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The Global Initiative is very proud to announce that one of our Senior Advisers, Mr Ugljesa Ugi Zvekic has received the annual Transparency Award 2017.

The annual Transparency Award 2017 was given by the European Public Law Organization (EPLO) Academy of Transparency and Human Rights as the recognition for Ugi’s work. From 2017 and onwards the Academy of Transparency and Human Rights initiates, an annual honorary award to be granted to individuals, institutions or actions that have substantially contributed to the promotion of Transparency and/or the Protection of Human Rights.

As former permanent representative of the Republic of Serbia to the UN, a visiting professor of the Law School University of Rome, the School of Governance, LUISS in Rome and the Law School at the University of Belgrade, Ugi contributes with years of invaluable experience in muiltilateral work within the United Nations Secretariat and other international organisations to the work of the Global Initiative and is part of our core Secretariat.


Lecture by Professor Uglješa Ugi Zvekić on corruption and organized crime in South Eastern Europe – Honorary Award of the Academy of Transparency & Human Rights to Professor Uglješa Ugi Zvekić for his contribution to the promotion of transparency.

Professor Uglješa Ugi Zvekić (Ambassador Ret.), former permanent representative of the Republic of Serbia to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, gave a lecture on Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 19.00 at the conference hall of the EPLO premises in Plaka, Athens under the subject “Corruption and Organized Crime: Threats in South Eastern Europe”.

The event was organized by the Academy of Transparency & Human Rights of the European Public Law Organization (EPLO).

Professor Zvekić is a Senior Advisor of the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, and adjunct professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Belgrade, Serbia; at the School of Government, LUISS, Rome, Italy and at the Faculty of Law, University Rome III, Rome, Italy. He is also a consultant in the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The event was opened by the director of Academy of Transparency & Human Rights, Dr. Ioannis Karkalis who announced that Professor Zvekić will be awarded the 1st annual Transparency & Human Rights Award of the Academy, while the member of the Academic Board of the Academy and Professor of the University of Sussex, Dr. Dimitris Ziouvas presented the award to the speaker for his contribution to the promotion of transparency.

Professor Zvekić spoke about the international concern of the increasing trend in organized crime, organized corruption and terrorism which calls for a global reaction and cooperation and analysed the causes of these phenomena and their interlinks.

The professor stressed out the importance of the reinforcement of moral values, the implementation of educational actions and the role of International Organizations as means of effective dealing with these phenomena.

Regarding South Eastern Europe and the special circumstances of the region, Professor Zvekić presented the forms of organized crime and corruption and the sensitive sectors with emphasis on each country.

The lecture was completed with a thorough presentation of the international actions and cooperation required to encounter these phenomena in the region of South Eastern Europe.