Winter course on environmental crimes

Roma, 16-20 dicembre 2019

Environmental crimes have been broadly defined as illegal acts that directly harm the environment. According to the main international agencies involved in the analysis, prevention and countering of environmental crimes, the following five types of criminal activities clearly fall under this definition: illegal wildlife trade in endangered species; smuggling of ozone depleting substances (ODS); dumping and illicit trade in hazardous waste; illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; illegal logging and trade in stolen timber.

Environmental crimes are rapidly becoming one of the most significant topics in the study of state policy and international relations. However, because of the relatively nascent understanding of the nature of such crimes and the threats that these pose, international, judicial and societal norms have often proven to be inadequate in halting their perpetration. Gaining awareness about the several factors and the complexity of these crimes is therefore of critical importance to improve laws and policies.

Given the increasingly central role that environmental crimes are playing in defining the agenda of the global community and the evolution of international law, UNICRI and the Italian Society for International Organization (SIOI) are pleased to offer the fourth edition of the Winter Course on Environmental Crimes which will take place at the SIOI Headquarters in Rome (Italy), from 16 to 20 December 2019.