New Training Opportunity: Prosecuting Waste Crime on the Asia-Pacific – Europe Route

When: 24-26 February 2021 (preceded by a 1-hour introductory session on 17 February)
Where: Online

Illegal management and trade of waste causes significant damage to the environment, undermines the health of millions of people, and distorts fair competition. It can result in loss of income to authorities, while providing significant financial gain for those illicitly involved. Despite strong efforts to better detect and investigate waste crimes, it remains quite challenging to carry out proper investigations and prosecutions. There is a need for more harmonised prosecutions strategies, increased national capacities, and enhanced international operational collaboration.

As part of the WasteForce project, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), in partnership with the United Nations University (UNU) and with support from WasteForce consortium partners, and other partners including INTERPOL, will hold a 3 day on-line training workshop on 24-26 February 2021, preceded by a 1-hour introductory session on 17 February. See draft agenda below for further information.

Target audiences

Prosecutors and judicial officials with experience in prosecuting waste crimes, as well as customs officials, police or investigation agency, and line ministries.

Costs

Attendance is FREE, but on an invitation-only basis, limited to 30 participants from Europe and 50 participants from Asia. Even if you can’t attend or don’t get selected, register anyway, and we’ll give you FREE ACCESS to our online training toolkit.

Register your interest

Complete the registration form below to express your interest to participate in the training. After the deadline on 30 January, you will be informed if your application to participate was successful.

Proposed agenda

Timezone: C.E.T. time

Wednesday 17 February 2021 (10:00-11:00) – Introductory Session

Introduction to the workshop and the proposed case study. The case study will track the shipment of a containers from Europe to Asia, investigation and prosecution steps.

Wednesday 24 February 2021 (10:00-12:30) – Day 1

– Opening Remarks – Overview of transboundary illegal waste in Asia-Pacific and Europe – Review of Plastic Trade – Overview on available resources – Briefing on Case Study and Trial Breakout Session – Discussion and Survey

Thursday 25 February 2021 (10:00-13:00) – Day 2

– Overview of international legal and policy frameworks for transboundary movements of hazardous waste and plastics waste – Port inspections/Documentation Security/Initial inspections – Waste identification, risk profiling and international exchange mechanisms. – First Session on the Case Study/Discussion (Presentations and Break-out sessions) – Role of international cooperation and networking – Discussion on Repatriation of Waste Shipments

Friday 26 February 2021 (10:00-13:00) – Day 3

– Preparation for Prosecution – Forensics, Evidence Collection, Evidence Presentation, Choice of Actions – Methodologies to measure environmental damage – Second Session on the Case Study/Discussion (Presentations and Break-out sessions) – Corporate Liability, Liability of Directors, Use of insurance and financials bonds and guarantees – The Role an Enforcement Policy – Closing Remarks, Survey, Evaluation and Feedback