Workplace violence is a serious safety and health issue confronting firms operating anywhere in the world, with the International Labor Organization (ILO) warning that workplace violence is increasing at alarming rates worldwide. The financial downturn in the West and rapidly changing socioeconomic patterns in developing countries is likely to aggravate the risk posed by violence in the workplace. ...more

Government statistics reveal that there are at least 90 express kidnappings in Mexico City each day, a statistic that is believed to be far below actual numbers, as the majority are believed to go unreported. Throughout Latin America, express kidnappings or quicknappings, a kidnapping in which a victim is abducted for a brief period of time and released following the payment of a small ransom, have emerged as one of the most common crimes in recent years. The lack of significant reporting and investigating of express kidnappings, paired with the ease with which quicknapping can be carried out, without significant infrastructure or planning has led to a surge in the crime throughout the region. ...more

Southeast Asia is an increasingly attractive business and tourism destination for foreign nationals attracted to the area's growth potential, rising economies, and natural and cultural diversity. Expatriates; however, may be exposed to kidnapping and extortion threats while traveling through the region. ...more

Although recent attention has been placed on piracy off the coast of Somalia, the Gulf of Guinea has become an increasingly vulnerable spot for offshore attacks. Nigeria's coastal waters ranked second highest in the world in the number of piracy attacks in the first quarter of 2009, when seven piracy incidents were recorded; unconfirmed reports indicated at least another 13 had occurred. Although piracy incidents off West Africa's coast are most prevalent near Nigeria's Niger Delta province and near the financial capital Lagos, recent incidents have also been recorded off the coast of Benin, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea. Piracy attacks in the Gulf of Guinea differ greatly from those off the coast of Somalia. In Somalia, pirate teams involving onshore negotiators stage well-planned attacks on a variety of ships and release hostages after a few months once a ransom is paid. Conversely, piracy attacks in the Gulf of Guinea are often highly destructive and sometimes prove deadly. These attacks may be carried out for political or criminal purposes, although attacks for both purposes are often very similar. ...more

Foreign travelers are frequently targeted for robberies or kidnappings while abroad due to their perceived wealth. While most of these types of crimes are usually opportunistic and occur at the spur of the moment, substantially more planning is needed when targeting high-value individuals for kidnapping or robbery. Target selection is often the first part of a planned attack, sometimes conducted months in advance, and is often done by thorough research on a subject. With the advent of the internet, and the increasing use of social networking sites designed to facilitate the exchange of information, anyone with enough motivation and patience can conduct targeted research focusing on personal information, highlighting the risk of divulging too much personal information on the internet. ...more