Antonia De Meo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Director of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute | |
| Assumed office 1 July 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | California,U.S. |
| Education | Wellesley College (BA) Lewis and Clark College (JD) Harvard University (MPA) |
Antonia De Meo is an American lawyer and diplomat. She started serving as the Director of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) [1] on March 30,2020
Antonia De Meo was born and raised in California,United States. Her paternal family is of Italian American descent,having emigrated to the United States from the south of Italy in the 1920s and her maternal family is of Swiss Mennonite descent;she holds dual American and Italian nationality. [2]
She received a Bachelor of Art's degree at Wellesley College in 1989,before receiving a Juris Doctor degree from Lewis and Clark Law School in 1994,where she was on the official law review,and a master's degree in public administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University,where she was a Public Service Fellow. [3] [4] [5]
Licensed to practice law in the States of Oregon and Washington,Antonia De Meo worked as a trial attorney and municipal prosecutor in federal and state courts before pursuing a career in international development and human rights work. [6]
Antonia De Meo began her international career at the American Bar Association’s Central and East European Law Initiative in Moldova,where she worked from 1999 to 2000. In 2000,she joined the Human Rights Chamber for Bosnia and Herzegovina,serving as Deputy Registrar until 2003. She worked as the Anti-Trafficking and Gender Advisor for the Mission to Moldova of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) from 2005 to 2007. [7] [8]
Antonia De Meo commenced her United Nations career at the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Iraq,Jordan, [9] and Palestine, [10] where she worked from 2009 to 2011. From 2011 to 2014,she held senior management positions with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Sri Lanka and Sudan.
From 2014 to 2017,Antonia De Meo served as the Chief of Staff of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), [11] which is the largest UN agency. From 2018 to 2020,she held dual positions as the Chief of the Human Rights,Transitional Justice and Rule of Law Service at the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and Representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Libya. [12]
On 1 July 2020,Antonia De Meo was appointed the Director of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute by Secretary-General António Guterres. She was preceded by Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas. [13]
UNICRI is one of the six autonomous UN research and training institutes and the only one focused on criminal justice and crime prevention. Established in 1968,its Statute sets a broad mandate in the fields of justice,crime prevention,and rule of law. This includes formulating research on emerging threats,developing policies on crime prevention,and implementing programmes in specialized fields of crime,justice,and security.
Some notable milestones have been recorded under Ms. De Meo’s leadership.
On 7 June 2023,the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) passed a landmark resolution that acknowledges the role of UNICRI as a valuable component of the UN system and contributor to the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This was the first such resolution from an institutional level on the work of UNICRI since UNICRI was established.
On 15 February 2023,UNICRI,with the support of the Permanent Mission of Italy,launched its new Strategic Programme Framework (SPF) 2023 –2026,which lays the foundation for its work over the next four years.
The Framework considers the rapidly changing global criminal landscape. Criminal networks,alliances,and economies are adapting in sophisticated,transnational,and interconnected ways that allow the expansion of their reach,influence,profit,and impact,while distinct threats are converging and providing new opportunities for criminal enterprises and exploitation to flourish.
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is a regional security-oriented intergovernmental organization comprising member states in Europe,North America,and Asia. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control,the promotion of human rights,freedom of the press,and free and fair elections. It employs around 3,460 people,mostly in its field operations but also in its secretariat in Vienna,Austria,and its institutions. It has observer status at the United Nations.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime is a United Nations office that was established in 1997 as the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention by combining the United Nations International Drug Control Program (UNDCP) and the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division in the United Nations Office at Vienna,adopting the current name in 2002.
Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is a commercial transaction that involves the sexual exploitation of a minor,or person under the age of consent. CSEC involves a range of abuses,including but not limited to:the,child pornography,stripping,erotic massage,phone sex lines,internet-based exploitation,and early forced marriage.
The International Association of Prosecutors (IAP) is a global non-governmental organisation of prosecutors,established by the United Nations in 1995,Vienna. It has 183 organizational members from 177 countries,and individual members.
The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) is one of the five United Nations Research and Training Institutes. The institute was founded in 1968 to assist the international community in formulating and implementing improved policies in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice. Its work currently focuses on Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,that is centred on promoting peaceful,just and inclusive societies,free from crime and violence.
Turkey is a top destination for victims of human trafficking,according to a report produced by the UNDOC. Source countries for identified victims of trafficking in 2008 included Turkmenistan,Uzbekistan,Moldova,Kyrgyzstan,Russia,Georgia,Ukraine,Azerbaijan,Romania,Kazakhstan,Belarus,Bulgaria,Indonesia,and Morocco. Notably,Russian organized crime syndicates engage in trafficking of women for prostitution,and East European women have turned up in many European countries,including Turkey. U.S. State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons placed the country in "Tier 2" in 2017.
Virginia Mary Kendall is an American attorney and jurist serving as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. President George W. Bush appointed her to the bench on January 3,2006. In addition to serving on the bench,Judge Kendall is also a noted expert on child exploitation and human trafficking,as well as an adjunct professor and author.
The United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT) is a multi-stakeholder initiative providing global access to expertise,knowledge and innovative partnerships to combat human trafficking.
Francesco Cappè is Chairman and founder of the garagErasmus Foundation and former United Nations official and Head,Security policies,Dialogue and Innovation for the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI);in this position he designed and supervised,among others,the first UN programme on security policies for major events and the UN initiatives against violent radicalization. He was a member of the UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF) of the UN General Assembly. He also worked as Senior Advisor for the General Confederation of the Italian Industries (Confindustria) and Chair of the Robert F. Kennedy Flagship on Mediterranean Challenges as well as board member and CEO of international companies and Higher Education Institutions. He is currently CEO and Head of Institution of Gioya,a boutique Higher Education Institution with the main Hq in Malta. He is Chief Representatives in Europe for the Shanghai Arbitration Commission.
Jonathan Lucas was a former United Nations civil servant. He was appointed Secretary of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) in 2010 in replacement of Koli Kouame.
Sara Susana del Valle Trimarco de Veron,or Susana Trimarco,is an Argentinian human rights activist,whose efforts to combat human trafficking and corruption have been recognized internationally. After the 2002 disappearance of her daughter,who is believed to have been kidnapped by a human trafficking network,she spent years searching for her daughter,and started a foundation to support victims of sex trafficking. Her lobbying is credited as bringing corruption and government impunity to the fore in Argentina,a discussion which led to a 2011 law banning the advertisement of sexual services in newspapers and magazines.
Anne Therese Gallagher is the current (2019-) Director-General of the Commonwealth Foundation. She is also a former President (2018-2022) of the International Catholic Migration Commission,Co-Chair of the International Bar Association’s Presidential Task Force on Human Trafficking,and member of the Asia Dialogue on Forced Migration. An Australian born lawyer,practitioner and scholar,she is considered to be an international authority on transnational criminal law,migration and human rights and,according to the 2012 Trafficking in Persons Report prepared by the United States Department of State,is 'the leading global expert on the international law on human trafficking’.
The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) is an independent think-and-do tank providing multidisciplinary policy advice and practical support focused on prevention,the rule of law and current and emerging threats three important parts of effective counter-terrorism work. ICCT's work focuses on themes at the intersection of countering violent extremism and criminal justice sector responses,as well as human rights related aspects of counter-terrorism. The major project areas concern countering violent extremism,rule of law,foreign fighters,country and regional analysis,rehabilitation,civil society engagement and victims' voices.
Maria Grazia Giammarinaro is an Italian judge and policy-maker.
The EU Centres of Excellence on Chemical,Biological,Radiological and Nuclear Risk Mitigation is an initiative of the European Union which was launched in 2010. The initiative addresses the mitigation of and preparedness for risks related to CBRN material and agents. The origin of these risks can be criminal,accidental or natural. The CBRN CoE Initiative seeks to boost cooperation at national,regional and international levels,and to develop a common and coherent CBRN risk mitigation policy at national and regional level. Risk mitigation comprises prevention,preparedness and post-crisis management.
The Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs is the sole organ of national security in Mongolia. The primary force is responsible for maintaining law and order and preventing crime throughout the country is the National Police Agency,created in 1965 and headquartered in the capital Ulaanbaatar. Interpol has an office within the Mongolian Police.
The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) based in Vienna. The commission serves as the primary organ that guides the activities of the United Nations in the fields of crime prevention and criminal justice.
The Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics at the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) was established to advance understanding of artificial intelligence (AI),robotics and related technologies with a special focus on crime,terrorism and other threats to security,with the goal of supporting and assisting UN Member States in understanding the risks and benefits of these technologies and exploring their use for contributing to a future free of violence and crime.
Parosha Chandran is a Professor of Practice in Modern Slavery Law in The Dickson Poon School of Law,King's College London. She is also a human rights barrister at One Pump Court and an expert advisor on human trafficking law for the United Nations and the Council of Europe.
Rita Izsák-Ndiaye is an independent senior human rights expert and former Hungarian diplomat. She has worked on human,minority and youth rights in various NGOs,the Hungarian Government and with international organizations. She served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on minority issues between 2011 and 2017,as well as member and Rapporteur of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination between 2018-2022. In 2021 and 2022,she was the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Children and Security. As of autumn 2022,she is Senior Adviser on Anti-Racisam at UNDP.