CoronaCrime #3

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has taken a terrible toll in lives, illness, and economic devastation and it is having diverse effects on violence and crime. Therefore, the Daily Prevention News publishes weekly a Corona Crime Issue dedicated to collect related relevant news and information.

1. Extremism and Terrorism in a Time of Pandemic
   The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly established itself as a game-changer in our age. The current pandemic is affecting the world of extremism and terrorism, too: by imposing constraints and limitations, but also by offering new opportunities for propaganda and violence. Against this backdrop, how are jihadist groups responding? What are the consequences on far-right and far-left extremism? How could the terrorist threat evolve? Source: ISPI
2. Agenda for Action: 8 United Nations entities launch roadmap to protect children from violence in response to COVID-19
   Following the Secretary General’s policy brief on the impact of COVID-19 on children, the UN Inter-Agency Working Group on Violence against Children has put together an Agenda for Action. The Agenda for Action is based on the different mandates of the entities involved and provides a child right and multi-sectoral framework for action. The Agenda aims to mobilize governments and other stakeholders around the world in defence of social services for children. A global crisis calls for a global response. Solidarity, multi-stakeholder cooperation and multilateralism are needed now more than ever. Source: UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children
3. UNICEF and Airtel Africa announce partnership to support children and families affected by COVID-19
   UNICEF announced a new partnership with Airtel Africa aimed at providing children with access to remote learning and enable access to cash assistance for their families via mobile cash transfers. Under this partnership, UNICEF and Airtel Africa will use mobile technology to benefit an estimated 133 million school-age children currently affected by school closures in 13 countries across sub-Saharan Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. Source: UNICEF West and Central Africa
4. Coronavirus and Organized Crime
   Drug Prices, Murder Rates, Prison Riots. Read about the full impact of Coronavirus on organized crime in Latin America. A collection of news and information edited and constantly up-dated by InSightCrime. Source: InSightCrime
5. Coronavirus: crime cartels helping communities will extract a high price in years to come
   During the coronavirus pandemic, governments have undoubtedly been the lead actors in imposing restrictions on their populations while financially supporting individuals and firms for lost income. But in numerous countries, governments have very limited capacity or have to live with mafia-type organisations. These groups differ from standard criminal operations because they act like a state within a state. Source: The Conversation
6. Crisis and opportunity: Impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on illicit drug markets
   COVID-19 will generate longer-term implications for drug-market dynamics, law-enforcement tactics and drug policy. This policy brief offers observations on the current and likely future drug market impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, with discussion of policy-response measures as we draw closer to the inevitable post-pandemic recovery period of stock-taking and reflection. Source: Global Initiative against Organised Crime
7. Cannes trials software to monitor mask-wearing
   The City of Cannes has been trialling artificial intelligence (AI) software to track mask-wearing and social distancing in preparation for the easing of France’s strict lockdown from today. An AI algorithm transforms images from security cameras into data to calculate the number and percentage of people who are wearing face masks and practicing social distancing, as is required in public places due to coronavirus (COVID-19). Source: Cities Today
8. COVID-19 Disinformation Briefing No.3
   ISD released a pioneering investigation with BBC Click, mapping the scale and nature of online disinformation around COVID-19 in the US, as well as its co-option by far-right actors. Source: ISD
9. Podcast: What if...Covid-19 leads to an escalation of conflicts?
   Currently, 43 states in the world are experiencing ongoing conflicts. What impact will the Covid-19 pandemic have on these conflicts? Will they escalate, or is there perhaps an opportunity for peace? EUISS Senior Associate Analyst Katariina Mustasilta discusses with Florence Gaub how conflict research sheds light on the link between discontent and crisis. Source: EU ISS
10. Big data, privacy and COVID-19 – learning from humanitarian expertise in data protection
    The COVID-19 pandemic leads governments around the world to resort to tracking technology and other data-driven tools in order to monitor and curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Such large-scale incursion into privacy and data protection is unthinkable during times of normalcy. However, in times of a pandemic, the use of location data provided by telecom operators and/or technology companies becomes a viable option. Source: Journal of International Humanitarian Action
11. Initial evidence on the relationship between the coronavirus pandemic and crime in the United States
    The COVID-19 pandemic led to substantial changes in the daily activities of millions of Americans, with many businesses and schools closed, public events cancelled and states introducing stay-at-home orders. This article used police-recorded open crime data to understand how the frequency of common types of crime changed in 16 large cities across the United States in the early months of 2020. Source: Crime Science 
12. Availability of COVID-19 related products on Tor darknet markets
    Twenty Tor darknet markets were surveyed on 3 April 2020 to conduct a census of COVID-19 related medical products and supplies. There were 645 listings, including 222 unique listings, of COVID-19 related products across 12 markets. Three markets accounted for 85 per cent of all unique listings identified. Source: Australian Government
13. Call for Papers: COVID-19, Criminal Justice & Carceralism: Critical Reflections & Change
    This special edition calls for papers internationally that critically reflect on changes to the criminal justice system and rethink more human practices into the future, including opportunities for decarceration and abolition. Contact Thalia Anthony for further information. Source: University of Sydney
14. COVID-19 racism is making kids sick
    Children, at least for now, seem to be at low risk of becoming infected with or of transmitting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Yet their lives have undergone rapid, major upheavals as a result of the pandemic. The footprint this will leave on their mental, social, emotional and physical health and wellbeing is yet to be seen. Source: Insight+
     

Please find more information and news about the interlinkages between the Coronavirus, Crime and Violence in German published every Tuesday on our German News Service Tägliche Präventions News.