The CoESPU Magazine 2-2021

I had the privilege of represen- place unknown for many but full of se children were like those of the
ting Italy and Carabinieri Corps, history and unfortunately suffering, ones in Italy but, it didn’t take me
as a female military personnel, in divided into two sectors, Hebron long to realize I would have to con-
medium-high-risk contexts, whi- 2 (H2) under control of the Israeli sider how to persuade them to stop
ch required operational procedu- army and Hebron 1 (H1) entrusted throwing stones to Israeli soldiers
res that left no room for doubts to the Palestinian Authority, but before entering school or explain to
or emotions; but, after all, what not only geographically also wi- them that being a “troublemaker”
always follows you, wherever you thin it, the streets, the holy places, was not a job, instead they could
go, is your inner-self, your way of the houses are disputed between rather learn to live in accordance
being and facing the circumstan- the two parties. I was an observer with the law and safety. My “work
ces that life offers you. Your fe- of the “Temporary International of conviction” has not always been
elings try, at times, to put you in Presence in Hebron (TIPH)” mis- a success, indeed, I often had to
trouble, making you forget that sion, I had no power to intervene, compromise to “follow” their rules:
after all, and often, there is not unlike what distinguishes my work playing with them video games in
much space of change especially in Italy, I could “only” document which they played the role of “vil-
if you happen to land in Iraq or Li- any violations of the agreements lains” or trying to understand the

bya on board of a military flight. with various audio-visual media best techniques for throwing stones
For sure one thing I can say that I and with written reports. On the with the sling to be put into practi-
have always taken with me, all the other hand I had the opportunity ce during the daily clashes. Need-
times deployed in the context of an to live the rhythms of two cultures less to say that the results obtained
operation, this being myself. I have and religions, sometimes, so dif- with those children were almost a
reached places that are not often ficult to understand, because they failure, despite my real commit-
included in the holiday brochures, are far from the traditions and ment, after all, it was my own per-
but on my way back home I have western modernity life. With this sonal integrity that rejected such
always felt like a better person. feeling of being split and living wi- methods of dialogue, but I did bu-
thin the conflict I was able to cross ild with them a feeling of trust and
I still remember my first mission, the roads of many children, Pale- together we realized that maybe
first missions are like first loves, you stinians and Israelis, who made a football match could be more
never forget… In 2014, the Cara- me understand what my unofficial fun than a clash with the police.
binieri corps asked me to deploy task would be in those territories. A year in Palestine may seem long,
for a year in Hebron, Palestine, a At first, I thought the days of tho- but definitely not enough to try to

51

ALUMNI

slightly change a tiny piece in the The summer of 2017 arrived and it of their lives, marked by sufferings
way those children see things. But was the time to fly again and land linked to episodes of violence in the
they did learn to cheer for some this time at Baghdad airport, whe- family but also of many dreams;
things, like a goal to the opposing re the sun, clouded by dust, in a in these relationships between
team, on the occasion of a football country still partly destroyed, blin- “friends” established in few days,
match organized by observers ded my eyes. In Iraq, along with some of them wanted us to meet
in the school field, or to jump to other colleagues of mine, I had a their children, taking them to the
stop the run of the soap bubbles different deployment mission com- classroom during the lessons. The
that they had never seen before. pared to those in Palestine. Now I children spent time with us, asking
Unarmed daily patrols in the most was a trainer of Iraqi policewomen. with great enthusiasm to take a
endangered areas of the city, on The project goals were to pass on picture with us as if we were V.I.P.
foot and by car, brought me into the Italian skills and expertise in fi- or to share their Arabic morning
the life of many Palestinian chil- ghting gender violence and equal snack, they were for sure happy to
dren on daily basis, to know their opportunities, analysing the posi- have skipped school in those days
families, to enter their homes and tion of women in society and their to meet the colleagues of their
to share with them traditions, tho- role in Iraq, deepening the issues mothers arrived from far away.
se were amazing experiences. related to the protection of human
They made me feel one of them rights and the treatment of victims Soon, I found myself back in Italy,
with their hugs and kindness. The of domestic violence. In a difficult but aware of having, there again,
time to come back home came, context such as Iraq, I crossed the done something with those women
but with the knowledge that, even eyes of Muslim women, who have and children making their lives a
if it was just me, one person, I le- shown and taught me that being bit more normal. I did not think
arned more about what was hap- “different” because born and rai- and could definitely not plan when
pening in that divided world, and sed in different contexts, just be- and if my return to the Middle East
this, even if temporarily, conditio- cause life decided so, can only on mission would happen… but I
ned my habits and my daily life. be a reason for comparison and knew other children were waiting
growth. I have been a confident to shake my hand. And then I le-

52

following this first

smile, I found my-

self surrounded by

children calling

upon my attention,

touching me on

the shoulders with

their little hands,

in order to be the

next in turn and

be players of this

new game,. From

that moment the

tension disappea-

red, I understood,

looking into their

eyes, deep and

suffering, but still

full of hope, they

were just children

ready to receive

my help, to hold

my hand, always

arned it was time to go to Libya. Sometimes they had no shoes, and separated from

First to Tripoli in 2017 and then to in their hands only a plastic bag my latex gloves, agreeing to follow
Benghazi in 2019, I was a securi- with some snacks inside, dragged me on board, without any fear, as
ty officer, responsible for carrying to the ground because too heavy if I were their mother. Obedient to
out pre-boarding checks, obliged for their slender bodies. Initially the point of giving away that juice
to follow the operating procedu- children considered this strange they had just received as a pre-
res established by protocols in hi- “tool” an enemy from which to de- sent, maybe for the first time ever,
gh-risk contexts. I met vulnerable fend themselves. Until when, at the to comply with the boarding regu-
lations. Those
women, men and SHAKING THOSE MANY LITTLE HANDS WAS smiles and coo-
children, able to
DEFINITELY THE ADDED VALUE OF THE MO- peration really fa-
obtain the interna- MENTS THAT I LIVED IN THE DIFFERENT cilitated my work,
tional protection, to the point that
often seriously ill.
COUNTRIES THAT I HAD THE FORTUNE TO once I suddenly
I was in charge “VISIT” AND THE COMMON THREAD OF THE- found myself with
to guarantee their a new-born in my
protection un- SE VARIOUS INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL arms, hidden in

til landing in the EXPERIENCES. the bands worn
country that would by the local wo-
embrace them,
Italy. I felt I also had the responsi- head of this long line of children, men. The alleged mother, had
bility to make their journey, espe- one happened to be braver than temporarily entrusted me with this
cially for the children, as atrauma- the others, and when hearing the baby during the security checks,
tic as possible. In my hands I had sound and flashing of this unusual but in the end she had continued
a metal detector to identify even- “tool”, caused by contact with the her embarkation without remem-
tual prohibited metal objects on zip of his jacket, gave me a giant bering that little boy who was no
board. For sure not a tool that so smile. We did not speak the same longer with her. Surprised by this
young children would be used to. language but in a few moments, forgetfulness, I drew the attention

53

ALUMNI

of the woman, who looked at me cosia, the last divided capital of the the past in Libya,
and almost resignedly told me, wi- world. The working hours provided the talk would be
thout talking, that he would have for various tasks such as the con- easy one, but, the
had a better life with me. This li- trast and management of the ille- sea is truly a the-
ght-hearted gesture made me rea- gal immigration, who saw people atre completely
lize the desperation of this woman. crossing borders using the “buffer different from all
A woman so overwhelmed by her zone”. This border, according to other experien-
life, in charge of so many children, international maritime laws, ex- ces I have had.
who were not even her own, but tends up to 3 miles from the coast, On that boat the-
whose parents had preferred to which led me to observe any irre- re was the real
separate forever from them, ho- gular arrivals from the Mediterra- despair of those
ping the future would bring them nean Sea, but I never thought I’d people who had
a new life, in a flight were the- actually see someone coming. It decided to defy
re wasn’t room for everybody. was one of many sunny Cypriot fate with the pur-
days of September, I was on patrol pose of reaching
When the world was called to like every day, when suddenly I saw the first coast
face the health emergency of CO- approaching the shore a boat loa- that could have
VID19, I was deployed, from the ded with people visibly exhausted been their new
month of November 2019, as a by a long journey. Together with a home and, in
Peacekeeper in the United Nations Slovak military component and the their case, it was
Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus necessary support from the Cyprus the Cypriot coast.
(UNFICYP) mission, in unarmed Police, we implemented the stan- I saw them go
daily patrols, with a multinational ding security procedures and wel- down and cross on foot through
composition, in the “Buffer Zone” comed those migrants, who would the water the last stretch of sea
extended for a length of 180 Km shortly afterwards declare that they separating them from the finish
which separates the North (Tur- were from Syria, Lebanon and Pa- line; their movement, as if it were
kish) from the South (Greek) and lestine. I thought that for someone a religious procession, was com-
divides in two parts the city of Ni- like me who had been deployed in posed and respectful and came to
an end on the rocks where they fi-
nally breathed a sigh of relief and
sat down, helping each other. They
asked us nothing, because they no
longer had the strength to talk, we
stretched out our hands to them,
always protected by latex gloves,
giving a bottle of drinking water, fi-
nally not salty anymore like the one
they had been drinking in the past
four days of their uncomfortable
navigation, and a piece of can-
dy recovered from our operational
backpacks. Initial communication
was almost impossible, but some
Arabic words that I remembered
from Palestine and pronounced
from behind the protective mask,
allowed me to receive their con-
sent, expressed by hopeful smiles.
I escorted them, with the coopera-
tion of the Slovak military compo-

54

nent, until the entrance of the Buf- even one more safety of the service that I was car-
fer Zone, where the Cypriot Police, step. I asked for rying out and for all operators next
not authorized to enter according the help of a Slo- to me; I had to wear personal pro-
to the agreements of the UNFI- vak military who tective equipment to defend myself
CYP mission, was awaiting them kept him off the from the risks related to serious
for the ritual procedures. It was a ground and let diseases which are easily com-
stretch of sandy road that divided me take off his municable or those related to the
the coast from the bus that would shoes, tried to last unknown of the enemies, the
lead them to the refugee camp, empty and clean COVID19… despite everything,
but their physical exhaustion was them with a bott- I managed to go beyond all this.
really to the highest levels. Along le of water and I landed in Italy always with so-
the way, my attention was again finally managed mething to tell, with an extra smile
called by a child in tears. At first I to relieve him at given to carry in the heart, thinking
didn’t understand what was hap- least from some of the next one who is waiting for
pening, I thought it was a good of the sand. me probably somewhere in the
whim given the circumstances he I was aware world, with so much strength tran-
was living under. Among the cries that I would not smitted mainly by children who
of his parents urging him to walk change the fate shook my hand to feel protected
because no one would help him, of that child and in that difficult road they were ta-
I decided to approach and kneed those shoes, they king, with so many emotions that I
down so I could speak to him just were still wet and experienced looking at their deep
in Italian but at least at “his hei- always too big eyes who by necessity and with few
ght”. In a few moments, my eyes for him but, ho- awareness have followed the step
ended up on his tennis shoes, so pefully he was at the end of the of men and women in uniform
overcharged of water and sand, road that he had been following who pointed the way to happiness.
and at least three sizes larger than for days, all too complicated for
his feet. They wouldn’t let him take a small child like him. After that PICTURES:
providential intervention, I held his -United Nations Photo & Pamela Caracciolo
hand and led him to that bus whe-
re his family was waiting for him, Pamela Caracciolo
I made him wear the mask, man- OR 9 - Italian Carabinieri
datory to get on board, he accep- Mobile Unit Division
ted without any doubts and before Operational-Training-
disappearing among the crowd, Information-Legislation Office
with that little hand that I had held
till then in mine, he greeted me
saying Ciao!... in Italian language.

Holding those many little hands
was definitely the added value of
the moments that I lived in the diffe-
rent countries that I had the fortune
to “visit” and the common thread
of these various international pro-
fessional experiences. I’ve travel-
led so many miles until today, by
plane, by car rather than on foot;
I was ordered to follow operatio-
nal procedures and to comply with
rules of conduct necessary for the

55

INTERNSHIP RESEARCH RESULTS

ALTERNATIVE MEASURES
TO IMPRISONMENT

The Alternative measures to im- slation, poor conditions, including overcrowding may be so acute that
prisonment: a way to overcome inadequate basic services such as prisoners are forced to sleep in shi-
the issue of the prison overcrow- food, water, sanitation and heal- fts, sleep on top of each other, sha-
ding in post conflict recovering th care, that result in violations of re beds or tie themselves to win-
countries prisoners’ basic human rights, ina- dow bars so that they can sleep
dequate numbers of staff, outda- while standing2. Whatsmore, the
by Maria Claudia Esposito ted policy frameworks and a lack overcrowding impacts also on the
of coherence between the elemen- quality of nutrition, sanitation, pri-
The reestablishment of the Rule of ts of the criminal justice system1. soner activities, health services and
One of the main issues affecting the care for vulnerable groups. It
Law in transitional and post-confli- the prison system is the overcrow- affects the physical and mental
ct societies is one of the major go- ding due to the increasing rate of well-being of all prisoners, gene-
als for the international community, imprisonment, used for many re- rates prisoner tension and violen-
which pursues it through the re- asons and eccesively worldwide. ce, exacerbates existing mental
form of the criminal justice system, The reality in many prison systems and physical health problems, in-
a cross-cutting reform which can- is that prisoners do not have even creases the risk of transmission of
not fail to involve the penitentiary the minimum space requirements communicable diseases and po-
system. Indeed, prison systems in and a large number spend up to ses immense management chal-
post-conflict situations are gene- 23 (some-times 24) hours in over- lenges, and the increseament
rally characterized by dilapidated crowded, cramped accommoda- of prison suicides as a result of
facilities, non-existent or weak se- tion. In some systems the level of overcrowding, make us reflect on
curity, inadequate and dated legi-

56

the intolerable living conditions. ding to the recommendation of the the usual criteria for sentencing,
So Governments are urged to de- monitoring body for the Conven- and then, in stage two, decides
velop comprehensive national tion on the Rights of the Child4); re- whether the length of sentence and
strategies that are evidence based, striction of the use of life sentences; other circumstances of the offence
respond to local circumstances reduction of the pre-trial detention would justify the imprisonment to
and needs, and which foresee an and of the imprisonment of peo- be replaced by an alternative. The
alternative response to crime, with ple with mental health care needs; Model Criminal Code7 proposes
imprisonment being seen as a me- ensuring access to legal aids, and this procedure and sets the maxi-

asure of last resort mum term of impri-

in line with in- “ONE OF THE MAIN ISSUES AFFECTING THE PRI- sonment which may
ternational stan- SON SYSTEM IS THE OVERCROWDING DUE TO THE be replaced with an
dards. Indeed, alternative, as three
the first ingre- INCREASING RATE OF IMPRISONMENT, USED FOR years, considering:
dient to achie- a) the gravity of the
ve the reduction MANY REASONS AND EXCESSIVELY WORLDWIDE.” criminal offence

of overcrowding committed; b) the
is the political will aimed at intro- provide the system of a wide ran- gravity of the consequences of the
ducing policies and programmes ge of alternatives to imprisonment. criminal offence; c) the degree of
that may challenge punitive ap- Focusing on the latter solution, criminal responsibility of the con-
proaches or which may need si- many studies5 have shown that re- victed person; d) any aggravating
gnificant initial investment, as well offending rates are generally lower and mitigating factors set out in
as the will to sustain such policies in the cases of those sentenced to Article 51; and e) the character
over a period sufficient to establish non-custodial sanctions, in com- and personal circumstances of
a strong basis for a long- lasting parison to imprisonment, so they the convicted person8. In October
result. Some of the identified main could work as a long term solu- 2001 a decision was taken by the
solutions3 to overcome the issue of tion. Is recommended6 that the Criminal Collegium of the Supre-
overcrowding are: the decrimina- court first decides a term of impri- me Court of the USA to introduce
lization (the removal of a conduct sonment for an offence which car- also a mechanism obliging judges
or activity from the sphere of cri- ries a prison sentence, following to explain in their court decisions

minal law or the im-

position of sanctions

of a different kind

or the abolition of

all sanctions. Other

non-criminal laws

may then regulate

the conduct or acti-

vity that has been

decriminalized); de-

penalization (a rela-

xation of the penal

sanction exacted by

law for a specific of-

fence or offences);

the imprisonment

of children as a me-

asure of last resort

(increasing the mini-

mum age for puni-

shablity at 12, accor-

57

INTERNSHIP RESEARCH RESULTS

the reasons for imposing a prison drug addiction or participate in se that is usually awarded auto-
sentence, rather than an alterna- another rehabilitation program- matically after a fixed proportion
tive, if the law provided for both me, such as psychosocial reha- of a sentence has been served,
options for the offence committed. bilitation in the community or a but it may also be a fixed period
The Model Criminal Code for restorative justice programme. that is deducted from a sentence.
Post-Conflict Countries9 (MCC) in- A community service order, then, In order to provide good achieve-
cludes among the best alternatives requires an offender to do un- ment and trust in the justice system
for a Post Conflict State, fines, con- paid work for a specified number and to avoid any discrimination,
ditional and suspended sentences of hours or to perform a specific it is important that such decisions
and Community service orders. task, for the benefit
Due to the consideration that in of the community10. are taken in a fair manner: the
low income countries detainees However commu- decision makers need adequate
are most often poor and unable nity service is not a information about the prisoners
to pay fines, the imposition of a simple sanction to eligible for early conditional rele-
day-fine system has to take into implement, due to ase, including their behaviour in
account the actual economic ca- the need to provide prison and further support needs
pacity of the condemned to be ef- adequate staff, pre- in the community following relea-
fective, so fines are calculated by mises and funding se. Nevertheless the implementa-
multiplying two factors: one indi- for the supervision tion of all non-custodial measures
cating the seriousness of the of- of the programme, and sanctions requires some form
fence and the other indicating so resources have of infrastructure, some much more
the offender’s daily net income. to be available. than others, and the lack of plan-
The suspended sentence, used There is also a me- ning, of effective coordination me-
against offenders who have com- asure that could be chanisms with agencies and servi-
mitted non-violent and petty offen- applied during the execution of the ces in the community and lack of
ces, first time offenders, in cases sentence, the parole or early con- investment, has often lead to some
where mitigating circumstances ditional release, which means the critical issues: for example, com-
apply and for special categories, early release of sentenced priso- munity service orders and similar
such as juveniles and women with ners under individualized post-re- alternatives that put an obligation
small children or pregnant wo- lease conditions. It can be man- on the offender to undertake work,
men, is aimed at giving the per- datory or discretionary if it takes treatment, education or other acti-
petrator of an offence a strong place automatically after a mini- vities, require a body to coordinate,
warning with the potential of im- mum period or a fixed proportion supervise and assist the offender.
prisonment at a future stage, by of the sentence has been served, In many countries these alternati-
pronouncing a custodial sentence, or subject to the discretion of the ve measures are not used because
there is not adequate understan-
“MANY STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT REOFFEN-
DING RATES ARE GENERALLY LOWER IN THE CASES
OF THOSE SENTENCED TO NON-CUSTODIAL SAN-
CTIONS, IN COMPARISON TO IMPRISONMENT, SO
THEY COULD WORK AS A LONG TERM SOLUTION”

without executing it. This measure court, but in any case it involves
results the most effective in terms a general condition (that could
of reduction in recidivism rate and be accompanied by others) that
its granting may be subject to the the prisoner should refrain from
fulfilment of certain obligations engaging in criminal activities.
during the period of suspension, The Remission of sentence is
such as to undergo treatment for a form of unconditional relea-

58

ding and commitment at the hi- savings and better success ra- 8. O’CONNOR V., RAUSCH C., AL-
ghest levels, including ministries, tes in enabling offenders’ social BRECHT H., KLEMENCIC G., United
parliaments and executive bodies. reintegration, it would seem that States Institute of Peace, Model Co-
As well as the judges might have the advantages of giving pre- des for Post-Conflict Criminal Justice,
doubt about the efficiency of those ference to non-custodial mea- Volume 1, Model Criminal Code,
measures or be reclutant to apply sures and sanctions is a much 2007, pp. 138-141. (http://www.
them due to real or perceived pu- more effective criminal justice re- usip.org/model-codes-post-confli-
blic pressure. Therefore, is essential sponse to crime than imprison- ct-justice-/volume-1)
to take measures to influence cri- ment, in the vast majority of cases. 9. The Model Codes for Post-Con-
minal justice policies by raising the flict Criminal Justice Project was
awareness of politicians and deci- launched in 2001 by the United
sion makers, proceeding through States Institute of Peace and the
various steps: first of all defining Irish Centre for Human Rights, in
prison overcrowding as a problem cooperation with the United Nations
that should and can be solved with Office of the High Commissioner
political tools; secondly securing 1. Criminal Justice reform, UNODC for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the
judges’ confidence in alternatives 2011. United Nations Office on Drugs and
to imprisonment, preparing them 2. www.unodc.org/documents/justi- Crime (UNODC) and is a three-vo-
on alternatives to imprisonment, ce-and-prison-reform/Overcrowding_in_
and the use of alternatives worl- prisons_Ebook, New York 2013. lume series designed to assist those
dwide. Finally, it is essential to con- Ibidem working in criminal law reform in
vince the public of the effectiveness 43.. Adopted and opened for signature, post-conflict states.
of these measures. Indeed it has an ratification and accession by General As- 1110.. UNODC 2011, ibidem
immense influence on the determi- sembly resolution 44/25 of 20 Novem- www.unodc.org/documents/justi-
nation of criminal justice policies ce-and-prison-reform/Overcrow-
by politicians, as well as on senten- ber 1989. Entry into force 2 September ding_in_prisons_Ebook
cing tendencies of the courts. For 1990, in accordance with article 49. 12. STERN, V., Alternatives to
these reasons it is important to in- www.ohchr.org prison in
form the public about the harmful BONDERSON, U.V., “Global Trends in developing countries, International
consequences of imprisonment 5. Centre for Prison Studies, King’s
and the purpose and justification Corrections”, in International Annals of College London and Penal Reform
of alternative sentences, in order Criminology, Volume 36, 1998, pp. 91-
to contrast their belief that crimi- 116; CID, J., “Is Imprisonment Crimino- International, London 1999.
nal sanctions are an effective way
of dealing with many problems. genic?: A comparative study of recidivi-
From the economical point of view, sm rates between prison and suspended
there are not many studies that let prison sanctions”. (2009) European
us to compare the costs in deve- Journal of Criminology. 6(6):459-480; PICTURES:
loping countries11, but the expe- LAPPI-SEPPALA, T., Crime Prevention - https://www.fanpage.it/napoli/a-nola-na-
rience of the Zimbabwe where a and Community Sanctions in Scandina- poli-si-costruira-davvero-un-carcere-sen-
community service scheme was via (http://www.unafei.or.jp/english/ za-sbarre-con-campi-sportivi-e-teatro/
developed on this basis in the ear- pdf/RS_No74/No74_06VE_Seppala2. - https://www.criticalsociety.it/2020/08/30/
ly 1990s, and has been replica- pdf); The Matrix Knowledge Group, The dal-panopticon-alle-carceri-moderne/
ted in a number of other African Economic Case for and against Prison. - Maria Claudia Esposito
countries, shows that the monthly (http://www.matrixknowledge.co.uk/
cost of supervising an offender on wp-content/uploads/economic-ca-
community service was estima- se-for-and-against-prison.pdf); COCKER,
ted to be about one third of that S., 2006, Using reconviction data to
of keeping a person in prison12. explore the effectiveness of community
Therefore, combining the cost penalties in West Yorkshire, Report no.
2005/6-5, National Probation Service,
West Yorkshire: BARTELS, L 2009, ‘The
weight of the Sword of Damocles: a
reconviction analysis of suspended sen-
tences in Tasmania’, Australian and New
Zealand Journal of Criminology, vol. 42,
pp. 72-101.
76.. www.unodc.org, ibidem.
The American Law Institute adopted the
Official Draft of the Model Penal Code at
the 1962 Annual Meeting, The MPC is a
model act designed to stimulate and as-
sist U.S. state legislatures to update and
standardize the penal law of the United
States of America. and was published in
1962 after a ten-year drafting period.
The chief reporter on the project was
Herbert Wechsler, and contributors inclu- Maria Claudia Esposito
ded Sanford Kadish and numerous other
noted criminal law scholars, prosecutors, Naples “Federico II” University,
and defense lawyers. www.ali.org/publi- concluding an Internship on
cations/show/model-penal-code Strategic Advising at CoESPU

59

HEALTH AND WELL-BEING



HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

THE POST COVID-19 SYNDROME

by Davide Perego ting in birds, pigs, bats and other VID-19) is the disease caused by
animals that mutated to become Severe Acute Respiratory Syndro-
dangerous to humans. Research me Corona Virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)
continues, and more study may re- and is firstly a respiratory disease.
veal how and why the coronavirus Symptoms show up in people wi-
evolved to cause pandemic disea- thin 2 to 14 days of exposure to the

Introduction “A HIGH PROPORTION OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE
SUFFERED FROM COVID-19 REPORT, AFTER
In the last 2 years our society has RECOVERY FROM THE ACUTE PHASE OF THE
DISEASE, CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS, BOTH
been hit by a new, but in the rea- SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE, THAT CONTI-
lity very old, type of threat, a viral NUE BEYOND 3 WEEKS OR EVEN 3 MONTHS
disease: Covid 19. The first case AFTER THE ORIGINAL CLINICAL DISEASE.”
of COVID-19 was reported Dec.
1, 2019, and the cause was a new se. There are also expert opinion virus. A person infected with the
coronavirus later named SARS- that COVID-19 is created in labo- coronavirus is contagious to others
CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 may have ori- ratory, but at the moment there are for up to two days before symp-
ginated in an animal and changed not strong proofs about this theory- toms appear, and they remain con-
(mutated) so it could cause illness Coronavirus disease-19 (CO- tagious to others for 10 to 20 days,
in humans. In the past, several in-
fectious disease outbreaks have
been traced to viruses origina-

62

depending upon their immune sy- • Congestion or runny nose nifestations, both subjective and

stem and the severity of their illness. objective, that continue beyond 3

COVID-19 infection shows, ge- Some people infected with the co- weeks or even 3 months after the
nerally, the following symptoms: ronavirus have mild COVID-19 original clinical disease. There is
• Cough illness, and others have no symp- still no agreed nomenclature to re-
• Fever or chills toms at all. In some cases, howe- fer to this condition, but perhaps the
• Shortness of breath or difficulty ver, COVID-19 can lead to respira- most commonly used is post-CO-
breathing tory failure, lasting lung and heart VID syndrome. The Scientific Com-
• Muscle or body aches muscle damage, nervous system mittee on COVID of the Madrid
• Sore throat problems, kidney failure or death. College of Physicians (ICOMEM)
• New loss of taste or smell has discussed this problem with
• Diarrhea
• Headache A high proportion of people who a multidisciplinary approach in
have suffered from COVID-19 re- which internists, infectious disea-
• New fatigue port, after recovery from the acute se specialists, psychiatrists, pneu-
• Nausea or vomiting phase of the disease, clinical ma- mologists, surgeons, geriatricians,
pediatricians, microbiologists,

family physicians and other spe-

cialists have participated, trying

to gather the existing information

and discussing it in the group.

The clinical manifestations of this

type of clinical problem, are very

variable and range from simple

fatigue to persistent fibrosing lung

lesions with objective alterations

of pulmonary function, until neu-

rological impact and cognitive im-

pairment. Post-COVID syndrome

seems to be particularly frequent

and severe in adults who have re-

quired admission to Intensive Care

Units and has a peculiar behavior

in a very small group of children.
CT images of patients with COVID-19. (a) 56-year-old woman with mode- The post-COVID syndrome, which
rate COVID-19. CT image shows pulmonary fibrosis in both lungs (box). (b) undoubtedly exists, is at first sight
37-year-old man with moderate COVID-19. CT image shows mixed ground not clearly distinguishable from cli-
glass opacity (box). (c) 32-year-old woman with moderate COVID-19. CT nical manifestations that which oc-
image shows pleural thickening with pleural adhesion (arrow). (d) 50-ye- cur after other acute viral diseases
ar-old woman with severe COVID-19. CT image shows ground glass opa- and after prolonged stays in ICUs
cities in both lungs (box). (e) 59-year-old woman with severe COVID-19. due to other diseases. Its incidence
CT image shows ground glass opacities (box) and consolidation with air ranges from 10% to 35%, however,
bronchogram (arrow) in the right lung. (f) 65-year-old man with severe rates as high as 85% have been re-
COVID-19. CT image shows bronchial wall thickening and bronchiecta- ported among patients with a hi-
sis (black arrow). Vascular enlargement is also shown (white arrows). The story of hospitalization. Currently,
two boxes show pulmonary interstitium reticular thickening in both lungs. there is no universally accepted de-

finition of post-COVID syndrome.
From: Fu, Z., Tang, N., Chen, Y. et al. CT features of COVID-19 patien- Post-COVID syndrome was defined
ts with two consecutive negative RT-PCR tests after treatment. Sci Rep for the first time by Greenhalgh et
10, 11548 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-68509-x al. as COVID-19 associated illness

extending for more than three

63

HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

weeks after the onset of symp-
toms, and chronic COVID-19 as
persistent symptoms extending
beyond 12 weeks after the onset
of symptoms. Recently, Amenta
et al. proposed to the definitions
outlined by Greenhalgh et al. that
for patients who remain hospita-
lized at three weeks after symp-
tom onset, the post-acute period
starts when the patient is dischar-
ged from inpatient acute care.

According to the proposed crite-

ria of the University of Cincinna-

ti Medical Center for COVID-19

sequelae, there are five catego-

ries of long COVID-19 syndrome,

based on initial symptoms, time

of onset, and duration of symp-

toms and period of quiescence:

Type 1 includes patients with a

varying duration of recovery From Post-COVID Syndrome: An Insight on Its Pathogenesis by Hele-
that directly relates to the se- na C. Maltezou, Androula Pavli Athanasios Tsakris - https://www.mdpi.
verity of the acute infection, com/2076-393X/9/5/497/htm
organ complications, and un-

derlying medical conditions; as mutually exclusive: residual tion of post-COVID syndrome is

Type 2 is characterized by symptoms that persist after re- needed to provide a common de-

symptoms persisting six we- covery from acute infection; nominator for diagnostic and the-

eks from the onset of illness;
Type 3 shows a period of quiescen- 2. organ dysfunction that per- rapeutic approaches, but also for
ce or nearly full recovery, followed sists after initial recovery; research and therapeutic purposes.
by a recurrence of symptoms persi- 3. new symptoms or syndro-
sting for at least three months (Type mes that develop after initial The details about the symptoms

3A) or at least six months (Type 3B); asymptomatic or mild infection. Post-COVID syndrome may en-

Type 4 refers to patients who are Lastly, Fernandez-de-Las Penas et compass a plethora of debilita-
initially asymptomatic at the time al. considered also undiagnosed ting symptoms and conditions.
of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test cases and proposed a time-ba- Incidence of specific symptoms
but become symptomatic one to sed classification as follows: may range according to the se-
three months (Type 4A), or at le- • potentially infection-related verity of the acute infection and
ast three months later (Type 4B); symptoms (up to 4–5 weeks) observation period. Fatigue is the
Type 5 includes patients who are • acute post-COVID symptoms most common post-COVID symp-
asymptomatic or have few symp- (from week 5 to week 12) tom, with an incidence ranging
toms at the time of diagnosis and • long post-COVID symptoms from 17.5% to 72% among ho-
die within the next 12 months [18]. (from week 12 to week 24) spitalized patients, extending on
1. Amenta et al. from Baylor • persistent post-COVID symp- several occasions beyond seven
College of Medicine, Hou- toms (lasting more than 24 months after the onset of illness

ston, classified post-acute CO- weeks). and causing significant disability.

VID-19 manifestations in three Dyspnea and a decreased exerci-

categories, of which the first A consensus-based standardiza- se tolerance have been reported
two should not be regarded tion of definition and classifica- in 10–40% of hospitalized CO-

64

VID-19 patients for 2–4 months hospital, respectively, and up to 9% matic stress disorder; a psychiatric
after discharge, while new or de- and 3.7% of patients eight months condition induced by life-stressing
teriorating dyspnea was experien- after mild COVID-19, respectively. factors, could occur after recovery
ced by 65.6% of patients admitted Cardiac arrhythmias and persistent- from a life-threatening illness, in-
to the intensive care unit (ICU) . ly elevated blood pressure are also cluding COVID-19; as shown by
Chest pain has been repor- reported after acute COVID-19. recent studies, the prevalence rate
ted in up to 22% of CO- may range from 5.8% to 43%.
VID-19 patients two months Sleeping and mental disorders, Neurological post-COVID compli-
after discharge from hospital. such as anxiety and depression, cations have also been reported,
Gastrointestinal symptoms may may affect approximately 26% and including late-onset Guillain-Barré
persist in up to 30% of patients up to 40% of patients, respectively, syndrome, opsoclonus-myoclonus
two months after hospital dischar- even six months after COVID-19. syndrome, acute transverse myeli-
ge. Olfactory and gustatory dy- Manifestations may include ob- tis. and cerebrovascular disorders,
sfunction may extend beyond one session and compulsion, reduced such as ischemic stroke, cerebral
month after its onset and may af- social activity, poor concentration, vasculitis and hemorrhage, and
fect up to 11% and 9% of patien- aggression, irritability, substance irreversible hearing loss, however,
ts six months after discharge from use, and cognitive deficit. Post-trau- these severe conditions are rare.

From: Post-COVID-19 global health strategies: the need for an interdisciplinary approach Gemelli Against
COVID-19 Post-Acute Care Study GroupAging Clinical and Experimental Research volume 32, pages
1613–1620 (2020)

65

HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

Several psychiatric and neurolo- (15% inflammation, 38% ectopic artfailure), ferritin (inflammation

gic conditions that are observed in fat), and spleen in 4% (splenoma- and continuing prothrombotic sta-

post-COVID syndrome may also gely) . Longer-term follow-up of te),troponin (acute coronary syn-

be linked with Alzheimer’s disea- organ function in the context of drome or myocarditis) and D-di-

se. These include post-traumatic post-COVID syndrome is needed. mer(thromboembolic disease).

stress disorder, Guillain-Barré syn- Beyond persisting symptoms, cur- Troponin and D-dimer tests may be

drome, depression, and cogniti- rent evidence suggests that the falsely positive, but a negative re-

ve impairment. The worsening of overwhelming majority of patients sult can reduce clinical uncertainty.

motor function (51.9%) and an with post-COVID syndrome show Further research is likely to refine

increased levodopa daily dose improvement over time and have a the indications for, and interpre-

requirement (48.2%), followed good prognosis with no further se- tation of, diagnostic and monito-

by fatigue (40.7%) and cognitive quelae. It is not known why some ring tests in follow-up ofcovid-19.

and sleep disturbances (22.2% people’s recovery is rolonged. For patients who were not admit-

each), were present in 23 (85.2%) Persistent viraemia due to weak ted to intensive care during the

of 27 patients with Parkinson’s or absent antibody response, re- acute illness, BritishThoracic So-

disease and COVID-19, who de- lapse or reinfection, inflammatory ciety guidance on follow-up of

veloped post-COVID syndrome. and other immune reactions, de- covid-19 patients who have had a

Beyond clinical manifestations, a conditioning, and mental factors significant respiratory illness pro-

recent prospecti- “POST-COVID SYNDROME WAS DEFINED FOR poses community
ve study from the follow-up with a
United Kingdom THE FIRST TIME BY GREENHALGH ET AL. AS CO- chest x ray at 12
showed evidence weeks and refer-
of the physiological VID-19 ASSOCIATED ILLNESS EXTENDING FOR ral for new, persi-
basis of post-CO- MORE THAN THREE WEEKS AFTER THE ONSET OF stent, or progres-

VID syndrome with SYMPTOMS, AND CHRONIC COVID-19 AS PERSI- sive symptoms.
measurable organ For those with
impairment. In this STENT SYMPTOMS EXTENDING BEYOND 12 WE- evidence of lung
study, 201 low-ri- EKS AFTER THE ONSET OF SYMPTOMS.” damage (such as

sk patients (mean persistent abnor-

age: 44 years, 71% f e m a l e ) , such as post-traumatic stress may mal chest x ray and oximeter rea-

with ongoing symptoms (mainly all contribute. Long term respira- dings), referral to a respiratory ser-

fatigue, shortness of breath, mu- tory, musculoskeletal, and neu- vice is recommended; subsequent

scle ache, and headache) at least ropsychiatric sequelae have been early referral to pulmonary reha-

4 weeks following recovery from described for other corona viru- bilitation probably aids recovery.

acute infection were investigated ses as SARS and MERS, and the-

through MRI, four months after se have pathophysiological pa- What can we do for post COVID

initial symptoms. Reference ran- rallels with post-acute covid-19. Syndrome

ges derived from age-matched Blood tests should be ordered se- After excluding serious ongoing

controls were used to evaluate lectively and for specific clinical complications or comorbidities,

the MRI findings. The MRI investi- indications after a careful history and until the results of long term

gation revealed impairment in at and examination. Anaemia should follow-up studies are available,

least one organ in 70% of cases, be excluded in the breathless pa- patients should be managed prag-

particularly in the heart in 26% tient. Lymphopenia is a feature of matically and symptomatically with

(myocarditis: 19%, systolic dysfun- severe, acute covid-19. Elevated an emphasis on holistic support

ction: 9%), lungs in 11% (reduced biomarkers may include C reacti- while avoiding over-investigation.

vital capacity), kidney in 4% (in- ve protein (for example, acute in- Fever, for example, may be trea-

flammation), liver in 28% (12% in- fection), white cell count (infection ted symptomatically with FANS or

flammation, 21% ectopic fat, 10% or inflammatory response), natri- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory

hepatomegaly), pancreas in 40% uretic peptides (for example, he- drugs. Referral to a specialist reha-

66

bilitation service does not seem to the respiratory muscles (including cute Covid-19 could be a great

be needed for most patients, who the diaphragm) resulting in less device to monitor the phyiologi-

can expect a gradual, if sometimes energy expenditure, less airway cal status of the respiratory sy-

protracted, improvement in energy irritation, reduced fatigue, and stem, in fact the breathlessness

levels and breathlessness, aided improvement in breathlessness. can be translated in hypoxia.

by careful pacing, prioritisation, The patient should sit in a suppor- Hypoxia may reflect impaired oxy-

and modest goal setting. In the cli- ted position and breathe in and out gen diffusion and is a recogni-

nical experience, most but not all slowly, preferably in through the sed feature of covid-19. It may

patients who were not admitted nose and out through the mouth, be asymptomatic (so called silent

to hospital recover hypoxia) or symp-

well with four to six tomatic (reflecting

weeks of light ae- increased work of

robic exercise (such breathing, or secon-

as walking or Pila- dary pathology such

tes), gradually in- as a bacterial pneu-

creasing in intensity monia or thrombo-

as tolerated. Those embolism). Oxygen

returning to em- saturation probes

ployment may need (pulse oximeters)

support to negotia- have been used as

te a phased return. part of a package of

Respiratory and fati- care for patients with

gue are among most covid-19 and are re-

common symptoms commended as part

in post Covid-19 of the assessment

Syndrome, and of acute covid-19

for them there are in international and

some suggestion to local guidelines.

reduce their impact Self monitoring of

about the recovery. From: https://www.sanitariatanzipadova.it/news/dispositivi-di-protezio- oxygen saturations
Breathlessness tends ne-individuale-dpi-anti-covid-19/
over three to five days may be

to improve with bre- useful in the assessment and

athing exercises and pulse oxime- while relaxing the chest and shoul- reassurance of patients with per-

ters may be extremely useful for ders and allowing the tummy to sistent dyspnoea in the post-acute

assessing and monitoring respira- rise. They should aim for an inspi- phase, especially those in whom

tory symptoms. About 80% of the ration to expiration ratio of 1:2. baseline saturations are normal

work of breathing is done by the This technique can be used fre- and no other cause for dyspnoea

diaphragm. After illness or gene- quently throughout the day, in 5-10 is found on thorough evaluation.

ral deconditioning, the breathing minute bursts (or longer if helpful). An exertional desaturation test

pattern may be altered, with redu- Other breathing techniques—such should be performed as part of

ced diaphragmatic movement and as diaphragmatic breathing, slow baseline assessment for patients

greater use of neck and shoulder deep breathing, pursed lip brea- whose resting pulse oximeter rea-

accessory muscles. This results in thing, yoga techniques, Buteyko— ding is 96% or above but whose

shallow breathing, increasing fa- are used in strategies to manage symptoms suggest exertional desa-
tigue and breathlessness, and hi- patients “breathing patterns” and turation (such as light-headedness
gher energy expenditure. The “bre- breathlessness but require spe- or severe breathlessness on exer-
athing control” technique is aimed cialist advice to identify which te- cise). In the absence of contrain-

at normalising breathing patterns chnique best suits each patient. dications, such patients should

and increasing the efficiency of Use of pulse oximetry in post-a- be invited to repeat the oximeter

67

HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

reading after 40 steps on a flat

surface (ifself testing remotely)

and then after spending one mi-

nute doing sit-to-stand as fast as

they can (if supervised on site).

A fall of 3% inthe saturation re-

ading on mild exertion is abnor-

mal and requires investigation.

Patients should be provided with

a pulse oximeter and an observa-

tions diary and given instructions

for how to self monitor. Typically,

this would be a daily reading ta-

ken on a clean, warm finger wi-

thout nail polish, after resting for

20 minutes; the device should be

left to stabilise and the highest re-

ading obtained should be recor-

ded. While the range of commer-

cially available oxygen saturation

probes from healthcare suppliers

and pharmacies seem to work

within normal ranges (92% and

above), smartphone apps that

purport to measure oxygen satu-

ration susing the phone camera

and torch should not be used.

British Thoracic Society guidelines

define the target range for oxy-

gen saturation as 94-98% and a

level of 92% or below as requiring

supplementary oxygen (unless the
patient is in chronic respiratory From: https://basem.co.uk/be-active-at-home-during-the-covid-19-outbreak/

failure). In the context of a nor- back if the patient develops fe- Avoid high-intensity training
mal assessment (history, exami- ver, breathlessness, severe fati- • Persistent symptoms (such as
nation,and appropriate investiga- gue, or muscle aches. Understan-
tions) without red flags, an oxygen ding, support, and reassurance fatigue, cough, breathlessness,
saturation of 96% or above and from the primary care clinician fever):limit activity to 60% ma-
the absence of desaturation on are a crucial component of ma- ximum heart rate until 2-3 we-
exertional tests is very reassuring. nagement. So to introduce sport eks after symptoms resolve;
Oximeter readings persistent- is need to consider (summarised • Patients who had lympho-
ly in the 94-95% range or be- from Stanford-Hall statement): penia or required oxygen
low (indicating substantially • After recovery from mild illness: need respiratory assessment
farther down the oxygen-haemo- before resuming exercise
globin desaturation curve) requi- 1 week of low level stretching • Patients who had cardiac in-
re assessment and investigation. and strengthening before tar- volvement need cardiac as-
Physical activity is an important geted cardiovascular sessions; sessment before resuming
step to manage fatigue, but the • Very mild symptoms: limit
exercise in such patients should activity to slow walking or A last point about to manage post
be undertaken cautiously and cut equivalent.Increase rest pe- Covid-19 syndrome is important
riods if symptoms worsen. in particularly for the older. It is

68

References

A Review of Persistent Post-COVID Syn-
drome (PPCS).Oronsky B, Larson C,
Hammond TC, Oronsky A, Kesari S, Ly-
beck M, Reid TR. Clin Rev Allergy Im-
munol. 2021 Feb 20:1–9. doi: 10.1007/
s12016-021-08848-3. Epub ahead of print.
PMID: 33609255; PMCID: PMC7896544.
Gemelli Against COVID-19 Post-Acute Care
Study Group., Landi, F., Gremese, E. et al.
Post-COVID-19 global health strategies: the
need for an interdisciplinary approach. Aging
Clin Exp Res 32, 1613–1620 (2020). https://
doi.org/10.1007/s40520-020-01616-x
Management of post-acute covid-19 in pri-
mary care Trisha Greenhalgh, Matthew Knight,
Christine A’Court, Maria Buxton, Laiba Husain
doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m3026
Post-COVID 19 Neurological Syndrome
(PCNS); a novel syndrome with challen-
ges for the global neurology community;
Tissa Wijeratne Sheila Crewther JNS Jour-
nal Published:October 12, 2020DOI:ht-
tps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2020.117179
Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome Ani Nalban-
dian, Kartik Sehgal, […]Elaine Y. Wan Nature
Medicine volume 27, pages 601–615 (2021) ht-
tps://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-021-01283-z

PICTURES:
-https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/
nuovocoronavirus/dettaglioContenuti-
NuovoCoronavirus.jsp?lingua=italia-
no&id=5351&area=nuovoCoronaviru-
s&menu=vuoto

necessary consider that the dise- Support should be personalised
ase tends to affect older patients with input from the multi-profes-
more severely. Those who survi- sional team (for example, general
ve are at high risk of sarcopenia, practitioner, district nurse, social
malnutrition, depression,and de- worker, rehabilitation teams, and
lirium. Post-covid-19 chronic pain occupational therapist as needed).
may affect patients of any age but
seems to be commoner in elderly Davide Perego
patients and that worsen the qua- Neuroscientist, Psyco-Neuro Phy-
lity of life. Physical symptoms add siologist, expert in Psychopatho-
to the psychosocial impact of di- logy and neuropsychology
srupted access to health care (such
as arrangements for obtaining re-
gular medication), core personal
routines (such as walking to local
shops), social interactions (such
as meeting friends), and lay and
professional support networks.

69

C ESPUOCOESPU TRAINING TRAINING

70

71

COESPU TRAINING

1ST “STRATEGIC ADVISING” COURSE

MAY 17 – MAY 28, 2021
1st “Strategic Advising” 2-week Course, a new training activity addressed to Senior
Subject Matter Experts, focused on methodologies, cultural background understanding
and special skills required of Senior Subject Matter Experts about to be employed as
Carabinieri Advisers.

13TH “HIGH RISK OPERATIONS” COURSE (HRO13)

JUNE 10 – JULY 9, 2021
In accordance with the United Nations stan-
dard training modules and in strategic partner-
ship with the U.S. Department of State within the
framework of its GPOI - Global Peace Opera-
tions Initiative, the course aimed at increasing
skills and capabilities of one specialized team
composed of eight Rwanda Police trainees in
the area of police special weapons and tactics
(SWAT) and high risk maneuvers, in view of their
future employment in multinational Peace Support Operations.

72

THE NEW COESPU ENHANCED COMPREHENSIVE
PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS COURSE

Since the Security Council first established protection of civilians (POC) as an explicit
mandate in 1999, peacekeeping has evolved significantly, growing both in size and
complexity. During this period, POC has continuously gained in prominence and today
ranks as the priority mandate in a number of peacekeeping operations. While POC has
sometimes become the yardstick against which the success of mission is measured, it is
arguably also the most challenging mandate to implement. The Protection of Civilians
(POC) is therefore a main responsibility for UN Mission that involves all mission compo-
nents, civilian, military and police.  The effective implementation of the POC mandate
requires a comprehensive, integrated and well-planned approach in order to address
the various challenges.
With these premises, the new CoESPU Enhanced Comprehensive Protection of Civilians
Course (ECPOC) has been designed with the aim of providing experienced Police Offi-
cers with a comprehensive preparation that combines aspects of POC, Child Protection
and Conflict-Related Sexual Violence for police peacekeepers in UN peace operations.
ECPOC represents a significat revision and update of the previous CoESPU POC course
offered since 2012 and, based on the recently released UN CPOC for Police Training
Materials (2020), it encompasses all the most relevant UN policies, standards and ma-
nuals in order to promote an effective knowledge and support the development of the
necessary skills to effectively implement POC in UN Peace Operations.
During the intense 10 days course, starting from the 7th of July 2021, by means of
the dynamic combination of common known methods (presentation, demonstration,
group work, discussions, case studies, simulations, works on assignments), the parti-
cipants shall become familiar with
the POC Conceptual, Legal and
Operational Frameworks. In ad-
dition to several small exercises a
challenging 3 days scenario-ba-
sed exercise will be run at the fi-
nal stages of the course with the
intent of further strengthening par-
ticipants’ understanding on how
POC, Child Protection and Con-
flict-Related Sexual Violence con-
siderations impact police planning
processes at the tactical level.

73

AROUND THE WORLD

COESPU ACTIVITIES IN RWANDA

by Francesco Buconi quently held last April by a CoESPU soon we will go back to normality.
delegation and, in addition, a pre- Unexpectedly, the reality in
The Carabinieri Corps and the paratory activity in favor of one of which we operated was un-
the RNP Formed Police Unit (FPU) doubtedly wonderful. The im-
Rwanda National Police have re- that will soon be deployed in South pact with “the country of a thou-
cently signed a Memorandum Sudan at the beginning of 2022. sand hills” was literally exciting.
of Understanding (MoU) regar- An Advisory Team composed of The country looked as well or-
ding the development of a series an Officer and a NCO of the Co- ganized, clean and efficient.
of activities aimed at enhancing ESPU Training Department flew to Moreover, our Rwandan col-
the RNP capacities in the field of Gishari to visit that “Police Trai- leagues were friendly, com-
training and doctrinal research on ning School”, in order to make mitted, always available and
Stability Policing, to be carried out, an assessment on its structures, eager to get involved in the pro-
among other partners, in collabo- where the Pre-Deployment Trai- gram and provide collaboration.
ration with the Center of Excellence ning (PDT) would be carried out. During the visit, we were received
for Stability Police Units (CoESPU). The willingness to start the col- by the Deputy Commander, CSP
On January 2021, following the laboration was strong since the David Rukika, who welcomed us
visit of a Carabinieri HQs’ delega- beginning, even though despi- in the Briefing Room at the pre-
tion, the above-mentioned agree- te of the pandemic; nevertheless sence of his staff and where we
ment was signed, mostly to plan a all the precautions taken to carry attended a briefing on the school.
workshop in Kigali, that was subse- out the activities proved that very The visit to the structures

74

showed their excellent prepa-
ration, their sensitivity towards
the training and the efficiency
of their vehicles and materials.
Inn particular, we were impressed
by the training area called “FPU
Training Base Camp”, where the-
re was the possibility to implement
all kinds of FPU FDT activities.
The day was absolutely profitable
fundamental for the planning of the
future activities. The visit to the spot
ended with the mutual exchange of
gifts, including an unmissable copy
of our “CoESPU Magazine” direct-
ly to the CDR, CP R. Niyonshuti.
Lastly, it is of the utmost impor-
tance to avail the opportunity to
address to the RNP the highest
senses of our gratefulness for the
chance that was given to the de-
legation: to visit the Genocide
Memorial, an intense and tou-
ching experience that will always
remain graven in our hearts.

Francesco Buconi
Maj. - Italian Carabinieri
COESPU - Training Department

75

AROUND THE WORLD

A PARTNERSHIP GROWS

THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TRAI- te the RNP’s existing Center for nuous efforts in seeking coope-
NING HUB IN RWANDA SIGNALS Peace Support Operations to in- ration in areas of mutual interest.
THE LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES OF ternational standards as a means
RWANDA NATIONAL POLICE - of bolstering Rwanda’s achieve- It is in this regard that the partner-
CARABINIERI COOPERATION ments where its police force is ship between Rwanda National Po-
deployed in Africa and beyond. lice and the Carabinieri Police has
by Office of Rwanda National made capacity building a priority
Police Spokesperson Rwanda National Police has over area, which has led to the deci-
1,000 Police officers, of whom sion to establish a hub in Rwanda
In January 2017 the Rwanda Na- 230 are women, under Formed that will serve as an international
Police Units, Individual Police Offi-
tional Police entered into partner- cers and Professionals deployed in
ship with the Carabinieri, Italy’s peace support operations across
police force, with the aim of stren- the world. These officers and men
gthening law enforcement coope- currently serve in five United Na-
ration between the two countries. tions Missions in South Sudan,
The relationship has continued Central African Republic, Haiti
to grow and recently, following and the Republic of Sudan. The-
a 5-day workshop on April 12- refore, in a modest way, Rwanda
16 in Kigali, the two institutions is contributing to a more peace-
agreed to establish a training hub ful world. However, to be able to
for peace support operations in do this effectively requires conti-
Rwanda. The hub aims to eleva-

76

center for peacekeeping training. The programme at the Hub will served in peace support missions
include Peace Operations Trai- as well as from an exchange pro-
The Hub will benefit from the ning of Trainers in accordance grams of trainers with CoESPU.
knowledge and experience of with needs of the particular con-
the Carabinieri’s premier institu- text of deployment, protection of CoESPU is integrated into the Uni-
tion for advanced peacekeeping civilian training, gender and child ted Nations Department of Peace
training: the Center of Excellen- protection, among other courses. Operations, which would avail op-
ce for Stability Police Unit (CoE- Moreover, training of FPU Com- portunities to the Hub in as far as
SPU). A key outcome of the Hub manders, Coordinators and identifying other areas of interest in
is expected to be more efficient Pre-deployment for Individual Po- regard to deepening cooperation
and effective peace support ope- lice Officers will also constitute the and commitment of the Rwanda Na-
rations that is able to counter an curriculum whose instructors will tional Police to UN Multilateralism.
ever changing and complex peace be selected from existing expe-
keeping environment across diffe- rienced RNP officers who have The establishment of a training
rent troubled areas of the world. hub is just the beginning and more
is yet to come. Indeed, it signals the
strength of the Rwanda National
Police – Carabinieri partnership
and the greater horizon of possi-
bilities in terms of operational col-
laboration in response to national,
regional and global security prio-
rities that cannot be addressed by
individual institutions acting alone.

77

AROUND THE WORLD

JUNE 23 – 25, 2021 - LEBANON

A delegation composed of two
CoESPU Officers visited the Leba-
nese Armed Forces / Military Po-
lice HQs. The aim of the meeting
was to strengthen the cooperation
with the Lebanese counterpart
in the field of Stability Policing.

78

79

COESPU TRAINING

COESPU ONSITE VISITS

80

ONSITE VISITS

US CONSUL GENERAL IN MILAN, ROBERT NEEDHAM

MAY 25, 2021
Visit of the US Consul General in Milan, Robert Needham. Most of CoESPU’s core acti-
vities are carried out in close collaboration with the US Department of State.

CARABINIERI DEPUTY COMMANDER GENERAL, LTG ENZO
BERNARDINI

MAY 13, 2021
Visit of the Carabinieri Deputy Commander General, LTG Enzo Bernardini, a favorable
occasion to meet joint military and civilian personnel of the Vicenza Stability Policing Hub.

81

AROUND ATHGIENRWEDOEEMPRTLHDENTS

STUDENT INTERNSHIP PROJECTS

On the basis of framework conventions between the Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units and presti-
gious Italian and International Universities , highly deserving and talented students can now develop resear-
ches on CoESPU’s specific subjects, thus achieving university educational credits.
The student internship projects are carried out with the supervision of Carabinieri Subject Matter Experts.
Students have already completed or they are working on theses concerning Transnational Serious and Orga-
nized Crime, Cultural Heritage Protection, Gender mainstreaming in Peace Support Operations, Strategic Ad-
vising (for instance, the article by Maria Claudia Esposito, page 56), Human Rights - Comprehensive Protection
of Civilians , Environmental Protection, and so on.
These are some of the Universities CoESPU’s currently collaborating with: John Cabot University in Rome,
SIOI – Italian Society for the International Organization in Rome, the American University in Rome, Sant’Anna
School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, Padua University, Roma3 University in Rome and Ca’ Foscari University in
Venice.
Other similar framework conventions are on their way to be signed.

82

Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units -Sub Iure ad Pacem tuendam Milites paro The 3 - 2019

CMoEASGPAUZINEThe online quarterly Journal of Stability Policing

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