Expert Group Meeting on Harmonization of domestic criminal legislation with the UN Firearms Protocol

2 December 2022, Belgrade, Serbia: UNODC Global Firearms Programme (GFP) held an expert group meeting on the harmonization of domestic criminal legislation with the UN Firearms Protocol with 20 participants from the Ministries of Justice, Ministries of Interior, and prosecutor’s offices from North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia to review the process achieved by Montenegro and North Macedonia, share good practices and identify areas for further support to the Serbian authorities.

Pursuant to UNODC GFP’s Gap Analysis and comparative analysis reports of trafficking offences in the three countries, the Ministries of Justice formed working groups for amending and supplementing Criminal Codes and Criminal Procedure Codes. The process advanced to a certain degree within all mentioned jurisdictions, and UNODC GFP findings and suggestions served as foundation for defining relevant firearms-related provisions offences. Following interventions from each jurisdiction on progress in this area, the participants also identified the needs for further UNODC GFP support in the harmonization of both material and procedural criminal legislation, the participation of national authorities in the UNODC’s Review Mechanism for implementing the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and its Protocols, and participation in the relevant Conference of the Parties and Firearms Working Group meetings.

This activity is implemented with 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.

For more information:

13.Expert Group Meeting Harmonization of domestic criminal legislation with the UN Firearms Protocol (unodc.org)