“RISK AND TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS RELATED TO ORGANIZED CRIME INFILTRATION INTO THE LEGAL ECONOMY”

The course is an introduction to organized crime infiltration of the legal economy from a global perspective. The course analyses the strategies of organized crime to infiltrate the legal economy, including the risk that some criminal groups will attempt take advantage of COVID-19 to expand their activities. The course also offers an insight of technology solutions, in particular how Big Data Analytics technology can help to identify trends and patterns and better understand how organized crime groups invested their funds.

The course will address the following questions:

– What are the criminal strategies to infiltrate the legal economy?
– How organized crime can take advantage of the COVID-19 crisis?
– What are the risks and opportunities related to technology?
– How Big Data Analytics and Visualization can concretely contribute to monitor and combat organized crime infiltration of legal economy?
– What type of technology solutions can be expected in the future?

Mr. Francesco Marelli PhD (born in Italy in 1968) has worked for the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) since 2003. As the Head of Unit, he is responsible for assessing emerging risks and identifying, testing and promoting innovative solutions, including in the area of technology such as Big Data, biotechnology, AI and robotics.

He is also responsible for UNICRI activities on CBRN risk mitigation, including the implementation of the European Union CBRN Centres of Excellence, a network-based initiative that supports countries to reinforce their national chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear policy. He received a PhD from the School of History of the University of Leeds in 2002. He is author of several publications.​

Mrs. Mariana Diaz (born in Mexico in 1992) is currently working as an intern in United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) under the framework of the Knowledge Center Security through Research, Technology and Innovation (SIRIO). Her research has focused on the malicious use of social media by terrorist and criminal groups to undermining trust in government during the COVID-19 pandemic, cyber-attacks perpetrated to weaken government strategies that dealt with COVID- 19 outbreaks, and the intentional transmission of the virus. Other areas of research include technology strategies to improve CBRN and WMD defense.

Mr. Marco Musumeci is a Programme Management Officer at the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI). He currently manages a portfolio of several projects focused on counterfeiting and organized crime, with activities ranging from research and public/private cooperation to the design of training and awareness materials. He holds a Masters’ degree in criminology and international criminal policy and he is co-author of several UNICRI publications.

Avni Mustafaj

Meet with Mr. Avni Mustafaj, one of the most influential Albanian Americans in the United States and master of LOBBYING.

National Albanian American Council (NAAC)​​​​, President 1997-2001, NY; Led delegation of US Congressmen and Board members to Rambouillet Summit; Met President Clinton at the White House to strategize on sensitizing US public on Kosova; Coordinated with Senators, Congressmen, State Department officials, National Security Council representatives, think tanks, media, NGO’s, and scholars; Appeared on US and international television programs, presented at numerous Universities; Panel speaker on numerous conferences on Balkan issues;

Director, NAAC Hope Fellowship, USAID funded women’s leadership and empowerment program, brought over 220 women to DC; Vedat Gashi, NY State District 94, Assembly Candidate, 2018, Campaign Manager; Kosova Relief Fund (KRF)​​​​​​​, NY, Vice President & Managing Director, 1997 – 2000; Oversight on all organizational activities, including program planning, logistics, fundraising activities, media relations and public outreach; initiated community outreach; directed “Stop the Killing in Kosova” campaign, ads appeared in major US newspapers; organized demonstrations, vigils, fundraisers, distributions of leaflet; helped deliver emergency aid in refugee camps in Albania and Macedonia, and Kosova returnees.

Rudina Jasini

Position: ESRC Researcher, School of Law, University of Oxford

Dr. Rudina Jasini is a lawyer and researcher of international criminal law and human rights. She is currently a researcher at the Faculty of Law at the University of Oxford and is engaged in leading a project of the UK Economic and Social Research Council “Impact of Victim Participation in the International Criminal Court: Developing Platforms for Cooperation” in cooperation with the Office of Legal Representation of Victims and the Chamber of Advocates at the International Criminal Court. Rudina holds a PhD and a Master’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Oxford University. She also completed a Master of Science (LLM) in International Law at the Faculty of Law, Georgetown University, and a law degree at the Faculty of Law, University of Tirana.

Peter Vandenbruaene

Peter Vandenbruaene is one of the international experts assisting the Albanian School of Public Administration for its capacity building in the framework of the Implementation of Civil Service Reform in Public Administration Project.

Peter Vandenbruaene has worked for the Training Institute of the Belgian Federation of Management (TIFA) for over 20 years. He currently heads the Department of International Relations and is responsible for managing a team of professionals who organize training events in a variety of fields, ranging from personal and communication effectiveness, to Information and Communication Technology, foreign languages ​​and public policy.

As an expert in Human Resource Development, Peter has shared his experience in developing a Quality Oriented Human Resource Development approach while conducting presentations and trainings with civil servants from different countries ranging from Armenia to Tunisia, and from Azerbaijan to Taiwan.

Peter is a lecturer at the University of Ghent, Belgium, and represents Belgium in the Board of Governors of the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA).

His fields of expertise are:

•Quality Training and Teaching;
•Human Resource and Career Management;
•Public Management;
•International Relations;
•Training Methodology.