Peacekeeping and Security
A business worth 50 million dollars
Nur is a common name but it is just as likely that it is not his real name; he has been living for some time on the coast of Kenya near Lamu one of the last standing examples of Islamic architecture not far from the Somali border. He is a little over forty years old he speaks broken English and is constantly chewing on “khat” leaves from a plant that grows in some areas of Kenya and Ethiopia which cause a mild state of euphoria and are commonly used in Somalia. Although he was initially diffident and almost scared of my questions he overcame his hesitation in front of a few banknotes and accepted my invitation to tell his story and his experience as a pirate.
Somalia at a glance
Somalia became independent in the 1960s when the two protectorates Great Britain’s in the South and Italy’s in the North were unified. A military coup headed by Mohamed Siad Barre in 1969 brought the country into a military regime that very soon shifted into an authoritarian rule which somehow managed to generate a certain degree of balance. After having experienced such ‘stability’ the country precipitated into a civil chaos in 1991 after Siad Barre was overthrown by opposing clans. Since then Somalia whose territory occupies a strategic and crucial position in the Horn of Africa has been living in full anarchy. Shortly after Barre’s capitulation the northern region of Somalia self-declared the independent Republic of Somaliland a country never recognized by other states which however has been preserving a stable existence: the Republic includes today eight administrative districts and it keeps its effort to guarantee democratic representation holding elections at all levels local and parliamentary.
Restorative justice. Restoring victims and communities
What do the following news stories have in common? The Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme responsible for the biggest corporate securities fraud in history the Austrian rape and murder case of Josef Fritzi whose daughter was enslaved for 24 years and the Irish Republican Army shooting two British soldiers and injuring four others in March 2009 breaking the peace outside Belfast? The answer is that we will probably never know what steps have been taken to provide a form of reparation to the victims or their families in ways that allow them to live their lives in peace. Victims-driven restorative justice is happening all around the globe. It is challenging the traditional criminal justice system by providing a new vision for systemic justice reform. The crime victims and those who recognize their unmet needs are the ones who are increasingly leading the effort to make this transition. However despite thorough evidence and numerous restorative justice evaluations the victims’ appeals for restoration are rarely heard.
Tackling cyber crime and cyber terrorism through a methodological approach
Destabilizing factors in urban settings: explaining violence and social disorganization in Ciudad Juarez
The most visible manifestations of urban violence encompass physical and psychological harm against persons – from homicide to other forms of victimization. For more than a century social scientists have also studied the ways in which violence reconfigures social and spatial relations and triggers cycles of insecurity and fear that span generations. There is also evidence that “structural” forms of urban violence arising from the degradation of urban economies and austerity measures can equally contribute to a “break down” in social life leading to new forms of violence. An especially disconcerting manifestation of urban violence is found in Mexico.
Illicit trafficking of precious metals and its destabilizing factors in systems of affected countries
Illicit trafficking in precious metals is an integral part of a growing international trend of which the continued existence depends on organised crime corruption and developmental inequalities. The problem of illicit trafficking in precious metals entails organised criminal groups exploiting loopholes in national and international legislation as well as gaps in the trade monitoring procedures.
From encryption to failure of traditional investigation instruments: The challenges of fighting cybercrime
The shift from industrial societies to information societies 1 and the related dependence of the society as well as the economy on the availability of Internet services have moved the attention of politics towards the cybercrime topic. While in other emerging areas of crime it is possible to use traditional crime prevention and investigation strategies the fight against cybercrime faces unique challenges that require a special attention from both investigators and lawmakers. This article provides an overview of some of those challenges.
Close up. Reporting in times of war
Once upon a time there was journalism. Many have recited the de profundis for the reporting profession over the last few years. Because of the economic crisis which has been stifling newspapers for the last two years. And before that in an even more substantial way because of how conflicts in the post 9/11 world have changed the way of telling History and the stories of those who are called upon to cover them.
Interview with a hacker: Chronicles of a black hat
The internet: Anonymous forever
Universal identification is portrayed by some as the holy grail of Internet security. Anonymity is bad the argument goes; and if we abolish it we can ensure only the proper people have access to their own information. We will know who is sending us spam and who is trying to hack into corporate networks. And when there are massive denial-of-service attacks such as those against Estonia or Georgia or South Korea we will know who was responsible and take action accordingly.
Webcam child sex tourism: stopping the growing number of predators
Among many others the Webcam Child Sex Tourism (WCST) is one of the emerging crimes against children and represents a violation of the United Nations Conventions on child rights. WCST is illegal in most countries. Some have laws prohibiting adults from conversing with minors about sex. Others prohibit “enticing” a minor to engage in sexual conduct. Other countries outlaw showing obscene images to minors and most countries prohibit viewing sexual images and sexual performances involving minors. Thus Governments should adopt policies that give their law enforcement agencies the mandate to proactively search for predators seeking to engage in WCST on public online places known to be hotspots for child abuse.
The death penalty: a child rights issue and a public health issue
2013 saw the first ever United Nations Human Rights Council panel discussion on Children of Parents Sentenced to Death or Executed. The author summarizes new research on this neglected topic.
The last stop
Violent extremism is the last stop in a long process. It is the most visible type of extremism and it creates deep and painful traces in many people’s lives. With hindsight we ask ourselves over and over what we could have done differently. It is not necessarily wrong if we do it to learn but if we do it to undo what cannot be undone our starting point is wrong. We do not have time to regret. We have time to act and we must do that all the time because violent extremism is about people’s lives. It is about the fate of people who we might be able to help. The debate about violent extremism is not necessarily merely about what we are left with in the aftermath of a tragic event but about what forms people who are willing to take to violence to express their opinions.
Avoid becoming a victim of cybercrime
The news is full of reports detailing the stories of victims who have lost thousands even millions of dollars at the hands of cyber criminals. Many of us know someone who has already been the victim of one of these crimes. As widespread as cybercrime appears to be it would be easy to conclude there is little anyone can do to avoid becoming a victim. However the prevalence of cybercrime does not mean that victimization is inevitable or that people should avoid using the Internet. Users can make themselves aware of the vulnerabilities its use creates and can take steps to reduce their risks.
When citizens start destabilizing the power of mafia
The impact of the mafia on our societies is complex and multidimensional: it affects our politics our economy our culture our development and our opportunities. In other terms it affects our society as a whole.
Cybercrime and organized crime
The current era of cybercrime is no longer dominated by hackers accessing computer systems just for fun or notoriety. The development and growth of the digital economy has changed the criminal landscape dramatically. High rewards combined with low risks have made digital networks an attractive environment for various types of criminal groups. In the non-digital era organised crime sought after the safe havens offered by countries with weak governments and unstable political regimes. Today’s organised criminal groups can benefit from national jurisdictions that do not have proper legal frameworks and technical capabilities to fight cybercrime. The easiness of communication anonymity and the accessibility of tools for illegal operations have transformed cybercrime into a global fast-expanding and profit-driven industry with organised criminal groups thriving behind it.
Online crimes against children
The emergence of the Internet as a mass consumer product has not necessarily created any entirely new genres of crime but it has certainly given a new twist to some very old and familiar ones. Above all it has changed the scale on which a number of offences are carried out. Crimes against children are a classic example. Crimes involving the production and distribution of child abuse images are a very specific case in point.
Environmental crime and instability: the role of criminal networks in the trafficking and illegal dumping of hazardous waste
Amongst environmental crimes trafficking and illegal dumping of waste has become a significant source of revenue attracting growing interest of unscrupulous brokers as well as criminal networks. This crime poses not only a serious prothreat to the environment and human health but has also become one of the causes for social and economic instability.
The value of natural capital: a risk or an opportunity?
What is the value of a forest? And that of a river? The answer depends on whom you ask: indigenous people who depend on the forest and consider trees and water streams to be sacred surely have a totally different idea than the manager of a timber company.