Security & Strategic Review - September 2018 (ISSN 1741-4202)

Paraguay has just ratified the United Nations Firearms Protocol (UNFP). The protocol commits Paraguay to combating the trafficking of firearms in exchange for receiving technical assistance. The ratification of the international treaty is encouraging. However, it came just days after the Paraguayan authorities uncovered what appears to be a major corruption ring dedicated to stealing firearms from the Paraguayan security forces, presumably to be sold on the black market. This has raised serious questions about the Paraguayan authorities’ capability to effectively tackle arms trafficking.