Day: 7 December 2023

UPDATE: Event cancellation, notified 11/12/2023 due to unforeseen circumstances.

Tony Schiena, a man known as the “world’s most highly trained covert operative” in the global fight against human trafficking and terrorism, will next week be speaking at a web conference held in the Principality on behalf of the Monaco Association of Compliance Officers. Here are all the details.  

Human trafficking is one of the world’s most insidious crimes. It is estimated that there are currently 40 million people who are being forced to work without pay or basic rights around globe, with the situation of many being compounded by a vicious cycle of abuse.  

Some of the jobs these victims must endure include being sold into the sex trade, working as forced labourers on farms and in factories, and as domestic servants, such as nannies or maids. While the roles they are forced to perform vary, all live under the threat of violence or in fear. To make matters worse, some €140 billion is believed to be made off the backs of these vulnerable people by human traffickers every year.  

Almost every country in the world is in some way affected by this crime, either as a point of origin, a transit stopover or as a destination. Even Monaco undergoes evaluations by the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), which recently sent a third delegation to the Principality. Following the visit, GRETA officials made the explicit recommendation that the government should raise awareness on the issue in the Principality. 

UPCOMING EVENT IN MONACO AND ONLINE 

Tony Schiena may not be a household name, but he should be. He is one of the world’s most experienced elite counter terrorism and human trafficking experts. He has worked extensively in the field as well as behind the scenes as a trainer of other operatives and is the owner of defence intelligence company, MOSAIC Security. Schiena also founded MOSAIC Federation, an organisation set up to combat modern slavery and the trafficking of children.   

He has spoken at numerous high-level events, including at the United Nations, the Vatican, the UK House of Lords, the House of the President of India, at the G20 Women conference in Paris and to government panels in Pakistan and Dubai as well as various “other prestigious political platforms”.  

Now, he is set to speak at a web conference reserved for members of the Monaco Association of Compliance Officers (AMCO) on 11th December at 12.30pm. The event will be hosted by Landmark Management. 

Schiena is expected to discuss his past work as well as his present occupations, with references to the challenges and actions being taken in the fight against this shocking crime. 

Schiena will also touch on topics including: the role of money laundering in human trafficking; how private companies are fighting it; the links between terrorism and trafficking; the use of tech in trafficking; and the roles of compliance officers in combatting it, amongst other salient themes.  

Nathalie Schinzig, Head of Compliance at Landmark Management, will moderate. She will also serve as co-speaker.  

“I’ll speak about the global aspect of modern slavery, human trafficking and [the] money laundering of the funds related to this harmful crime as well as the role of Compliance Officers in the fight with the human trafficking,” she tells Monaco Life.  

The conference will be delivered in English and a link to join will be sent out to participants prior to the event. For further information, click here. 

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Photo via www.tonyschiena.com

With the launch of its new National Policy for Disability Inclusion, which will focus on key areas such as employment, housing and mobility, Monaco has set itself on a path to a future where everyone living and working within its borders will be “ready to receive, welcome, understand, hire, educate, train and work with disabled people”.

There are roughly one billion people in the world living with disabilities, 80% of which are not instantly apparent, but that nonetheless put the person at a disadvantage in one way or another.  

In order to ensure all those who live and work in Monaco have an equal footing, the Monegasque government has decided to step up its efforts to support this sector of the public with a far-reaching National Policy for Disability Inclusion. 

The goals of the policy were announced on 5th December at a well-attended conference headed up by Monaco’s Minister of Health and Social Affairs, Christophe Robino.  

Sophie Cluzel, who served as French Secretary of State for People with Disabilities between 2017 and 2022, was invited to speak at the event and she highlighted the necessity of a more “inclusive society” as well as the need for any plan pertaining to the disabled to come from the top, so that it filters down to every part of the culture. 

To that end, a new post dedicated to implementing the policy has been created. Lionel Galfre, who most recently worked as Director of MonacoTech, but who has also held numerous positions within the government, is now the Technical Advisor for People with Disabilities in Monaco.  

NINE KEY AREAS 

The National Policy for Disability Inclusion addresses nine main areas: public awareness about all forms of disabilities; education and training; employment; housing and construction; mobility and accessibility; support and assistance; access to sport, culture and leisure; information about what has been and is being done for people with disabilities; and international recognition.  

A new logo for policy was also unveiled at the event, with Robino saying, “I wanted this new phase of our national disability inclusion policy to be represented by a new visual identity, designed to unite people around a modern and dynamic project to raise awareness and bring the whole of Monegasque society on board. It’s everybody’s business, and the goal is to be ready!” 

In a statement released following the event, the Monegasque government said it wished “to make Monaco a place of excellence for disability inclusion in the future”.

On stage at the event, Robino summed up the goals of the policy by saying, “Communicate, educate, support – these are the key principles of the ministerial policy on disability inclusion and professional integration built on this national disability plan.” 

FIRST STEPS ALREADY TAKEN 

Monaco has already begun making progress towards the “inclusive society” championed by Cluzel. Over the last few years, these initiatives include: a support guide for employers and employees; a campaign to ensure as many shops and restaurants as possible in the Principality are fully accessible; the launch of a mobility app to help people with disabilities get around Monaco; and various information and awareness platforms in the public and private realm.   

“Making disability known and understood by all is an essential step on the path to a Principality that truly includes disabled people, not just in word, but in deed and in spirit,” said the newly appointed Galfre. “That can be achieved through a pragmatic policy, hand in hand with the associations that work every day in the interests of people with visible or invisible disabilities and every public and private stakeholder in Monegasque society. Our goal is for everyone in the future to be able to say “I’m ready”. Ready to receive, welcome, understand, hire, educate, train, and work with disabled people.” 

For more information, click here.

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Photo credit: Manuel Vitali, Monaco Communications Department 

If you’re yet to get started on your Christmas shopping, look no further than the inaugural ‘Monaco Christmas Rendez-Vous’ shopping extravaganza that is set to take over the Condamine neighbourhood on 14th December. 

The bustling Condamine district in Monaco is abuzz with excitement for the very first ‘Monaco Christmas Rendez-Vous’ shopping event that is being planned for Thursday 14th December.

More than 40 local businesses are already on board, including boutiques, bars and the nearby market traders, and they are going all out: shoppers can expect a day filled with lively entertainment, exclusive offers, tempting discounts and musical delights.  

“This is more than just a shopping day; it’s a reflection of our local businesses’ collaborative spirit,” one participating businessowner told Monaco Life.  

See more: Getting to know Monaco: The lively La Condamine, a favourite with locals

The event, which is being sponsored by the Carlo app and Artcom, is designed to foster a sense of community as well as highlight the diverse nature of the district’s commercial landscape.  

For those interested in planning their day and route around the shops, detailed information about participating businesses and their specific offers, as well as the full schedule of the event, is available here.

Join the Monaco Life community – the largest English media in the Principality.    

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Photo by Monaco Life