The High Level Group of Scientific Advisors of the EC Scientific Advice Mechanism provides the Commission with high quality, timely and independent scientific advice on specific policy issues where such advice is critical to the development of Union policies or legislation. The advice will be based on the best possible scientific evidence. The group is composed of seven members with an outstanding level of expertise and who collectively cover a wide range of scientific fields and expertise relevant for EU policy making.

Acknowledging the broader scope of the cybersecurity topic, the SAM High Level Group agreed at its second meeting on 17 March 2016 to focus its work on the question of Digital Identities for a Digital Single Market. The cybersecurity opinion is foreseen in early 2017.

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Kenya: UNODC launches manual on human rights and criminal justice responses to terrorism

Terrorism is a major challenge to the global community of nations. Acts, methods and practices of terrorism are activities aimed at the destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and democracy. In this context UNODC launched a new manual on Human Rights and Criminal Justice Responses to Terrorism tailor made for Kenya.

UNODC Chief welcomes landmark resolution on protecting cultural heritage from terrorist groups, and during armed conflicts

Recently, UNODC Executive Director, Yury Fedotov, welcomed a new UN Security Council resolution on trafficking in cultural property. "The resolution adopted by the SC addresses the vital issue of trafficking in cultural property as a source of terrorism financing, and sets out ways of protecting cultural heritage during armed conflict where it is most vulnerable.

Nigeria: EU, UNODC and CTED partnership boosts human rights-compliant measures against terrorism

Nigeria continues to take important steps towards countering the terrorist threat facing the country. However, serious challenges remain and, in response to that, Nigeria, UNODC, EU and CTED are continuing partnering to strengthen Nigeria's criminal justice measures against the terrorist threat of Boko Haram.

Joint UNODC/WHO initiative addresses public health impact of community management of opioid overdose

Drug use and drug use disorders are a public health, developmental and security problem both in industrialized and developing countries. Out of a total of more than 200,000 drug-related deaths in 2014, overdose deaths contribute to between roughly a third to a half of this figure, and which are attributable in most cases to opioids.

Last Chance to Apply for the 2017 Annual Meeting

Revitalizing the United Nations for Human Rights, Peace and Development The deadline for submitting paper and panel proposals for the 2017 Annual Meeting is fast approaching. Submit your proposal online by Monday April 10, 2017 for your chance to present. The meeting will be held at Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul, Korea, June 15–17, 2017

Innovations to Prevent Gender-Based Violence: Building Evidence for Effective Solutions:

The World Bank Group and the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) would like to invite you to be part of their Development Marketplace Award Ceremony event to be held at the World Bank Headquarters, Washington DC. USA on 18 April 2017 from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM EDT. During the event 10 teams from around the world will be awarded for the innovative work they lead on the prevention of GBV.

Europol's role in the fight against terrorism and organised crime

The Jill Dando Institute for Security and Crime Science and the Organised Crime Research Network are pleased to announce a special presentation as part of its programme of work around tackling organised crime and terrorism.

With Britain's exit from the EU on the horizon, they invited Mr Rob Wainwright, Director of Europol, the European law enforcement agency, to come and speak to staff and students about terrorism and organised crime across the world and Britain's continued involvement in the EU's fight against it.

You can watch his talk here. ››

22nd GCOCP: The AIF-programme dedicated to the international (non-german speaking) audience is now available

19./20.Juni 2017, Hanover 11th AIF / 22nd GCOCP The AIF-programme dedicated to the international (non-german speaking) audience is now available. The international programme consists of the Opening Plenum and the Closing Plenum of the GCOCP, which are translated into English language. During the Congress parallel sessions contribute to the AIF-programme. Overall these are ten sessions, which are held in English language or translated into English language. Some of these sessions can be offered due to close cooperation with our partners: the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Glen Mills Academie Deutschland e.V. and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). In a side event you will be informed by Ms Stephanie Lee and Ms Elizabeth Drake from the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) about current research results in the field of cost-benefit-analysis on prevention programmes. For our international participants, we also offer a Guided Tour through the exhibition area in English language. If you are interested in participating in these tours please contact: aif@gcocp.org. The whole programme of the GCOCP can be found on the german Website or as pdf-document.

International Programme ››
The whole programme of the GCOCP ››

IRRESISTIBLE? symposium on the phenomenon of CORRUPTION

Corruption is a highly complex social phenomenon that defies clear definition. In the long term, corruption in all its various forms is certain to negatively affect modernisation and transformation processes and to produce inequality. Corruption is present in various qualities and quantities around the world – in eastern European countries it is part of everyday life, both in the public and private sector. Although it affects many areas of life, and despite it being culturally conditioned, corruption is often reduced to its economic and political dimensions. Analysis of the phenomena of corruption therefore often excludes questions such as where the historical roots of corruption lie, what social framework conditions enable corruption, and what shapes, structures and patterns corruption is currently taking in politics and society. How are the oligarchy and corruption linked in Ukraine, for example? How does state corruption operate in different countries and how are (civil) societies responding to this? What is the role of traditional and digital media in the so-called fight against corruption? And what forms of artistic reception, narratives and narrative strategies have arisen as a result? The international symposium IRRESISTIBLE? on 16 – 18 June 2017 in Berlin, intends to fill these gaps. It takes a multi-perspective view of corruption, focusing not only on political and economic aspects, but also on social, cultural, historical, religious, artistic, philosophical, civic and journalism-related dimensions.The symposium introduces the topic and offers the opportunity to engage with experts from corruption research and the fight against corruption. The symposium is also an educational platform and means of exchange for young target groups and multipliers from Eastern partnership countries and Europe. Building on an exchange between disciplines and actors, IRRESISTIBLE? sensitises a broad range of target groups to the phenomenon of corruption in the countries of the Eastern partnership and Germany. It communicates the phenomenon of corruption through interdisciplinary approaches and formats that are being created in collaboration between different actors. The international symposium will be accompanied by a cultural programme of movies, exhibitions and performances in Ukraine and Moldova, implemented by the cooperation partner Goethe Institute Ukraine. The artistic approaches in public spaces and in different regions link various positions, making them and their respective interconnections and contexts legible to a broad audience. Parts of the cultural approaches will be presented and discussed during the symposium. IRRESISTIBLE? highlights the global dimensions of corruption and points to the multiple interdependencies between a range of actors from the political, economic and cultural sphere and civil society. The application form for the symposium will be launched soon. 16.06.2017,09:00 until 18.06.2017,13:30 organiser IRRESISTIBLE? is a cooperation project of the Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb) and the Goethe Institute Ukraine, supported by the Federal Foreign Office.

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European Commission: EU Justice Scoreboard 2017: justice systems becoming more effective, but challenges remain

Brussels, 10 April 2017 Today, the European Commission publishes the 2017 EU Justice Scoreboard which gives a comparative overview of the efficiency, quality and independence of justice systems in the EU Member States. Its aim is to assist national authorities to improve the effectiveness of their justice systems. Compared to previous editions, the 2017 Scoreboard looks into new aspects of the functioning of justice systems, for example, how easily consumers can access justice and which channels they use to submit complaints against companies. For the first time, it also shows the length of criminal court proceedings relating to money laundering offences. "The 5th edition of the EU Justice Scoreboard confirms that effective justice systems are essential to build trust in a business and investment-friendly environment in the single market" said Vĕra Jourová, EU Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality. "I encourage Member States to ensure that any justice reform respects the rule of law and judicial independence. This is key for citizens and businesses to fully enjoy their rights. An independent and well-functioning justice system is a fundamental pillar of every democracy." Key findings of the 2017 edition include: Shorter civil and commercial court proceedings: including in a number of Member States whose justice systems are facing challenges. This improvement is clearer over the five-year period than in the short-term. Analysis of consumer protection enforcement: Member States are responsible for the enforcement of EU consumer law. The Scoreboard shows that the length of administrative proceedings and judicial review in this field varies a lot depending on the country. It also shows that many consumer issues are solved directly by consumer authorities and they don't need to go to courts. Analysis of the fight against money laundering: As required by the 4th Anti-Money Laundering directive, Member States have provided for the first time data in this area. It shows a large variation in case length – from less than half a year to almost three years- for proceedings dealing with anti-money laundering offenses. Limited access to justice for poorer citizens: the Scoreboard shows that in some Member States, citizens whose income is below the poverty threshold do not receive any legal aid in some types of disputes. Use of ICT tools still limited in some countries: while it's widely used for communication between courts and lawyers in half of the Member States, the use of ICT for electronic signature is very limited in over half the EU countries. New data on how lawyers use ICT when communicating with courts again underlines the importance of electronic communication for well-functioning justice systems. Improved or stable perception of judicial independence among the general public: this is the case in more than two-thirds of Member States, compared to 2016. The trend is the same for businesses' perception since 2010. Among the reasons for the perceived lack of independence of courts and judges, the interference or pressure from government and politicians was the most stated reason. The 2017 edition also presents data on the safeguards in place in the different Member States to guarantee the judicial independence of judges. This reflects the strong importance of rule of law for the EU. Quality standards: Most Member States have standards fixing time limits or timeframes to avoid lengthy judicial proceedings. However, such standards are not in place in certain Member States with less efficient justice systems. Next steps The findings of the 2017 Scoreboard are being taken into account for the ongoing country-specific assessment carried out within the 2017 European Semester process. The country reports for Member States were published on 22 February 2017 and include findings on the justice systems of a number Member States (Belgium, Bulgaria, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia) (see IP/17/308). Background The Scoreboard mainly focuses on litigious civil and commercial cases as well as administrative cases in order to assist Member States in their efforts to pave the way for a more investment, business and citizen-friendly environment. The Scoreboard focuses on the three main elements of an effective justice system: Efficiency: indicators on the length of proceedings, clearance rate and number of pending cases. Quality: indicators on legal aid, court fees, training, monitoring of court activities, budget, and human resources. Independence: indicators on the perceived judicial independence among companies and the general public, and on safeguards relating to judges. Improving the effectiveness of national justice systems is a well-established priority of the European semester — the EU's annual cycle of economic policy coordination. The EU Justice Scoreboard helps Member States to achieve this by providing an annual comparative overview of functioning of national justice systems. This overview is complemented by country-specific assessments carried out through bilateral dialogue with the national authorities and stakeholders concerned. This assessment may lead to country-specific recommendations on the improvement of national justice systems. In the 2016 European semester, based on a proposal from the Commission, the Council addressed country specific recommendations to six Member States in this area (Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Portugal and Slovakia). The Scoreboard uses different sources of information. Main sources of data are provided by the Council of Europe Commission for the Evaluation of the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ). Other sources of data include European networks such as the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary and the Network of the Presidents of the Supreme Judicial Courts of the EU, the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) and various committees in specific areas of EU legislation.

For more information ››

Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the European Rules on community sanctions and measures

Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 22 March 2017 at the 1282nd meeting of the Ministers' Deputies The Committee of Ministers, under the terms of Article 15.b of the Statute of the Council of Europe, Considering the importance of establishing common principles regarding integrated penal policies among the member States of the Council of Europe in order to strengthen international co‑operation in this field; Noting the considerable development which has occurred in member States in the use of sanctions and measures whose enforcement takes place in the community; Considering that these sanctions and measures constitute important ways of combating crime, of reducing the harm that it causes and of enhancing justice, and that they avoid the negative effects of remand in custody and of imprisonment; Considering the importance attached to the development of international norms for the creation, imposition and implementation of these sanctions and measures; Aware that with the passage of time, new possibilities for a more effective use of community sanctions and measures emerge and that imprisonment must therefore be used only as a measure of last resort; Recognising furthermore that important developments and changing practice in the area of sanctions and measures enforced in the community and the issues identified by member States, call for regular updating of the provisions contained in the European Rules on community sanctions and measures; Emphasising that the recourse to, and the implementation of these sanctions and measures shall always be guided by respect for fundamental legal safeguards as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights (ETS No. 5), and by the principles laid down in the European Rules on community sanctions and measures; Recognising the relevance to the present recommendation of the following Committee of Ministers’ Recommendations: Rec(92)17 concerning consistency in sentencing, Rec(97)12 on staff concerned with the implementation of sanctions and measures, Rec(99)19 concerning mediation in penal matters, Rec(99)22 concerning prison overcrowding and prison population inflation, Rec(2003)22 concerning conditional release (parole), CM/Rec(2010)1 on the Council of Europe Probation Rules and CM/Rec(2014)4 on electronic monitoring; Bearing in mind the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Non‑custodial Measures (The Tokyo Rules);

Guidelines for prison and probation services regarding radicalisation and violent extremism

Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 2 March 2016, at the 1249th meeting of the Ministers' Deputies Terminology used for the purpose of these Guidelines:[1] Radicalisation represents a dynamic process whereby an individual increasingly accepts and supports violent extremism. The reasons behind this process can be ideological, political, religious, social, economic or personal. Violent extremism consists in promoting, supporting or committing acts which may lead to terrorism and which are aimed at defending an ideology advocating racial, national, ethnic or religious supremacy or opposing core democratic principles and values. Dynamic security is a concept and a working method by which staff prioritise the creation and maintenance of everyday communication and interaction with prisoners based on professional ethics. It aims at better understanding prisoners and assessing the risks they may pose as well as ensuring safety, security and good order, contributing to rehabilitation and preparation for release. This concept should be understood within a broader notion of security which also comprises structural, organisational and static security (walls, barriers, locks, lighting and equipment used to restrain prisoners when necessary). II. Scope The present Guidelines recommend measures to be taken by prison and probation services in order to prevent persons under their responsibility from being radicalised to accepting violent extremist views which may lead to terrorist acts, as well as to detect, manage and resettle radicalised persons. Prisoners, including pre-trial detainees, as well as probationers and conditionally released offenders are the primary subjects of the interventions recommended. Prison and probation staff are the primary actors to implement these guiding principles. Representatives of other agencies and of religious denominations working with prisoners and probationers, as well as legal counsel, family members and peer groups may also be concerned with these guiding principles. Radicalisation is a social and political problem that concerns public authorities as a whole. Prisons are only one of the institutions in which radicalisation might occur, but only a comprehensive social and political approach to the root causes of the problem can efficiently address it. Although prisoners and probationers at risk of being radicalised or of becoming violent extremists represent a small number in the Council of Europe member States, it is nevertheless important to put sufficient resources and efforts into dealing with this problem efficiently given the potential danger it represents for society. The present Guidelines shall be applied in conformity with the relevant international human rights instruments and standards and in full compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights. These Guidelines underscore and further develop existing Council of Europe standards and shall be read together with the rules contained in the relevant Council of Europe recommendations, in particular the European Prison Rules (Recommendation Rec(2006)2 of the Committee of Ministers), the Council of Europe Probation Rules (Recommendation CM/Rec(2010)1 of the Committee of Ministers), the European Rules for juvenile offenders subject to sanctions or measures (Recommendation CM/Rec(2008)11), Recommendation CM/Rec(2012)12 of the Committee of Ministers concerning foreign prisoners, Recommendation CM/Rec(2014)3 of the Committee of Ministers concerning dangerous offenders and Recommendation CM/Rec(2014)4 of the Committee of Ministers on electronic monitoring. The attention to some of the most relevant rules and principles contained in the European Prison Rules is specifically drawn by listing them in the text of the Guidelines in order to remind the prison and probation services that they should not depart from these when dealing with radicalised persons under their responsibility

Council of Europe Handbook for Prison and Probation Services regarding Radicalisation and Violent Extremism

1282th meeting, 22 March 2017; 10 Legal questions;

10.3 European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC)

Background

1. Concern has been expressed over the fact that prisons may be used as a breeding ground for radicalised violent extremists and that radicalised offenders scheduled for release from prison or those on probation are not being appropriately rehabilitated. Apprehension increased following a number of terrorist acts committed in Europe in 2015 and in 2016 as a number of the major perpetrators had passed through the criminal justice system.

2. The need for clarity regarding the role that prison and probation services can and should play in preventing and dealing with radicalisation leading to violent extremism has led to the adoption by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe of “Guidelines for prison and probation services regarding radicalisation and violent extremism”[2]. This work is part of the actions taken by the Council of Europe member States as agreed at the 125th Session of the Committee of Ministers (Brussels, 19 May 2015)[3].

3. The Guidelines are intended to provide a general legal and ethical framework for devising appropriate policies and responses which conform to the Council of Europe standards and principles related to the rule of law and protection of human rights. They uphold the importance of investing in good prison and probation management and the need to train staff to high professional and ethical standards in order to effectively counter radicalisation leading to violent extremism. They also emphasise that prison and probation work should be seen as part of a comprehensive multi‑agency strategy to combat violent extremism. 4. In addition, it was decided that a handbook for the prison and probation services of the Council of Europe member States would be compiled to build upon and further develop the set of standards and principles contained in the Guidelines. The objective of the “Handbook”, which is to be used and read together with the Guidelines and in accordance with national law and international human rights standards, is to provide practical advice to prison and probation services, identify a list of indicators of radicalisation, provide examples of possible tools and methods to prevent and deal with radicalisation leading to violent extremism and identify some recommended practices in this respect.

5. The Handbook is intended to be consistent with the Council of Europe values and standards, in particular, the European Prison Rules and the Council of Europe Probation Rules and it should be used in conjunction with these texts. National authorities should be aware that juveniles need special attention and different methods of intervention from adults. This takes into account their developing personality and specific needs. The present Handbook should be adapted accordingly when applied to juveniles and follow the European Rules for juvenile offenders, subject to sanctions or measures.

6. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)[4], as well as the EU funded Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN) are also working actively in this area. Representatives of the Radicalisation Awareness Network and other experts have joined efforts to work on the present Handbook in order to communicate international knowledge and expertise available in this area. The present Handbook is a result of these joint efforts which aim at assisting the national authorities and society in general to more effectively deal with radicalisation leading to violent extremism. 7. The work was carried out by the Council for Penological Co‑operation (PC‑CP) between January 2015 and October 2016. Members of the PC‑CP Working Group at that time were (in alphabetical order): Nathalie BOISSOU (France); Annie DEVOS (Belgium); Vivian GEIRAN, PC‑CP Chair (Ireland); Antanas JATKEVIČIUS (Lithuania); Jörg JESSE, PC‑CP Vice‑Chair (Germany); Attila JUHÁSZ (Hungary); Dominik LEHNER (Switzerland); Nikolaos KOULOURIS (Greece);Nadya RADKOVSKA (Bulgaria). The draft text was prepared by the three external scientific experts Christopher DEAN (UK); Merel MOLENKAMP (The Netherlands) and D. Elaine PRESSMAN (The Netherlands/Canada).

European Commission: Protecting all children in migration: Commission outlines priority actions

Brussels, 12 April 2017 Over the past two years, a growing number of children in migration have arrived in the EU, many of them without their families. While EU and Member States' legislation provide a solid framework for protection, the recent surge in arrivals has put national systems under pressure and exposed gaps and shortcomings. This is why the Commission is today setting out actions to reinforce the protection of all migrant children at all stages of the process. It is necessary to ensure that migrant children are swiftly identified when they arrive in the EU and that they receive child-adequate treatment. Trained personnel need to be available to assist children during their status determination and children should be provided with sustainable long-term perspectives through better access to education and health care. Child protection is a central priority in the European Agenda on Migration and the Commission will continue to support Member States' efforts through training, guidance, operational support and funding. First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said: "The number of children arriving in the EU with or without their families has increased dramatically. We need to make sure that children who need protection actually receive it. And we need to do it now. This is our moral duty as well as our legal responsibility. Children should be our top priority as they are the most vulnerable, especially when they have nobody to guide them. That is why today we are setting out a number of concrete actions to better protect, support and take care of the best interests of all children who are arriving in the European Union." Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said:"One in three asylum seekers in Europe is a child. Children are the most vulnerable migrants and ensuring their protection from the moment they leave their home countries should be mainstreamed in our migration policy. This means that we need a comprehensive and stepped-up response. Today we propose concrete actions to support our Member States in addressing the needs of all children at all stages of migration: to improve the identification of children, to train involved personnel, to step up relocation, but also to ensure swift family tracing in countries of origin and measures to enhance early integration. Both the Commission and our EU agencies stand ready to move forward to implement these actions." Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Vĕra Jourová added:"When speaking about child migrants, we should never forget that first and foremost they are children. Their best interests must be taken into consideration at all stages of the migration process. Child migrants, especially those who are unaccompanied, should be supported by guardians or foster families, as early as possible. The integration of these children into our societies depends on how fast they can go back to a more stable life. We will continue to support Member States to give these children the childhood they deserve." Drawing on expertise from all relevant policy areas, the Commission is proposing a number of priority areas for Member States to focus on, supported by the Commission and EU Agencies, to improve the protection of children in migration and ensure a closer link between the asylum and child protection services: Swift identification and protection upon arrival: A person responsible for child protection should be present at an early stage of the registration phase and in all reception facilities hosting children and child protection officers should be appointed in each hotspot. Member States should put in place the necessary procedures to systematically report and exchange information on all missing children. Adequate reception conditions for children: The needs of each child must be assessed as early as possible upon arrival and all children need to have access to legal assistance, healthcare, psychosocial support and education without delay and regardless of their status. For unaccompanied minors, the possibility of foster or family-based care should be provided. Everything must be done to provide alternatives to administrative detention for children. Swift status determination and effective guardianship: The role of guardians for unaccompanied minors should be strengthened. To this end, the Commission will establish a European guardianship network to exchange good practices. To support the implementation of reliable age-assessment procedures by all Member States, EASO will update its guidance shortly. Concerted efforts should also be made to speed up family tracing and family reunification procedures, within or outside the EU. In all procedures related to the migration process, cases with children should always be given priority. This goes for relocation of unaccompanied migrants from Greece or Italy as well. Durable solutions and early integration measures: The Commission will further promote the integration of children through funding and the exchange of good practices.Member States are called upon to step up resettlement of children in need of protection and to ensure that family tracing and reintegration measures are put in place for those children who are to be returned. Addressing root causes and protecting children along migrant routes outside the EU: The EU has stepped up its work with partner countries on mainstreaming child protection in migration under the Migration Partnership Framework. Further efforts are needed to support partner countries in strengthening national child protection systems and in preventing child trafficking. A timely follow-up to the recently-renewed EU Guidelines on the promotion and protection of the rights of the child, including in countries of origin and transit, should be ensured. A determined, concerted and coordinated follow-up to the key actions set out in this Communication is required at EU, national, regional and local level, also in cooperation with civil society and international organisations.The Commission will closely monitor this process and report regularly to the Council and European Parliament. Background In the context of the migration crisis, the number of child migrants arriving in Europe has increased significantly. In 2015 and 2016, 30 percent of asylum applicants in the EU were children. As children in migration are exposed to high risks of violence, trafficking or exploitation along migration routes or may go missing, or become separated from their families, they require a specific protection. Children have the right to be protected, in line with relevant provisions of EU law, including the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, and with international law on the rights of the child. The child's best interests must be the primary consideration in all actions or decisions concerning children. This Communication follows up on the European Agenda on Migrationand the Communication on the State of Play of Implementation of the Priority Actions under the European Agenda on Migration. It builds on progress made under the Action Plan on Unaccompanied Minors (2010-2014) as outlined in the Staff Working Paper accompanying the Communication. It also builds on the 10th European Forum on the rights of the child organised by the Commission in November 2016 and on the "Lost in Migration" conference from January 2017, which have underlined the need for urgent targeted actions to better protect children in migration.

Communication: The protection of children in migration ››
For more information ››

European Commission: Security Union: Commission outlines priorities on combatting serious and organised crime

Today, the European Commission is presenting the sixth report on progress made towards an effective and genuine Security Union. The report outlines the implementation of the priority files in the area of security, including the recently-approved Directive on combatting terrorism and the revision of the Schengen Borders Code. The report also sets out the Commission's view on future EU priorities to combat serious and organised crime and identifies eight specific threats, namely (1) cybercrime, (2) drugs crime, (3) migrant smuggling, (4) organised property crime, (5) trafficking in human beings, (6) firearms trafficking, (7) VAT fraud and (8) environmental crime. These priorities should feed into the new EU Policy Cycle for 2018-2020 to ensure effective cooperation between Member States in addressing the most pressing criminal threats facing the EU. The Commission calls on the Council to endorse these priorities at the June 2017 Justice and Home Affairs Council. Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said: "The recent terrorist attacks in Europe and in our neighbourhood show the urgency to step up our efforts to deliver an effective and genuine Security Union. Our citizens expect the Union to deliver concrete results against the threat of terrorism, but also on organised crime, which exploits new opportunities such as the migration crisis to generate criminal profits." Commissioner for the Security Union Julian King said: "As we step up our efforts to squeeze the space that terrorists and organised crime groups operate in, this report provides a solid basis for discussion on EU priorities on combatting serious and organised crime for the next four years." The next progress report, foreseen for mid-May 2017, will focus on the findings of the High Level Expert Group on Information Systems and Interoperability.

The progress report is available here ››
the updated factsheet is available here ››

DERAD project: prevention of the escalation of radicalization in the prison environment

CEP is associative parnter of the DERAD project. DERAD is an European project that aims to prevent the escalation of radicalization in the prison environment and help prisoners and probationers who are often exposed to Jihadist recruitment or self-radicalization to overcome the different problems and push factors usually exploited by recruiters. The project is led by the Italian Ministry of Justice. In a brief interview, Mr. Enrico Sbriglia, Regional Superintendent of Penitentiary Administration for Veneto, Trentino Alto Adige e Friuli Venezia Giulia, gives us insights in the project.

CJP’s International Criminal Justice Summer Courses 2017

The Criminal Justice Platform is launching a new event in Barcelona July 2017. The focus will be on developing practice. Expert practitioners will be running courses for colleagues from across Europe.The aim is to ‘examine key practice issues, inspire new thinking, promote cross-fertilization and build new networks to improve services and practice in prisons, probation and restorative justice’.

The European Union’s Policies on Counter-Terrorism: Relevance, Coherence and Effectiveness

The terrorist threat in the EU is very likely to increase over the next five years, particularly due to an expected increase in returning foreign fighters from the battlefield of Syria and Iraq. In addition, the diversification of the approaches used by terrorists, the range of targets chosen, the level of organisation of the perpetrators and the type of weapons chosen (especially the trend of ‘weaponisation’ of ordinary life) make the lives of security authorities even more challenging. In these circumstances, how can counter-terrorism policy be improved? A new study commissioned by the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, and produced by PwC and the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism – The Hague (ICCT), analyses the coherence and effectiveness of the European Union’s counter-terrorism policy.

Mothers against radicalisation: a successful local approach

With the project Oumnia Works, the Dutch municipality of The Hague aims on mothers as a weapon against radicalization. Mothers often feel that their children radicalized. They have a ‘gut feeling’, but usually do not come into action. If their child is traveling to Syria or is arrested for a crime with terrorist intent, they are left with the cry of despair ‘if only I had … “. Support Centre Sabr, a women’s organization in the Dutch city of The Hague answers to this need by launching the ‘Oumnia works’ program where mothers learn what they can do to prevent a radicalization process in their child’s mind.

Nominations open for Australia’s best crime and violence prevention programs

19 April 2017 Nominations are now open for the 2017 Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards (ACVPA). These awards recognise and reward good practice in the prevention or reduction of violence and other types of crime in Australia. Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) Director, Mr Chris Dawson, said the awards are open to projects of all sizes, including smaller initiatives involving local community groups, that have been fully operational prior to 1 February 2016. “These awards play a vital role in highlighting effective community-based initiatives to prevent crime and violence, before it actually occurs,” Mr Dawson said. “I strongly encourage businesses, community networks, and members of the public to nominate local projects that have made an impact on their community by preventing or reducing crime and violence,” Mr Dawson said. “These awards encourage public initiatives, and assist governments in identifying and developing practical projects which will reduce violence and other types of crime in the community. “Last year, 15 programs were recognised as winners for their outstanding contributions to crime and violence prevention in the Australian community,” Mr. Dawson said. The awards are a joint initiative of the Australian, state and territory governments, coordinated by the AIC and co-sponsored by the Law, Crime and Community Safety Council. Nominations close 19 May 2017. To apply for this year’s awards visit

Declining juvenile crime Explanations for the international downturn

Originally published in Dutch under the title ‘’Verdampende jeugdcriminaliteit: Verklaringen van de internationale daling’’Justitiële Verkenningen, vol. 43, no. 1, March 2017 Bert Berghuis and Jaap De Waard* Summary In The Netherlands registered youth crime figures show a spectacular downward trend from 2007 (minus 60%). This decrease can be seen amongst girls and boys, and also amongst ethnic minorities and the native Dutch. This trend can also be observed in a lot of other countries. It is striking that also in international terms youth crime has been capped. A strikingly similar picture is apparent to the one in the Netherlands. The level of the available evidence of the decrease in youth crime in a large number of different countries means that the possibility of a coincidental development occurring at the same time is extremely small, and hence there must be a causal connection. It seems that a number of international developments created a climate favorable for juvenile crime reduction: more (techno)prevention, less use of alcohol, more commitment to schooling, more satisfaction with living conditions, and the use of time. For The Netherlands this goes together with an diminished willingness of the Dutch police to follow up on suspicions that a youngster committed a minor offense. However, the real trigger for the freefall of youth crime seems to be the extensive worldwide dissemination of smartphones and online-games that started in 2006/7. This led to a lot of free time spent ‘looking at screens’ and not being present on the street and public space. So the main factor responsible for the fall in youth crime can be found in the use of free time and a different role and influence of peer groups.

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Human Trafficking's High Toll on Homeless Youth

In North America, nearly one-fifth of homeless youth are victims of human trafficking By Devon Haynie | News Editor April 17, 2017, at 4:45 p.m. The trafficking of young adults isn't only a problem in developing nations. In the U.S. and Canada, nearly one-fifth of homeless youth are victims of human trafficking, according to new studies. Of 911 homeless young adults interviewed between February 2014 and March 2017, about 20 percent reported being trafficked for sex, labor or both. The majority, 15 percent, were trafficked for sex, 7.4 percent were trafficked for labor, and 3 percent were trafficked for both. RELATED CONTENT Children are seen inside a bus during an evacuation operation of rebel fighters and their families from rebel-held neighbourhoods in the embattled city of Aleppo on December 15, 2016. A convoy of ambulances and buses left rebel territory in Aleppo in the first evacuations under a deal for opposition fighters to leave the city after years of fighting. The rebel withdrawal will pave the way for President Bashar al-Assad's forces to reclaim complete control of Syria's second city, handing the regime its biggest victory in more than five years of civil war. / AFP / KARAM AL-MASRI (Photo credit should read KARAM AL-MASRI/AFP/Getty Images) Why There Are So Few Syrian Orphans in the U.S. The findings, based on the largest-ever combined sample of homeless youth in the U.S. and Canada, are the result of a joint project of the University of Pennsylvania and Loyola University New Orleans. Researchers interviewed 17- to 25-year-olds in 13 cities from Vancouver to the District of Columbia to ask about human trafficking, which the U.S. government defines as "modern-day slavery" that "involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act." Debra Schilling Wolfe, executive director of the University of Pennsylvania's Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice & Research, said trafficking rates were consistent despite the different sizes of the cities. Most of the youth interviewed had used services at Covenant House, a charity that operates the largest network of shelters and community service centers for homeless youth in North America. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth were disproportionately affected by sex trafficking, researchers found. Though the group made up only 19.2 percent of the respondents, it accounted for about 34 percent of sex trafficking victims, and about 32 percent of those who engaged in the sex trade. Transgender young adults were the most vulnerable to the sex trade. Of transgender youth interviewed, 56 percent reported being involved in the sex trade in some way. [READ: For the LGBTIQ, a Gulf Between Laws and Acceptance] Among homeless youth, women had higher odds of being involved in the sex trade. Of women surveyed, 40.5 percent said they had interacted with the industry, while 25.3 percent of young men reported involvement. Certain risk factors put youth more at risk to be victimized, researchers said. Almost all of the young adults, or 95 percent, involved with sex trafficking surveyed by University of Pennsylvania reported mistreatment during their childhood, with 49 percent reporting a history of childhood sexual abuse. Youth who completed high school and reported the presence of a supportive adult in their lives were less likely to be sex trafficked. When it came to labor trafficking, most cases, or 81 percent, were instances of forced drug dealing, according to research by the Modern Slavery Research Project at Loyola University New Orleans. Schilling Wolfe, of the Field Center, said one way to limit the trafficking of homeless young adults is to eliminate the causes of homelessness. "The child welfare system and the foster system create homeless young adults," she says. "When young people turn the magic age of 18 or 21, depending on the state, they are on their own. Without the training, support and resources to survive, they become victimized. We need to do a better job of launching our adolescent population into adulthood." Between 11 and 37 percent of youth who age out of foster care become homeless, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. They are even more likely to have unstable housing arrangements.

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Register for Webinar: How States are Innovating with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

Hosted by The Council of State Governments Register for this webinarDate: Tuesday, May 9 Time: 2–3 p.m. ET This webinar will provide an overview of workforce development initiatives in the states, including a high-level summary of state plans for implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Experts on WIOA will provide state examples of both consolidated and unified plans.

Register for Webinar: U.S. Paroling Authorities as Key Partners in Promoting the Governor’s Criminal Justice Policy Agenda

Hosted by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the National Parole Resource Center with support from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance National Governors AssociationThis webinar will provide an overview of the critical role that paroling authorities can play in advancing U.S. governors’ criminal justice priorities and an introduction to evidence-based and promising practices in parole. In addition, the webinar will provide information about applying for a learning collaborative through which four selected U.S. state teams will: (1) participate in a two-day summit where they will review the latest research on parole best practices, identify strategies for strengthening their state’s parole system, and explore opportunities for enhancing collaboration between governors’ offices and paroling authorities; (2) receive technical assistance in convening a workshop to refine recommendations they develop during the summit; and (3) present those recommendations and a plan of action to their governor. Date: Thursday, May 11 Time: 3:00–4:30 p.m. ET

UCL Jill Dando Institute – Crime Analysis training course

Monday 15-18 May 2017 There is still time for you to book your place on our crime analysis course. The course offers the essential skills that an analyst requires to become pro-actively involved in information-driven, evidence-led, problem solving approaches to reducing crime, ASB and other community safety issues. The course is interactive, and is designed to improve an analyst’s awareness of data that are available across a range of agencies for analysis, extend their skills in analytical techniques, and build their confidence in ensuring that analysis is used to influence decision-making. The course places great emphasis on helping analysts to develop a real understanding of crime (and other public safety issues of interest), and contribute to how these problems are tackled. After taking the course, analysts are much better equipped for producing good quality analysis products such as problem profiles and target profiles The course is suitable for the analysis of all types of volume crime (e.g., burglary, violent crime, theft), serious crime (e.g., child sexual exploitation, sexual assaults), organised crime, cybercrime, road traffic accidents (e.g., bicycle collisions and cyclist fatalities) and all other types of incidents relating to crime and ASB (examples from previous courses have included counterfeit goods, lottery scams, illegal imports, youth cannabis use, repeat callers, and problem families). The course is also suitable for those wanting to improve how they analyse the offending of individuals or groups, or improve their analysis of communities and individuals that are most victimised, experience most harm, or are most vulnerable.

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University Of Cambridge Research Bulletin: Opinion: We could soon face a robot crimewave … the law needs to be ready

Are robots capable of committing crime? Yes, says Christopher Markou, PhD Candidate at the Faculty of Law, writing for The Conversation - but what should we do if it does?This is where we are at in 2017: sophisticated algorithms are both predicting and helping to solve crimes committed by humans; predicting the outcome of court cases and human rights trials; and helping to do the work done by lawyers in those cases. By 2040, there is even a suggestion that sophisticated robots will be committing a good chunk of all the crime in the world. Just ask the toddler who was run over by a security robot at a California mall last year.