The digital space represents a global interaction and communication sphere for all people. In this sphere children connect with young people and adults across almost all countries, cultures and age groups. The constant improvement and implementation of automatic translation programs, for example in social media, also means that language barriers in the digital space are becoming increasingly blurred.
Over the last century, organized crime has
demonstrated a remarkable capacity to rapidly adapt to mutated social,
political and economic conditions. While in some cases this adaptation was the
result of a reactive response to improved legislation targeting their
interests, in many others it was ignited by the pursuit of new possibilities
for economic profit. Examples in this sense include how quickly criminal groups
adapted to new scenarios created, for instance, by geopolitical changes, the
integration of global markets or the generalized use of the world wide web as a
marketplace for a variety of licit and illicit goods and services.
“Man is by nature a social animal” proclaimed Aristotle. This characteristic has made us organize into complex hierarchical societies where individuals are interdependent to satisfy basic necessities. Although we all know that social distancing is the most effective way to contain the spread of coronavirus, this is something biologically unnatural for humans.[1] In this health emergency, many governments have decided to impose strict measures to limit social interactions to an absolute minimum. Lockdowns, limitations of movement of people and closure of borders have all been necessary measures for the good of societies.
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, no clear
evidence has emerged of a significant decrease in the supply of drugs at the
global level, including in Italy, even after the quarantine was extended to the
entire country.
WRITTEN BY Odhran McCarthy and Sophie Van De Meulengraaf
The principle of equality – the belief that all human
beings are born free and equal – along with the correlated prohibition on
discrimination are foundations of society. Equality is one of the most basic
aspects of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and a pillar on which the
United Nations (UN) was founded in 1945. Yet, following the emergence of the
coronavirus in December 2019, this long-established fundamental human right is
being increasingly threatened. Indeed, as the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority
Issues, Fernand de Varennes, observed, “COVID-19 is not just a health issue; it
can also be a virus that exacerbates xenophobia, hate and exclusion.”[1]
WRITTEN BY Wim Hardyns, Ines Keygnaert, Koen Ponnet and Christophe Vandeviver
Introduction
The global spread of COVID-19 has dramatically
impacted our lives. In an effort to contain the virus, governments across the
globe have resorted to social distancing, home lockdowns, and isolation
policies. However, such measures can have a negative impact on people’s mental
well-being, put pressure on their relationships and cause stress, thus
potentially contributing to an increase in violence and aggression within
households. A recent review of the psychological impact of quarantine measures
confirms that isolation can produce several negative emotional effects, such as
post-traumatic stress syndrome, emotion regulation problems, depression, and
increased feelings of stress.[1]
Experiencing stress and powerlessness is associated with an increased risk of
violent victimization.[2]
Perpetrator and victims often know each other.[3]
The combination of stress-inducing factors due to the lockdown and potentially
living together with a perpetrator of violence may trigger an increase and
worsening of various forms of violence within the household.[4]
The world is shaken by an unprecedented health crisis. Its multiple ravages are echoing all over the world and the media seem to revel in it as information concerning the situation becomes vital. Needless to say, Covid-19 made its appearance at the end of 2019 in Wuhan, the capital of the province of Hubei in China, and at the start of 2020, continued to spread in an overpowering and dominant way, not only characterized by its speed but also in its capacity of adaptation across all continents of the world. China has been overwhelmed. In France, there are no longer yellow vest protests. Italy no longer sings and the art world present in the country has closed its doors. It would seem that America, in tears, suddenly forgot its superpower.
WRITTEN BY Danielle Hull, Tamara Nešković, Manuela Brunero
In physics, “resilience” is a measure of how well a material, such as rubber or metal, responds to pressure by bending, adapting, and changing, without breaking. However, this concept is more than a scientific term. Resiliency can also describe a community’s ability to bounce back from pressures, including natural disasters, economic downturns, and - in the case of UNICRI’s Pilot Project on Countering Radicalisation and Violent Extremism in the Sahel-Maghreb - violence and terrorism. In the Sahel and Maghreb, the pressure on communities is certainly intense, and ever-growing. Conflicts in Libya and Mali threaten to spill over porous borders, while drought and desertification have increased food insecurity and heightened intercommunal tensions. Increasingly active extremist militant groups have brought violence and chased out tourists, which once had been an importance source of income. Now, more than ever, an approach aimed at building the resilience at a community level is needed - one that can empower communities to respond to these pressures by adapting and changing, without “breaking” and entering into conflict.
WRITTEN BY Ciska Wittouck, Freya Vander Laenen, Stijn Vandevelde, Sara Rowaert, Natalie Aga, Sofie Van Roeyen, Kurt Audenaert, Wouter Vanderplasschen, Tom Vander Beken
This essay describes
lived-experience based strategies for persons with mental illness who offended
(PMIO) and their families. These recommendations are derived from the results
of a multidisciplinary research project which aimed to develop
multidisciplinary strengths-based strategies for PMIO and their families.1,2
These recommendations can inspire a broad range of practitioners and policy
makers from the criminal justice system as well as the mental health systems
working with PMIO and their family.
Innovative approaches in countering violent extremism are not only a question of philosophy, but also of pragmatism. We need a new dialogue to strategize how to establish a consensus/springboard from which to reinforce local, national and global security. We don’t need to analyse what has not worked, but actually focus on analysing what is working.
