International Expert in Environmental Crime Phenomena
Alert
Vacancy
Background
The training on tackling serious and organized crime and violent extrem ism is a response to a request made by the Kosovo Police. The variety of environmental crime in Kosovo inter alia comprises dumping and illicit trade in hazardous waste and illegal logging and the associated trade in stolen timber in violation of relevant laws. These crimes are liable for prosecution. It is also a truism that international organized crime groups profit from such crimes across the globe. The training aims to strengthen Kosovo Police’s knowledge in environmental crimes and their identification, prevention and combating. Based on past experience the training will bring together investigators, prosecutors and judges with the aim to enhance their cooperation and understanding of how to take joint actions.
According to statistical data received from Kosovo Judicial Council in 2018 courts in Pejë/Peæ region handled 314 cases of forest thefts. Only in three (3) cases the Court rendered imprisonment as punishment, whilst the majority of cases were suspended sentences. In the last six (6) years forest thefts are present approximately with 20 per cent out of total number of cases before the Branch Court Istog/Istok. The overall number of unreported cases is presumably much higher. Allegations that organized crime groups are heavily involved in particular illegal logging/trade in stolen timber couldn’t be corroborated by the competent agencies to date.
The Environmental Crime Section is embedded in the Kosovo Police Directorate of Serious Crime Investigation, and is responsible for processing of criminal reports related to forests (e.g. illegal logging and associated trade in stolen timber), illegal river straightening/damaging riverbeds, illegal exploitation of quarries, large-scale air/water pollution etc. The section faces with big workload due to scarce human resources of the unit. During the last 3 years the Environmental Crime Section did not come across a criminal case comprising indicators of involvement of organized crime groups.
There is also no case of disposing toxic waste identified by the Section to date. Lastly, there is no specialization in environmental crime in the prosecution and judiciary.
Objective
The objective of the training is to highten the level of knowledge of relevant institutions in relation to investigations into environmental crime and its subsequent indicting/sentencing in Kosovo. The training activity is expected to improve the detection/conviction of crimes, as such idenfied crimes remain low.As crime figures reflecting the calendar year 2018, see below, are quite low, rate in the future.
Moreover, the participants will be familiarized with how to take effective cross-institutional approach. The training also aims to strengthen the co-operation the main main entities involved in criminal prosecution including competent municipal inspectors, representatives of the forest agency and directorates in charge of the two “national parks.” The training also intends to optimise the working processes of relevant authorities in their future day-to-day work.
Tasks and Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Activity Manager, the international expert will familiarize the participants in which fashion the fight against environmental crime in close co-operation between police, prosecution and judiciary and other agencies can be optimized. The expert is expected to use real-life scenarios taking into consideration the context in Kosovo.The training will be organized from 22-23 October 2020 and will be delivered online.
The international expert will be responsible for the following:
Deliverables:
o Successful conduct of investigations into environmental crime pursuant to the Criminal Code.
o Requirements in relation to the presentation of one’s case to be expected in court.
o Real-life cases being successfully investigated by the lecturer or others and simulated as joint exercises during the training.
o The importance of an Investigative Plan.
o Pros and Cons of centralized and decentralized investigations.
Performance Indicators:
Necessary Qualifications:
Remuneration Package
Remuneration will depend on the qualifications and experience of individual experts as well as the detailed work plan to be agreed upon and will be based on the current OSCE consultancy rates.
How To Apply
In order to apply for this position you must complete the OSCE's online application form, found under https://jobs.osce.org/. Applicants are encouraged to use the online recruitment and only fully completed OSCEapplications will be accepted. However, if you have technical difficulties with the system you may use the offline application form found under https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/offline-application-form and forward the completed form quoting the vacancy number by e-mail to: consultancy.omik@osce.org. In line with yourqualifications please indicate preference to one or more field of expertise listed above (while using the onlineapplication the field of expertise preference can be indicated in the cover letter part). Kindly note that applications received after the deadline, submitted in different formats than the OSCE Application Form or in other languages than the English language would not be considered. The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious, ethnic and socialbackgrounds to apply