While promoting justice, rule of law, Crime Commission paves way to development agenda of the future

Vienna, 13 May 2014 - The twenty-third session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) opened yesterday in Vienna with a call by UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov for Member States to work closely together to combat crime in every country. This year's theme for the Commission is international cooperation on criminal matters, which emphasises the need for countries to work jointly in areas such as extradition, mutual legal assistance, confiscation of assets and joint investigations. 

This Session of the Crime Commission precedes next year's UN Crime Congress, to be held in Qatar, which will focus on integrating crime prevention and criminal justice into the wider UN work in order to address social and economic challenges and promote the rule of law. At the same time, the event paves the way to the September 2015 UN summit on the post-2015 development agenda, where world leaders will decide on how best to build on the progress achieved towards the Millennium Development Goals.

Mr. Fedotov's CCPCJ opening remarks touched upon many of UNODC's prime mandates, including crime and development, the treatment of prisoners, violence against children, the rule of law, human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants.

"Underpinning all of these efforts, whether to combat wildlife crime or stop trafficking and money laundering, is international cooperation in criminal matters." Mr. Fedotov said this was necessary when faced with a "globalized world characterized by an unprecedented level of connectivity. "

The five days of the 23rd Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice will see numerous discussion on crime trends, over 40 high-profile side events, and the adoption of a series of resolutions on crime matters.

Mr. Fedotov was speaking to an audience of around 800 representatives of Member States, civil society and the media. Other notable speakers at the opening included the Chair of the CCPCJ, Vladimir Galuska, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the UN in Vienna, Ahmad bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar, Andrea Orlando, Minister of Justice, Italy and Joaquín Hernán Estrada Santamaría, Attorney-General, Nicaragua.

Further information at:

Executive Director Yury Fedotov's full speech

23rd Session of the CCPCJ

Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

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