Webster Athens Conference on Security and Migration Featured Graduate Student Research

Ioannis Nomikos, PhD, Head of the Webster Athens History, Politics and International Relations Department and President of RIEAS, from left, and International Relations students Dennis Acerit, Theresa Lillelund and Ignatios Nesposountnii serve as panelists and present their research in the “Irregular Migration in Asia, Europe and North Africa” session.

Webster Athens hosted a regional conference on Security, Migration and Human Rights in the Eastern Mediterranean on Friday, Nov. 7, at the Webster Athens Cultural Center in Plaka. The conference was organized in collaboration with the Research Institute for European and American Studies (RIEAS), the G3 Foresight Forum – Alexandros Papanastasiou Institute (INAP), the Hellenic Institute for Strategic Studies (ELISME), the SD Med Association and the Hellenic Society of Geographical Studies “Strabo.” 

The event brought together ambassadors, policymakers, security experts and scholars to address some of the most pressing challenges in the region, including geopolitical instability, shifting migration routes, organized crime, human trafficking and transnational threats. Speakers emphasized that the Eastern Mediterranean remains a pivotal crossroads where regional conflict, humanitarian crises and criminal networks intersect — shaping outcomes across Europe, Asia and North Africa. 

“Today, nations face the dual challenge of safeguarding their borders while upholding human rights and international law,” said Professor Ioannis Nomikos, Head of the Webster Athens History, Politics and International Relations Department and President of RIEAS. “This conference addressed these complex dynamics, providing a platform for dialogue between policymakers, diplomats and scholars at a moment when cooperation and informed strategies are more critical than ever.” 

The program featured four expert panels and a special session led by Webster Athens graduate students: 

National Security and Organized Crime in Greece

Speakers included Alexandros Katranis, Ambassador (ret.); Athanasios Th. Kosmopoulos, LLM, Data Protection Officer at the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance and Chair of the Greek Public Sector Data Protection Officers Committee; and Stelios Fenekos, Rear Admiral H.N. (ret.) and President of INAP. 

Countering Hybrid Threats and Digital Radicalization

Contributions were offered by University of Piraeus Assistant Professor Andrew Liaropoulos and cybersecurity researcher Eleni Kapsokoli, PhD, a Webster Athens lecturer in history, politics and international relations. 

Migration, Human Trafficking and Transnational Crime in the Eastern Mediterranean

Experts Konstantinos Labropoulos, senior analyst at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (Athens Hub), and Dimitrios Stathakopoulos, PhD, LLM, of Panteion University, examined regional dynamics and cooperation frameworks spanning Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. 

Irregular Migration in Asia, Europe and North Africa - Webster Athens Graduate Student Session

Moderated by Professor Nomikos, the session highlighted student perspectives on migration flows and humanitarian impacts. Webster Athens graduate students in international relations contributed thought-provoking analyses.  

Theresa Lillelund addressed the growing challenges of human trafficking and gang-related violence in the Nordic region, highlighting their impact on security, trust and human rights. Lillelund explored how human trafficking and gang violence are threatening both national and international security and emphasized the need for stronger institutions, regional cooperation, and a balance between firmness and compassion to restore safety, trust and dignity. 

“Speaking about security means speaking about people — because without humanity, there is no true safety,” Lillelund said. 

Dennis Acerit examined Southeast Asia’s ongoing struggle against illegal migration and human trafficking and emphasized that despite legal frameworks and international agreements, many people remain vulnerable to exploitation. 

“It reminds us that laws alone are not enough — constant vigilance, cooperation among nations and public awareness are essential to protect human dignity,” Acerit said. “The collective efforts of the Philippines and its ASEAN neighbors demonstrate a shared commitment to justice and compassion for all migrant workers.” 

Additional reflections were provided by Ignatios Nesposountnii, focusing on irregular migration between former Soviet Union and Central Asian countries.

Susie Michailidis, PhD, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, closed the conference by thanking all speakers, panelists and students for contributing their expertise to this sensitive and critical issue of security, migration and human rights in the Eastern Mediterranean.“I would like to thank the organizers, and especially Dr. Nomikos, for bringing such valuable scholars to our University,” Michailidis said. “These events give also to our students the opportunity to present their work, gain experience and engage in future research. 

“We also host several conferences — some organized by students either online or on our Athens campus — and we also take part in major conferences organized by our main campus at the end of each semester. It is very important for our students to demonstrate and share the knowledge they are gaining at the university, along with their perspectives and proposed solutions,” 

The conference concluded with a meet-and-greet, offering participants an opportunity to network and strengthen academic and diplomatic ties. 

About Webster Athens

Established in 2014, Webster Athens is the only fully owned and accredited U.S. university campus in Greece. It offers globally focused academic programs designed to prepare students with the skills and perspectives needed to thrive in an interconnected world. For more information about programs and scholarship opportunities, contact Webster Athens Admissions. 

About the Event Partners

Research Institute for European and American Studies (RIEAS) advances multidisciplinary research in international affairs, with emphasis on Transatlantic relations, intelligence studies, international security, terrorism, European integration and security issues across the Balkans and the Mediterranean. 

Alexandros Papanastasiou Institute/G3 Foresight Forum: An independent think tank focused on geopolitics, geostrategy and geoeconomics. It organizes the annual G3 Foresight Forum, fostering cutting-edge dialogue among scientific institutions, policy experts and academic partners in Greece and abroad. 

Hellenic Institute for Strategic Studies (ELISME): A nonprofit institute dedicated to strategic research and public discourse. ELISME provides objective analysis on geopolitical, national and European issues, contributing to informed policy and national strategy. 

Hellenic Society of Geographical Studies (Strabo) conducts analysis and presentation of international geographical data and derives economic, geopolitical and geoeconomic conclusions with a focus on Greek priorities. 

SD-Med Association is a Greek-French international nonprofit organization devoted to strengthening cooperation in sustainable development and regional planning across the Mediterranean.