15 November 2021 

UN

Uphold safety, human rights on Belarus-Poland border, UN agencies urge

With news footage showing migrants on the border between Belarus and Poland attempting to dodge teargas and make their way through razor wire, UN agencies called for an “immediate de-escalation”, following weeks of rising tension.

Alarmed by the latest reports, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) issued a joint statement calling on States to ensure “the safety and human rights of migrants and refugees”.

The border became a flash point after the European Union imposed sanctions on Belarus on the basis of alleged human rights violations, following the crackdown on protests, and the forcing down of a commercial flight between two EU nations by Belarus in May, in order to remove a leading dissident, according to news reports.

Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Liz Throssell
Location: Geneva
Date: 12 November 2021

We are concerned at events this week in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, where police stepped in to protect a mural of the convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic painted on a building in the city centre.

The mural in Belgrade is not an isolated incident. Posters, graffiti, other materials and statements praising war criminals are found in other parts of Serbia, as well as in various towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and elsewhere in the region.

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Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Commend Policies in Favour of the Family and Women in the Russian Federation and Ask about Gender-Based Violence, and the List of Professions Restricted to Women

A Committee Expert commended the Russian Federation for traditionally pursuing policies in favour of the family and women, consisting of awareness-raising projects, policies on prevention of violence and trafficking in persons, as well as open shelters and helplines for victims. The Expert also cited the adoption of strategies in favour of women. One Expert asked whether there were plans for improving a weak national legislative framework to address gender-based violence against women?

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INTERPOL

Innovation to beat cybercrime acceleration the theme of 2021 Europol-INTERPOL Cybercrime Conference

Cybersecurity innovation the backbone of digital transformation

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands – A joint Europol-INTERPOL cybercrime conference has concluded with a call to develop innovative policing solutions to boost cybercrime investigations and help countries exploit digital evidence.

Hosted at the Europol headquarters in The Hague, the 9th Europol-INTERPOL Cybercrime Conference (11 November) brought together law enforcement officials and selected public sector partners from 47 countries, as well as key European Union institutions such as the European Council, Eurojust and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL).

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Joint global ransomware operation sees arrests and criminal network dismantled

Police and private industry partnership lands ransomware criminals behind bars

Singapore – A four-year operation across five continents has disrupted a ransomware cybercrime gang and seen the arrest of seven suspects believed to be behind global malware crime operations.

Codenamed ‘Quicksand’ (GoldDust) and carried out by 19 law enforcement agencies in 17 countries, the transcontinental operation saw officers collect and examine intelligence to establish a global threat picture about attacks by ransomware families - particularly GandCrab and Revil-Sodinokibi -  and the suspects behind them.

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INTERPOL-led operation takes down prolific cybercrime ring

Major gang members in handcuffs, assets seized

SEOUL, Korea - A 30-month transcontinental investigation and operation has resulted in arrests and Red Notices for suspects believed to be behind a global malware crime network.

Two Red Notices, which are internationally wanted persons alerts, have been circulated to INTERPOL’s 194 member countries following a request by Korea’s cybercrime investigation division via INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau in Seoul.

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INTERPOL-supported financial crime operation: Irish police dismantle local network operating worldwide

First INTERPOL financial crime field operation

An INTERPOL operational team deployed to Dublin for financial crime investigations into local organized crime networks has seen national police make global connections and identify suspects worldwide.

At the request of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Dublin, INTERPOL’s Global Financial Crime Task Force (IGFCTF) provided on-the-ground support to the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) (19 - 21 October) as part of Operation Skein, Ireland’s 18-month long nationwide investigation into an Irish based transnational criminal organization engaged in financial crime.

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Europol

IOCTA 2021 unveils the most recent cyber threat (r)evolutions

The exceptional COVID-19 crisis has fuelled the increase of cybercrime in all its forms, while grey infrastructure serves to facilitate the proliferation of crime

The accelerated digitalisation related to the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly influenced the development of a number of cyber threats, according to the new edition of Europol’s Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment. Criminals have been quick to abuse the current circumstances to increase profits, spreading their tentacles to various areas and exposing vulnerabilities, connected to systems, hospitals or individuals.

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Tabletop exercise hosted by Europol to disrupt terrorist content online

International tabletop exercise organised to further bolster cross-sector collaboration in the aftermath of a terrorist event

On 5 November 2021, Europol, in cooperation with the European Commission, organised a tabletop exercise to test the implementation of the EU Crisis Protocol.  The exercise   took place in the framework of the EU Internet Forum and examined the collaboration between government authorities and the tech industry to contain the viral spread of   terrorist  and violent extremist content online in the aftermath of a terrorist event. Among the tested elements was real-time communication between governments and online       service providers and the interaction of processes when more than one crisis mechanism (sector/geography-specific) is initiated.

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