Spring Semester (March 1 - May 31, 2018)
Seminar
Legal Responses to Global Crime 2018
Ambassador Dr. Ugljesa Zvekic
4 CFUs – ECTS
The Seminar starts on April 5
Classes meet:
TUESDAYS 16:00 - 17:45 Classroom A4 in the Tommaseo building, via Ostiense 139
THURSDAYS 17:45 - 19:30 Classroom A4 in the Tommaseo building, via Ostiense 139
Course Purpose and Scope
The purpose of this course is to provide the students with a comprehensive understanding of international legal responses to the trends and challenges of global crime in the modern global world. The presentation and discussion will be placed within the context of the current geopolitical framework.
The course will give students a snapshot of the main global crime manifestations for the purpose of analyzing the form, causes, costs, risks and prevention and judicial/law enforcement international legal anti-crime landscape.
The main global crime manifestations today are organized crime linked. Therefore, following the introductory discussion of the geopolitical global configuration, students will explore each crime manifestation from two interrelated perspectives:
first, the main characteristics, forms, trends and challenges posed by each crime, and
second, international United Nations legal preventive and judicial/law enforcement remedies put in place to respond to the above challenges.
Particular emphasis of the course will be placed on students’ ability to explore, analyze and articulate the manifold links of international nature
among global crime manifestations and actors, on the one hand, and the international cooperation as the basis for a comprehensive legal responses, on the other.
Course Learning Objectives
At the end of the course, the successful students will:
- understand main features of global crime manifestations
- understand the most relevant legal principles of the United Nations international anti-crime legislation
- explore how certain geopolitical configurations shape global crime configuration
- analyze the impact of geopolitical relations on the framing of the international anti-crime legislation
- be aware of main issues related to an effective international cooperation in crime prevention and control
- improve general comprehension of the global world
- Increase the ability to discuss, present and defend particular perspective in English.
Class Methodology
Classes will be using the interactive mode with introductory presentation by the instructor, followed by discussion, student presentation and group work.
It is expected from the students to attend the class regularly; to be punctual; to be focused; to participate and to interrupt the instructor for clarifications.
Students must be familiar with the assigned readings BEFORE the class.
Students will be asked to do group assignments to be presented in the class: usually one group will explore the crime issues, and the other, the legal response issues.
Assessment
Attendance in class is compulsory. Student must attend no less than 2/3 of scheduled classes.
The evaluation of student’s achievement of the learning objectives will be done on a pass/fail basis taking into consideration the familiarity with requested reading; the level of participation in class discussion and group work, and the shown ability to explore, analyze and understand the main issues dealt with at the course.
Course Design and Outline
The course syllabus is meant to provide students with the knowledge of and skills to analyze the emerging risks and costs of global crime trends and threats and how to use the United Nations legal instruments as a framework for an effective international cooperation in crime prevention and control.
The teacher can be reached at: uzvekic@hotmail.com
Each course module consists of two layers: the morphological and the legal as follows below:
Course Contents
Introduction
5 April -I module: Global Perspective
- Geopolitical Relations and Trends Today
- Sustainable Development Goals and Global Crime Threats
10 April -II module: Transnational Organized Crime
- Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) Threats
- International Responses to TOC Threats (UNTOC /Palermo/ Convention)
12 April – III module: Drugs
- Production, Trafficking and Consumption of Drugs
- International Responses to Drug Challenges (UN Drug Conventions)
17 April - Class Discussion
19 April - IV module: Human Trafficking
- Human Trafficking
- International Responses from Geopolitical Perspective (UNTOC Protocol)
24 April – V module: Smuggling of Migrants
- Smuggling of Migrants
- International responses
3 May – Class Discussion
8 May - VI module: Global Corruption
- Global Corruption from Geopolitical Perspective
- International Responses to Corruption (UNCAC Convention and regional conventions)
10 May – VI Module: Environmental Crime
- Global Issues
- CITES: Illicit Trade and /or Crimes
22 May– VII module: Arms Trafficking and Trade
- Arms Trade and Illicit Trafficking
- International Responses ( UNTOC Protocol; Arms Trade Treaty)
24 May -VIII module: Terrorism
- How many terrorisms – a global view
- Organized Crime, Corruption and Terrorism: financing through interplay
- UN terrorism conventions and policies
29 May – Class Discussion
31 May -Conclusive conversation
Challenges of New Global Crime Issues and International Responses
Course Evaluation and Suggestions
Core Readings & Reference Material (all available on Internet)
United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (2003) supplemented by:
- The Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (2003)
- The Protocol against Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air (2004)
- The Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition (2005)
United Nations Convention against Corruption (2005)
Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as Amended by the 1971 Protocol
Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1972)
United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988)
Arms Trade Treaty (2013)
CITES
UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (2001)
FATF Recommendations CPI Report and Bribery of Foreign Officials Report
OECD Bribery Report
EU Corruption Report
World Drug Report (2017)
Transnational Organized Crime Threat Analysis (2011)
Global Report on Trafficking in Persons (2014 and 2016)
Transparency International (2017)
Small Arms Survey Yearbooks (2011 – 2015)
Specially assigned readings: other readings may be suggested for specific modules