UNODC-UNESCAP support Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand to strengthen statistical capacity for countering crime in SE Asia



Bangkok (Thailand), 15 June 2012
- As part of the UN's drive to improve the quality of crime statistical analysis on which sound policy decisions can be made, UNODC and UNESCAP (the UN Economic and Social Council for Asia and the Pacific) launched a training event to provide training to representatives from three countries in SE Asia.

Senior statisticians from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand were present to interact with specialists in Crime Victimization and discuss how to undertake such analysis. The aim is to improve - over time - the data set and the analysis on which effective action can be taken to tackle transnational organised crime syndicates - both within and among the countries concerned.

Ms. Haishan Fu, Director of Statistics Division, UNESCAP says, "Several countries struggle to generate statistical evidence on crime of good quality. Issues of coordination among competent authorities often exist and technical capacities need to be enhanced. In this context, national statistical authorities can play and important role and bring their expertise."

Mr. Gary Lewis, UNODC Regional Representative, East Asia and the Pacific, highlighted the need to address transnational organised crime, stating, "Transnational organised crime is a threat to the very core values of what the United Nations charter is all about. Members of organised crime syndicates pose a threat to security, justice, development, and human rights." Mr. Lewis also echoed Ms. Fu's comments, expressing the need to "acquire, distil, and disseminate accurate knowledge" on crime statistics, in a region with a track record which has not emphasized criminal justice statistics capacity.

The workshop, hosted by UNODC-UNESCAP, is being held at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok, from June 11-13.