Progress in legislative harmonization in the Western Balkans in criminalizing arms trafficking activities

30 January 2024, Skopje, North Macedonia: UNODC through its Global Firearms Programme, convened a meeting focusing on the harmonization of criminal justice responses against arms trafficking and the activities under the UNTOC Review Mechanism.

Representatives from Western Balkans presented the progress in amending their criminal codes. These amendments reflect a stronger adherence to international norms and demonstrate tangible steps taken by each jurisdiction toward legal harmonization. The Macedonian and Montenegrin representatives shared the latest amendments to their criminal codes, which were aligned with the criminalization provisions of the UN Firearms Protocol.

The Macedonian representatives also highlighted the progress in establishing a collaborative framework between the Prosecutor’s General Office, Ministry of Interior, and Customs as a notable advancement. Similarly, Montenegro's recent legal changes were recognized for their comprehensive approach to combating arms trafficking. The meeting provided a forum for sharing inputs from all jurisdictions, offering a comprehensive view of the region's progress, future plans, and the need for continued support in legislative harmonization. The discussions emphasized the importance of sharing experiences and best practices to foster a unified regional approach.

A key component of the meeting was also the focus on the UNTOC Review Mechanism. The UNODC provided an overview of the mechanism, detailing the progress updates for each participating jurisdiction, and discussing the tools and support available for the review process.

The event resulted in a deeper alignment of national laws with international standards and a commitment to ongoing regional cooperation. The discussions led to a shared understanding of the challenges ahead and the need for continuous support and collaboration among Western Balkan jurisdictions and UNODC.

 

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.