Inauguration of Prof. Dr. Mirjam van Reisen: international cooperation in the digital area

Prof. Dr. Mirjam van Reisen addressed the question of how to establish ways of sustainable and efficient international cooperation in the digital area in her inaugural lecture on Friday, 10 March 2017. The lecture was followed by the acceptance of her position as professor of Computing for Society at the University of Leiden

In this lecture, Prof. van Reisen took the audience back in time by recapping the events and technological obstacles that hindered an appropriate response to the Ebola crises in Liberia in 2014.

Book publication: human trafficking in the digital era, trauma & the involvement of the Eritrean regime

After over five years of field work Professor at Tilburg University and Leiden University Mirjam van Reisen and Professor Munyaradzi Mawere from Great Zimbabwe University launched their new book entitled Human Trafficking and Trauma in the Digital Era: The Ongoing Tragedy of Trade in Refugees from Eritrea last Friday, 10 March 2017. The book sheds new light on the thriving business of human trafficking for ransom with severe torture practices, also named Sinai trafficking, and traces back its origins. It presents the findings that show how money is made with the smuggling of Eritrean refugees and how the booming business runs with inhuman practices such as violence, hostage situations and torture.

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS: humanitarian visas, human trafficking business, testimonies of Eritrean refugees

In this week’s news highlights we would like to inform you about the upcoming side-event on the UN Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea (COI) follow-up at the UN Human Rights Council, the European Court of Justice decision on humanitarian visas and Hungary’s new measures against refugees. News highlights at the Horn of Africa are: new testimonies from Eritrean refugees, peace efforts in Sudan and war crimes South Sudan.