Government of Dominica and UNLIREC Convene High-Level Inter-Institutional Roundtable to Advance Firearms Control and Citizen Security

The Government of the Commonwealth of

Dominica, through the Ministry of National Security and Legal Affairs, in partnership with the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLIREC) and the

CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS), will host a three-day Inter-Institutional Roundtable Meeting from 8 to 10 April 2026.

The meeting is aimed at strengthening national action to address illicit firearms and armed violence.

The meeting brings together senior representatives from national security, law

enforcement, justice, foreign affairs, gender affairs, monitoring and evaluation, and other key government institutions. The discussions form part of Dominica’s ongoing efforts to advance implementation of the Caribbean Firearms Roadmap, a regional framework designed to reduce illicit firearms flows, prevent armed violence, and strengthen public safety across the Caribbean.

Over the course of three days, participants will engage in policy dialogues, technical presentations, and facilitated sessions aimed at strengthening inter-agency coordination, improving firearms control measures and advancing the development of Dominica’s National Action Plan under the Roadmap.

Key thematic areas include firearms trafficking, legislation, marking and traceability, weapons and ammunition management, prevention of diversion and data-driven decision-making.

The Roundtable also provides a platform for fostering collaboration between national authorities, UNLIREC, CARICOM IMPACS and international partners, “Building a Resilient Public Service: A Collective Response”promoting a whole-of-government approach to firearms control and violence prevention.

The meeting is expected to conclude with the identification of priority national actions, possible roles for civil society organisations and areas for future technical cooperation in support of safer communities and sustainable

development in Dominica. This meeting was made possible thanks to funding from the Government of the United States of America.

Addresses will be delivered by the Honourable Rayburn Blackmoore, Minister for National Security and Legal Affairs, along with other Government officials, as well as representatives from CARICOM, IMPACS and UNLIREC.

from CARICOM IMPACS and UNLIREC.