There has been a growing significance of gender-responsive small arms control in Mexico and Central America, particularly given the alarming rates of gun violence and femicide in the region. GENSAC and its members are leading the charge, building the skills and knowledge of civil society and security officials alike, with one goal in mind: saving lives and preventing violence.
In support of this, in October 2025, GENSAC members from across Mexico and Central America gathered in Panama City, Panama, for a two-day seminar titled “Promoting Peace and Gender Equality: Regional Contribution to the Implementation of International Instruments on Arms Control and the Prevention of Armed Violence and Arms Trafficking.”
The event, organized by Fundación Arias for Peace and Human Progress in coordination with GENSAC, and hosted by Panama’s Dirección Institucional de Asuntos de Seguridad Pública (DIASP), brought together over 30 representatives from government institutions, law enforcement, and civil society to strengthen collaboration and deepen understanding of international frameworks on arms control and gender-based violence prevention.
The seminar demonstrated the value of building capacity in real time across countries and sectors. Participants left with strengthened networks, practical tools, and a renewed sense of collective purpose to advance peace and gender equality through more coherent, evidence-based approaches to arms control.
Building Institutional Capacity and Regional Collaboration
The seminar provided a unique platform to enhance the technical and institutional capacities of Panamanian authorities responsible for arms control, including the Ministry of Security, National Police, Customs, National Migration Service, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Discussions centered around the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and its legal obligations, particularly the requirement to consider the risks of gender-based violence when authorizing arms transfers. The sessions also explored complementary international instruments such as the Inter-American Convention Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials (CIFTA), the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (UN-PoA), and the Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management (GFA), underscoring how joint implementation can improve coherence and reduce duplication of efforts across institutions.
Integrating a Gender Lens in Arms Control
One of the seminar’s key achievements was the integration of a gender perspective throughout the agenda. Presentations by experts from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico examined how armed violence affects women, men, and diverse communities differently and how these insights can inform national and regional strategies.
María del Sol Hidalgo of Fundación Arias underscored the disproportionate effects of gun violence on women and girls, while Magda Coss from Inspiring Girls–Mexico emphasized the importance of analyzing violence through an intersectional gender lens to uncover underlying power dynamics and social norms that perpetuate inequality.
Participants also examined national good practices, such as Costa Rica’s legislation linking domestic violence and firearms control, which mandates the confiscation of weapons in households where domestic violence is reported and allocates a portion of arms import taxes to support survivors of femicide.
Regional Experiences and Lessons Learned
Country representatives shared concrete experiences in implementing international commitments.
- Guatemala highlighted the work of its National Commission for the Prevention of Armed Violence as a model for coordination.
- Mexico presented its centralized system for arms commercialization, ensuring traceability and transparency in transfers.
- Honduras compiled regional best practices, from marking and tracing mechanisms to survivor funds and community-level awareness campaigns, that can inspire replication across Latin America.
Panama’s DIASP and Secretariat for Criminological Policy provided a national perspective, presenting statistics that underscored the gravity of firearms-related violence: to date in 2025, 89.5% of homicides in Panama have been committed with a firearm, with young men aged 15–34 most affected. Authorities reaffirmed the urgency of strengthening control systems, information sharing, and cross-sectoral cooperation to prevent diversion and misuse. They also emphasized that any strategy to combat armed violence must strike a careful balance between preventive measures and law enforcement actions.
GENSAC members also had the opportunity to observe a demonstration of small arms and ammunition destruction, witnessing the processes used by Panamanian authorities to ensure that seized weapons are permanently disabled. Firearms shredders are used to break small arms into pieces, rendering them unusable, while heat is used to melt ammunition and explosives. Participants additionally learned about Panama’s firearm amnesty programs, which encourage communities to voluntarily surrender weapons, an important preventive measure that complements broader violence reduction efforts.
Commitment to Continued Action
At the close of the seminar, participants expressed their commitment to maintaining inter-institutional collaboration, integrating gender-responsive approaches in their work, and advancing the implementation of international instruments such as the ATT and CIFTA.
Authorities highlighted the value of integrating diverse institutions and sectors to “speak the same language” at the regional level, reinforcing coherence and mutual learning in efforts to prevent armed violence.
For GENSAC, the Panama seminar represented another step towards its mission of empowering civil society and government actors to work together for gender-responsive small arms control, strengthening both technical knowledge and collective action for a safer, more equal region.