15 December 2021
UN
Afghanistan: Humanitarian crisis threatens basic human rights
Respect for fundamental rights and freedoms by the de facto authorities in Afghanistan is critical to ensuring stability in the country, the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Tuesday in Geneva.
Briefing the UN Human Rights Council, Nada Al-Nashif detailed how the profound humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is threatening basic rights, with women, girls, and civil society among those most affected.
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, 2 December:
Slavery is not merely a historical relic
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) more than 40 million people worldwide are victims of modern slavery. Although modern slavery is not defined in law, it is used as an umbrella term covering practices such as forced labour, debt bondage, forced marriage, and human trafficking. Essentially, it refers to situations of exploitation that a person cannot refuse or leave because of threats, violence, coercion, deception, and/or abuse of power.
Women and girls’ needs require urgent attention as climate shocks, conflict and COVID fuel humanitarian crises
$835 million is needed to provide life-saving essential services to meet health and protection needs of 54.5 million displaced women, girls and young people in 2022
UNITED NATIONS, New York, 13 December 2021 - Natural disasters, intensified by climate change, conflict and the continuing coronavirus pandemic, are driving up humanitarian needs and displacement worldwide, taking a devastating and disproportionate toll on women and girls who are less able to access life-saving services and less likely to be part of decision-making that affects their lives.
First-ever Global Report on Corruption in Sport flags urgent need for unified, international response to corrupt practices in sport
Up to $1.7 trillion is estimated to be wagered on illicit betting markets each year, according to a new report released today by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Offering a playbook to effectively tackle crime and corruption in sports by setting out a range of concrete policy considerations, the Global Report on Corruption in Sport also reveals the staggering scale, manifestation, and complexity of corruption and organized crime in sport at the global, regional, and national levels. Developed in partnership with nearly 200 experts from across governments, sport organizations, the private sector, academia, and related stakeholders, it is the most in-depth review of its type to date.
Human Rights Day, 10 December
2021 Theme: EQUALITY - Reducing inequalities, advancing human rights
Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December — the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
This year’s Human Rights Day theme relates to 'Equality' and Article 1 of the UDHR – “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” The principles of equality and non-discrimination are at the heart of human rights. Equality is aligned with the 2030 Agenda and with the UN approach set out in the document Shared Framework on Leaving No One Behind: Equality and Non-Discrimination at the Heart of Sustainable Development.
INTERPOL
Cryptocurrency crime: preventing the misuse of virtual assets by organized crime for money laundering
A global conference to boost investigation, detection and disruption of networks behind virtual assets based money laundering
LYON, France – A global online virtual assets conference has concluded with a call to protect the world’s financial systems by increasing multi-sector cooperation to strengthen cryptocurrency crime investigations.
Americas: 216 arrests in INTERPOL-led operation against migrant smuggling and human trafficking
LYON, France – An operation led by INTERPOL targeting migrant smuggling and human trafficking across the Americas has sparked 216 arrests and the identification of more than 10,000 irregular migrants from 61 different countries.
Operation Turquesa III (29 November – 3 December) saw authorities in 34 countries carry out targeted, coordinated enforcement actions against criminal networks believed to be moving vulnerable men, women and children across borders for profit.
Depleting fish stocks fueling transnational crime
A global operation coordinated by INTERPOL shows fisheries crime linked to other serious crimes such as human trafficking and the smuggling of drugs and explosives.
LYON, FRANCE: Depleting fish stocks are having a detrimental impact on the world’s biodiversity and food chain. According to INTERPOL’s environmental and maritime security teams, which coordinated a five-month intelligence-led operation (June- October 2021) spanning 34 countries and all ‘Seven Seas’, the decrease in marine living resources are also driving a surge in fisheries-related crime.
Europol
544 arrests and €63 million of fake pharmaceuticals and illegal doping substances seized
More than 6 500 doping checks performed during Europe-wide operation Shield II
Europol coordinated operation Shield II, a global effort to target trafficking of counterfeit and misused medicines and doping substances. The operation was led by the French Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale/OCLAESP), the Finnish Customs (Tulli), the Hellenic Police/Financial Police Division (Ελληνική Αστυνομία / Διεύθυνση Οικονομικής Αστυνομίας) and the Italian Carabinieri Corps (NAS Carabinieri). It also involved law enforcement authorities from 26 countries (20 EU Member States and 7 third-party countries), the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the World Anti-Doping Agency and the private sector. The operation took place from 1 April to 15 October 2021.
Borders, Bytes and Brokering Future Agreements: News from the Fourth SIRIUS Conference
The SIRIUS project, a cross-border intelligence-sharing platform co-implemented by Europol and Eurojust, in close partnership with the European Judicial Network, concluded its fourth annual conference this week. Among the more than 800 participants in the online conference were law enforcement and judicial authorities, plus representatives from Online Service Providers.
Thousands gather virtually to share knowledge of virtual assets-based money laundering and other crypto-enabled crimes
The 5th Global Conference on Criminal Finances and Cryptocurrencies on 7-8 December 2021, co-organised by the Basel Institute on Governance, INTERPOL and Europol, saw several thousand participants from the public and private sectors gathering to exchange knowledge on virtual assets-based money laundering and related risks in the crypto sphere. Overall, fast and cooperative action by governments, law enforcement, regulators and the private sector is essential to tackle the risks and keep this dynamic industry safe for all.