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Papers by Cilia María Ruiz-Paz

The Crime Analyst's Companion, 2021

The analysis of crime is a universal phenomenon and the lifeblood of all investigations. All enfo... more The analysis of crime is a universal phenomenon and the lifeblood of all investigations. All enforcement organizations rely on information and intelligence to combat crime within their mandated jurisdictions, yet crime is ignorant of geography and with the rise of globalization simply does not respect man-made borders. This transboundary expansion forces enforcement organisms to reconsider their policing strategies and creates the need for collaboration among law enforcement agencies from different nation-states to accomplish a shared mission of combatting crime.

But how must the profession at a local level adjust to achieve this common purpose in a novel international arena? First, it is important to lay the foundations and examine the basis of international intelligence and crime analysis. Then, it is essential to understand the nature of transnational crime and its elements to fully comprehend why reciprocity and mutual benefit drive effective international crime analysis.
Awareness of the "what" and the "why" of international criminal analysis allows for a better assessment of the "how." Realizing the value in inter-nation cooperation and the difficulties in establishing direct nation-to-nation collaboration, the global community has come together in the form of intergovernmental organizations and nongovernmental organizations to create partnerships, networks and technological platforms and systems through which to secure accurate and safe information and criminal intelligence exchange.

At its core, of course, lies the criminal analyst who must proficiently maneuver the layers of complexities on both the national and international realms and guide their agency’s approach to combatting crime.

Environmental crime is rampant at a global scale with direct and irreversible detrimental effects... more Environmental crime is rampant at a global scale with direct and irreversible detrimental effects on human welfare. Yet, this type of crime remains a low priority for many governments. The trafficking in wildlife, a subset of environmental crime, has continued to flourish and expand, driven by an ever-growing and shifting demand for wildlife commodities that are smuggled by sophisticated criminal networks using state-of-the-art mechanisms.

In an effort to increase awareness and prioritization of environmental crime, this thesis explores the phenomenon of wildlife trafficking. First providing an overview of the current global situation, it then examines the thriving illegal trade in wildlife in the Republic of Colombia and investigates the gap between environmental sustainability and current legislative enforcement efforts. It explores factors hindering environmental sustainability and security through data analysis and interviews with key national and international environmental actors.

The findings suggest that fragmentation of multidisciplinary regimes and agencies are a key factor. The lack of coordination in national and international efforts and activities impedes the efficient and effective resolution of key factors, including lack of political will, cultural influences, lack of education and overall awareness regarding environmental crime, and issues concerning resource and capacity building. This study, supported by concepts of regime theory, identifies a need to address this fragmentation through fostering political will at the international level while increasing prioritization, education, and capacity through cooperation-centered and multidisciplinary approaches at the national level.
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Resumen
El delito contra el medio ambiente es un fenómeno desenfrenado a escala global, con efectos perjudiciales directos e irreversibles sobre el bienestar humano. Sin embargo, este tipo de delitos sigue siendo bajo en prioridad para muchos gobiernos. El tráfico de fauna silvestre, un subconjunto bajo los delitos contra el medio ambiente, ha seguido prosperando y aumentando, impulsado por una creciente y cambiante demanda sobre productos derivados de la vida silvestre, los cuales son introducidos de contrabando por redes criminales sofisticadas utilizando mecanismos innovadores.

Con fines de aumentar la conciencia y la priorización de los delitos contra el medio ambiente, esta tesis explora y se enfoca en el fenómeno del tráfico de vida silvestre. Primero proporcionando una visión general de la situación mundial actual, el estudio prosigue a examinar el prolífico comercio ilegal de vida silvestre en la República de Colombia e investiga la brecha entre la sostenibilidad ambiental y los esfuerzos actuales de aplicación de la ley. Se explora los factores que dificultan y obstruyen la sostenibilidad y la seguridad del medio ambiente a través de un análisis de datos y entrevistas con actores ambientales nacionales e internacionales.

Los hallazgos sugieren que la fragmentación de los regímenes y agencias multidisciplinarios son un factor clave. La falta de coordinación de esfuerzos y actividades nacionales e internacionales impide la resolución eficiente y eficaz de los factores clave, incluyendo la falta de voluntad política, las influencias culturales, la falta de educación y la concienciación general sobre el crimen medioambiental, y problemas relacionados con los recursos y el fortalecimiento de capacidad. Este estudio, con el apoyo de los conceptos de la teoría del régimen, identifica una necesidad de abordar esta fragmentación a través del fomento de voluntad política en el plano internacional, aumentando la priorización, la educación, y la capacidad a través de mecanismos enfocados en la cooperación multidisciplinaria a nivel nacional.

This essay examines the societal influence of the North American non-traditional Greek Letter Org... more This essay examines the societal influence of the North American non-traditional Greek Letter Organizations, and more specifically the societal construction and control exercised by Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs) and Latino Greek Letter Organizations (LGLOs) upon their communities. The essay begins by exploring the historical context for the development and expansion of BGLOs and LGLOs, followed by the presentation of each respective community’s academic challenges to societal success. The paper then examines the use of symbols and rituals for both groups in an effort to demonstrate the power that BGLOs and LGLOs have over the creation and maintenance of societies and communities. Without the often paradoxically destructive and constructive power of rituals and initiation processes, BGLOs and LGLOs would not be as successful in empowering students in professional achievement, which would negate their purpose by hindering the raising of the overall professional and social attainment of their respective cultural cohorts.

Colombia’s successes in the international playing field have been a direct consequence of rich na... more Colombia’s successes in the international playing field have been a direct consequence of rich natural resources in conjunction with tactful economic strategies and debt management. Both of these factors have impeded severe and incapacitating regional crisis to completely debilitate the country. While the ISI strategy in place was not as successful as had been predicted and was eventually dismantled, it did have a modest impact in domestic commodities and paved the way for the diversification that was later implemented. The crisis of the 1980’s was minimal in injury wholly due to the country’s perseverance in continuing its foreign debt payment strategy, and while the debt has risen overall in past decades, the country’s diversification strategies and natural resources are ensuring that economic stability will continue to prosper within its territory.

This essay explores the administrative shifts experienced by the current Ministry of Environment ... more This essay explores the administrative shifts experienced by the current Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of the Republic of Colombia. Through a presentation of its society, the historical context of the Ministry, definitions of classical and new Public Administration models and an analysis of Colombia’s environmental administration, this essay will show that Colombia has slowly shifted from a classical Public Administrative approach to a new Public Administration model in its environmental sector.

The following essay aims to further explore the complex system of international organizations by ... more The following essay aims to further explore the complex system of international organizations by examining the World Customs Organization’s role and place within the international realm. It will do so first by defining international organizations and explaining their current importance on a global scale, later by providing historical and structural information on the World Customs Organization, and lastly by linking regime theory as a concept through which to better understand how and why the World Customs Organization legitimately affects and engages with its member countries in an effort to efficiently
control the flow of goods and finances across borders.

The UN has shown clear proof in its creation of the UNEP and its inclusion of environmental mater... more The UN has shown clear proof in its creation of the UNEP and its inclusion of environmental material in multiple official documents of its commitment to promoting environmental sustainability. Many covenants, national legislations and reports provide evidence that human rights are a driving force behind the responsibility to protecting the environment. While human rights may not be the only driving force behind environmentally friendly activities and sustainable development, it is important to recognize that it can be a contributing argument for the many reasons behind the protection of the environment and biosphere, and can only enhance the success and rational application of international law among the countries party to the United Nations and its agencies.

The following essay explores the liberal peace as a possible effective state building approach to... more The following essay explores the liberal peace as a possible effective state building approach to a population made up of distinct authorities who have been torn by decades of civil war. The Republic of Colombia, a state taken under the wing of the United States in recent years, has exercised excessive violence in its quest to regain control of power from nationalistic insurgents who have acquired state-like status and power over “stateless” areas of Colombia. The essay examines how insurgent forces gained ground and control through the exercise of legitimized violence, and how a hybrid liberal peace approach may have been used by both the identified Colombian government alongside the United States to effectively and more peacefully legitimize power in conjunction with insurgent forces.

This essay defines international environmental law and focuses on international conventions by id... more This essay defines international environmental law and focuses on international conventions by identifying four major international wildlife and pollution treaties. It provides general historical and legal overviews with a focus on the contributions to international environmental law for the following treaties: the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, the Basel Convention, the Rotterdam Convention and the Stockholm Convention. The essay concludes by presenting the prioritization of environmental issues and compliance as a remedy to increase the efficacy of the Conventions on a global scale.

The Crime Analyst's Companion, 2021