized crime, share lessons learned, and promote cooperation, capacity-building and strengthened measures to prevent and disrupt illicit arms trafficking in the region.
Agenda
8:00–8:15 | Opening remarks
- H.E. Brian Christopher Manley Wallace, Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the United Nations
- H.E. Marcelo Eliseo Scappini Ricciardi, Permanent Representative of Paraguay to the United Nations
- Gabriela Gonzalez, Deputy Permanent Representative of Uruguay to the United Nations
- Carmen G. Cantor, Deputy Executive Director, United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED)
8:15–8:35 | Panel discussion: Key trends and challenges pertaining to addressing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean in a counter-terrorism context
Moderator: CTED
Panelists
- Callixtus Joseph, Assistant Director, Policy, Strategy and Innovation, CARICOM IMPACS, International Criminal Police Organization
- Adam Baird, Researcher, UNIDIR
- Katja Boettcher, Political Affairs Officer, United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean
8:40–9:10 | Panel discussion: Mapping of lessons and experiences in addressing the proliferation of SALW within Latin America and the Caribbean and in other contexts
Moderator: United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT)/United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT)
Panelists from
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uruguay
- Republic of Kazakhstan
- CTED and UNCCT/UNOCT
- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Questions and answers
Moderator: UNCCT/UNOCT
Closing remarks
- Steven Siqueira, Deputy Director, UNCCT/UNOCT
When and where
Thursday, 2 July 2026 | 8:00–9:30 EDT | Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations, 300 East 42nd Street, Third Floor, New York and online.
Check your local time here.
Participants
The event organizers encourage the participation of representatives of States, the United Nations, international and regional organizations, academia, research institutes and civil society.
RSVP
For online participation, please register here.
Due to limited capacity, in-person seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and will be confirmed prior to the event.
Funded by
In partnership with
