Author: isabel

Categories
data quality en News Projects

Launch of DATA EQUALITY, a project that will fight against discrimination based on data

DATA EQUALITY, a European project that seeks to join forces to combat data-based discrimination, was launched at an online event on 20 September. The Euro-Arab Foundation, together with the Court of Appeal of Venice (coordinator of the project), the Agenfor International Foundation, the Municipality of Murcia, Kentro Merimnas Oikogeneaias Kai Paidiou, Hellenic Police, Keshilli i Larte i Prokurorise, Associazione Nazionale Comuni Italiani Emilia Romagna and Kentro Meleton Asfaleias, will develop a common methodology that will allow different actors to cooperate in the identification and prevention of this problem.

The project targets professionals active in the collection, analysis, use and dissemination of data belonging to the two macro-sectors on which the project focuses: public authorities, in particular local law enforcement agencies and judicial bodies, and civil society organisations (CSOs).

The project will train law enforcement officials, judicial bodies as well as members of CSOs in the use of the new methodology, including its impartial OSINT component and in line with the EU General Data Protection Regulation. The students will come from the countries participating in the project: Greece, Italy, Spain and Albania.


The role of the Euro-Arab Foundation

The Euro-Arab Foundation will undertake the task of comprehensively assessing the current methodologies employed in the collection, management, analysis and dissemination of discrimination-related data. The aim is to identify the main shortcomings, omissions and existing demands, as well as best practices to be incorporated into a new methodology. It will also explore the possibilities offered by artificial intelligence and open source tools (OSINT) to detect inherent biases in data.

This will require cooperation between public and private bodies, in particular between CSOs and local and judicial authorities, as well as surveys and interviews with law enforcement and judicial professionals and civil society organisations to understand their perspectives, needs and challenges in relation to data collection, management, analysis and sharing.

Categories
Intercepted News Projects

Multi-agency work and cross-border cooperation: keys to the fight against trafficking in persons

On Thursday 19 September, the INTERCEPTED and OSINT-RADAR projects jointly organised a seminar for law enforcement agencies (LEAs), judiciary and prosecutors. The event, held physically in Tirana (Albania), but in a hybrid format, discussed key aspects of human trafficking, such as public-private cooperation in the fight against trafficking and other crimes such as smuggling of migrants or drug trafficking. The professionals and experts participating in this event placed special emphasis on the analysis of the phenomenon in the Balkans and Eastern Europe and its relationship with the European Union, although experiences located on other routes, such as those of the Central Mediterranean, were also analysed. The access routes from the Balkans to the EU were also analysed, highlighting the geographical value of Trieste (Giulia-Venice-Julia), Bari (Apulia), Slovenia and Albania as key points. In this context, different experiences of cooperation between EU countries and the Balkans, especially between Albania, Italy and Slovenia and, to a lesser extent, France and Spain, were presented and discussed.

In the presentations and discussions, the possible interrelation of the phenomenon of trafficking with other crimes, both online and offline, was analysed. The key role of multi-agency work, cross-border cooperation between different bodies (LEAs, prosecution and judiciary) and the desirability of establishing cooperation agreements between them, both nationally and internationally, was also highlighted.  Many of the interventions underlined the benefits of transferring experiences and techniques from the investigation of other crimes, as is the case of the follow-the-money-approach. The key role of digital tools in the fight against this phenomenon and other criminal activities in which organised crime operates was also discussed.

The next INTERCEPTED seminar on digital trafficking, co-organised by the ASIT project, also of a hybrid nature, will be held on 13 November and will mainly target internet providers and experts in digital tools.

Categories
News

The Euro-Arab Foundation participates in the 2nd International Forum on Public and Professional Policies for the prevention of radicalization of the INDEED project

The Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies, a benchmark in the prevention of radicalization and violent extremism, has once again been invited to take part in a highly relevant debate: the 2nd International Forum of Public Policies and Professionals for the prevention of radicalization.

On this occasion, it was within the framework of the final event of the European project INDEED, which brought together experts from different countries in Warsaw (Poland) between September 11 and 13. The Euro-Arab researcher, Daniel F. Perez Garcia, has presented the results of the research related to extremism in Europe, which have been carried out by the Research and Projects Department.

Main findings

Among the main findings presented is a panorama of violent extremism that has evolved significantly, presenting new and complex dynamics. Extremist groups have adopted more sophisticated tactics, taking advantage of digital tools and globalization to spread their messages and recruit new followers.

Among the main findings presented is a picture of violent extremism that has evolved significantly, presenting new and complex dynamics. Extremist groups have adopted more sophisticated tactics, taking advantage of digital tools and globalization to spread their messages and recruit new followers.
One of the most worrying developments is the possibility of alliances between extremist groups of different ideologies, as well as with non-democratic international actors. This convergence of interests represents a growing threat to global security. In addition, there is a trend towards the internationalization of common discourses and the exploitation of social grievances and gaps in public policies to increase their social support and foster recruitment to radical networks.

New approach to prevention from a societal perspective

The Euro-Arab Foundation proposes a new approach to combat radicalization that goes beyond traditional reactive measures. This approach focuses on strengthening social ties and addressing the root causes of radicalization, such as inequalities and exclusion.

To achieve this, a set of measures is proposed that include promoting integration among different social groups, integrating prevention into all public policies, fostering emotional well-being in communities, designing effective communication campaigns against extremist propaganda, involving young people in decision-making and ensuring gender equality in all initiatives.

In essence, the aim is to create more resilient and cohesive societies where radicalization finds less fertile ground, understanding that prevention is a shared responsibility involving all sectors of society.

This 2nd International Forum of Public Policy and Practitioners on Radicalization Prevention was held in the framework of the INDEED project, funded by the Horizon Europe program of the European Commission, which aims to strengthen the knowledge, capacities and skills of frontline practitioners and policy makers to design, plan, implement and evaluate initiatives on preventing violent extremism (PVE), countering violent extremism (CVE) and deradicalization, such as policies and strategies, long-term programs, short-term actions and ad hoc interventions, in an effective and proven manner.

Categories
News Projects VANGUARD

FUNDEA’s researchers present VANGUARD in Laurea University in Helsinki

On the 12th September 2024, researchers from the Euro-Arab Foundation in Granada, Spain presented Vanguard, an EU funded Horizon Europe focused on the prevention and detection of Trafficking inhuman beings as part of the crime prevention module at Laurea University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki. Over 25 students and stakeholders attended the three-hour hybrid session, which focused on both online and offline cases and detection methods. The researchers presented the unique approach of Vanguard, which encompasses the state of art creation of artificial intelligence to be used at land, sea and air borders, coupled with societal awareness.

Researchers also presented statistics and case studies from Spain, outlining how often national citizens are victims of this heinous crime. They also highlighted the need for the inclusion of survivors in both preventative measures and policy making.

Categories
News Projects Rebel EN

Migrant women will actively participate in the European ReBel project

ReBel, a project funded by the European Commission in the framework of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Program (CERV), begins its work after the inaugural event held on September 9 in Helsinki. Coordinated by the Finnish Laurea University of Applied Sciences, the consortium is made up of the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies, for Spain and under the coordination of researchers Karen Hough and Jusaima Moaid-Azm Peregrina; the international organization What Design Can Do for the Netherlands and the training center Visiopintokeskusvisio, for Finland.

The cornerstone of this project are the migrant women who have been in European host countries for more than 5 years, women who will collaborate with professional designers to create models and solutions for different contexts in the countries where this European project is being developed: Spain, Finland and Holland.

The role of the Euro-Arab Foundation

The Euro-Arab Foundation will lead the preliminary research work package that will lay the foundations of the project and will comparatively analyze other European projects that have also focused on the sense of belonging of migrants. Subsequently, a survey will be elaborated -under European standards- that will collect the experience of migrant women and their feelings towards the reception received. Likewise, Euroarab will be in charge of the so-called “research dialogues” in Spain, which will bring together local participants, migrant women, NGOs and authorities in workshops where they will address different topics such as xenophobic attacks, resilience strategies or barriers to overcome. Co-creative collaboration workshops will also be organized to improve the services offered by both authorities and NGOs, and round tables on migration policies will be organized.

The expected impact of the work developed by ReBel will be seen in the empowerment of migrant women, the improvement of their sense of belonging and the promotion of positive narratives. It will also contribute to a broader understanding among society, inform more inclusive immigration policies and provide practical tools to promote solidarity in these contexts.

The models and solutions created by ReBel will be designed within different contexts in the project countries, with input from a wide range of stakeholders, allowing the generation of new concepts that can be used within different settings in the European Union, including municipalities, national authorities, local communities, NGOs and other actors developing the integration of migrants.

Categories
EN Interrad News Projects

The Euro-Arab Foundation participates in the EUROCRIM Annual Congress with an interdisciplinary panel on policies for the prevention of violent extremism

From September 11 to 14, the Annual Congress of the European Society of Criminology, EUROCRIM, in its twenty-fourth edition, is taking place at the University of Bucharest. The Executive Secretary of the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies, Antonio Sanchez, and the Director of Research and Projects of the same, Javier Ruipérez, have participated with the panel Interdisciplinary approaches to radicalization, political violence, and the relationship between terrorism and crime to advance P/CVE (Program for the Prevention and Combating of Violent Extremism).

The panel, moderated by Sánchez, is part of the INTERRAD project whose aim is to contribute to the challenge of Security, Safety and Defense by addressing cooperation in the prevention of violent radicalization of a jihadist nature in the framework of the European Union (EU) through an interdisciplinary perspective. Ruipérez presented an update on P/CVE strategic communications. Other speakers were:

  • Carlos Echeverría Jesús, Professor of Terrorism and International Relations at UNED, who spoke about the role of Daesh and Al-Qaeda as central actors in the expansion of jihadist ideology;
  • Roberto Muelas Lobato, Assistant Professor and Doctor of the University of Burgos in the Area of Social Psychology, and member of the research group Social Inclusion and Quality of Life, who spoke about the side effects of the program for the prevention of violent extremism ‘Fenix Andalucía’; and
  • Salvador Berdún Carrión, PhD in Criminology from the University of Granada and Director of the Department of Studies of ACAIP, who addressed the influence of National Security and terrorism in European Prison Regimes.
Categories
News Projects

The Euro-Arab Research Director reflects on the causes and prevention of radicalization

“Radicalization and violent extremism: opportunities for prevention.”

Javier Ruipérez Canales, Director of Research and Projects at the Euro-Arab Foundation, invites us to unravel the roots of violent extremism in his book, Radicalization and violent extremism: opportunities for prevention, published by Tirant Lo Blanch. The author offers an innovative analysis of the phenomenon of radicalization, moving away from predominantly securitarian perspectives. Through exhaustive research, Ruipérez concludes that preventing radicalization requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the underlying social causes. His work, inspired by the events of 11-M and subsequent European policies, becomes an essential reference for understanding this complex problem.

Ruipérez shows how social fractures, polarization and hate speeches push vulnerable individuals towards radicalization. In his work, the author defends the need to address radicalization as a social problem rooted in inequalities and exclusions, beyond a mere security issue.

About the author

Javier Ruipérez Canales is Director of Research and International Projects at the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies (Granada), where he is also the main researcher in the Area of Prevention of Radicalization and Violent Extremism, a field in which he has more than ten years of experience in which he has developed numerous researches, innovation and development projects.

PhD. in Social Sciences from the University of Granada, Ruipérez is director of Strategic Communication of the EU Knowledge Hub on Prevention of Radicalisation of the European Commission, in which the Euro-Arab Foundation participates, trainer in the field of radicalization and prevention for professionals in social and security fields and advisor for national and international institutions. He is the author of several academic publications and is a member of the Network of Experts on Hate Crimes and Underreporting (REDOI), of the European Community of Researchers on Radicalization of the European Commission (ERCOR), among others.

Categories
Intercepted News Projects

INTERCEPTED and OSINT-RADAR Co-Host Seminar on Trafficking in Human Beings this September

The OSINT-RADAR and INTERCEPTED Projects are jointly organizing a seminar on Trafficking in Human Beings which will take place on September 19th and will be offered in a blended format, allowing for both in-person attendance in Tirana, Albania, and virtual participation online.

Trafficking in Human Beings remains a persistent global challenge, significantly hindering the effectiveness of criminal justice and social systems. This complexity arises from the inherent nature of the crime itself, the growing digitalization of trafficking networks, heightened social and economic vulnerabilities, and mass displacement leading to humanitarian crises.

This seminar will equip participants with essential knowledge and tools to combat THB. The agenda will focus on:

  • Community of Practices for Scenario Awareness and Identification of DaaS (Digital as a Service)
  • Focus on Financial Transactions and Money Laundering: An Analysis of the modus operandi of different criminal groups specialized in different scenarios and how they operate. Introduction to the ‘Follow the Money’ approach
  • The financial component of THB: the perspective of the investigators and prosecutors
  • Strengthening Alliances – Guidelines for Effective Public-Private Cooperation in Countering Human Trafficking

The seminar will be conducted in English and adhere to the Chatham House Rule. This rule ensures all information shared during closed-door discussions remains confidential regarding its source.

Please register for the Seminar using the following EU Survey: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/InterceptedOnlineSeminar

The meeting link will be provided prior to the event*

ABOUT INTERCEPTED programme

INTERCEPTED is a project funded by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs. Developed by a consortium of six partners, it includes the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies, Agenfor International Foundation, the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Trieste, the Institute of Police and Security Research at Hochschule für, the Hellenic Police, and the Center for Security Studies-Kentro Meleton Asfaleias-KEMEA.

The project aims to disrupt the digital model of THB by improving the digital capabilities of law enforcement and judicial authorities, focusing on two points for the disruption: recruitment and advertisement, considering that the methods used in terms of language, platforms, targets, and strategies vary according to the profiles of the victims and the type of exploitation.

Categories
Intercepted News Projects

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013 and observed annually on July 30th, the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons aims to raise awareness of this heinous crime.In alignment with this year’s global campaign focused on accelerating action to end child trafficking, INTERCEPTED is launching its second targeted campaign with a firsthand account from a leading expert in child protection who works together with victims, NGOs, and government institutions.

📹 Watch here the video of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons subtitled in different languages:

https://intercepted-project.eu/campaign-2/

Categories
IN2PREV-en News Projects

The Euro-Arab Foundation, in charge of adapting a new tool to assess vulnerability and risk factors of refugees in the framework of IN2PREV project

The Euro-Arab Foundation is in the process of adapting the Frontline Extremism Vulnerability Risk – Structured Evaluation Screening (FEVR-SES), a new tool created within the framework of the European IN2PREV project, which will allow assessing different vulnerability and risk factors of refugees and asylum seekers. This calibration work is being made possible thanks to the dialogue and multi-agency collaboration of experts, police forces and social entities with which the Euro-Arab Foundation has been able to discuss, in a national online calibration workshop, the points to be improved, adjusted or reinforced.

The FEVR-SES tool, which was already assessed in another workshop last month at international level, seeks the early detection of vulnerabilities and protection factors with assessment indicators, such as mental health, psychosocial well-being or the migration experience itself, which are essential for social inclusion and the development of public policies that promote a diverse society.

IN2PREV is a European project co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme in which the Euro-Arab Foundation is leading research on methodologies for assessing the vulnerabilities of refugees and asylum seekers, the development of a manual on ethics and respect for human rights in interventions with refugees, the national implementation of the IN2PREV mentoring programme and the development of training programmes.

In this context, Euro-Arab also held a national mentoring event last May for frontline professionals from social organisations, NGOs and mediation services working with asylum seekers and refugees. This IN2PREV mentoring service will continue with training in September for Spanish NGOs, as well as those from the project’s partner countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovakia, Moldova, Portugal, Poland and Romania) in order to subsequently launch pilot mentoring programmes in their respective territories.

Soon, the Euro-Arab Foundation will publish a manual on guaranteeing human rights and ethics in Spanish for police forces and social entities, which will accompany a manual on good police practices in the treatment of asylum seekers.

More information on the IN2PREV website: https://www.in2prev.eu/