Informal Dialogue of the Chair of the 26 th session of the CCPCJ with NGOs
In order to discuss the proceeding of the twenty-sixth session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) and exchange information about the preparations for fourteenth Crime Congress due to take place in 2020 in Japan, an informal dialogue of the Chair of the Commission with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) took place on 25 May 2017.
The Chair of the Commission, H.E. Ambassador Mitsuru Kitano of Japan, welcomed the NGOs and provided remarks on the current session of the CCPCJ and the preparations for the fourteenth Crime Congress.
Referring to the importance of the meeting with civil society, Ambassador Kitano explained that the meeting had two meanings for him:
1. Fulfilling his obligations as the Chair of the Commission, in liaising with all stakeholders;
2. Facilitating the dialogue with civil society on the preparations for the fourteenth Crime Congress.
He expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to have an informal dialogue with NGOs and stressed the added value of the important contributions made by the non-governmental and professional communities, and by individual experts, and the crucial role that non-governmental and scientific organizations can play in promoting and supporting comprehensive and interdisciplinary approaches to crime challenges.
Regarding the twenty-sixth session of the CCPCJ, Ambassador Kitano noted the unprecedented number of side events organized by Member States and international and civil society organizations on the margins of the Commission. Close to 100 side events were organized (a record number), approximately 45 of those were by or with civil society.
With regard to the preparations for the fourteenth Crime Congress, Ambassador Kitano informed that Member States are discussing the theme and the agenda items and workshop topics of the fourteenth Congress, contained in resolution L.6 which was approved by the Commission for final adoption by the General Assembly later this year through the Economic and Social Council.
The theme of the Congress reflects the importance of integrating crime prevention and criminal justice in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In this regard, the theme of the fourteenth Crime Congress will be "Advancing crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law: towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda". Particularly relevant to civil society are agenda items three (comprehensive strategies for crime prevention towards social and economic development) and four (integrated approaches to challenges facing the criminal justice system).
The workshop topics of the fourteenth Congress are:
1. Evidence-based crime prevention: statistics, indicators and evaluation in support of successful practices;
2. Reducing reoffending: identifying risks and developing solutions;
3. Education and youth engagement as key to making societies resilient to crime;
4. Current crime trends, recent developments and emerging solutions, in particular new technologies as means for and tools against crime.
Addressing the role of civil society in the preparations for the Congress, Ambassador Kitano stressed the importance of the consultations between the Secretariat and the relevant non-governmental organization for the planning and organization of ancillary meetings. Further, and in order to ensure that various stakeholders can better prepare themselves to contribute effectively, the Commission is making as much information as possible available on its publicly available website. He also noted that briefings will be held at various stages of the preparations for the fourteenth Congress.
The meeting also featured a question and answer session during which Ambassador Kitano and Ms. Jo Dedeyne-Amann, Chief of the Secretariat to the Governing Bodies of UNODC and Secretary of the CCPCJ, answered questions related to civil society contributions to the fourteenth Congress, the workshops that will be covered, victims' rights in mutual assistance agreements, the threat of cybercrime, and how the fourteenth Congress can help the United Nations to deal with emerging challenges using technology.
The meeting provided an important opportunity for the Chair of the 26 th session of the CCPCJ and representatives of civil society to have a constructive dialogue about the Commission and to discuss NGOs' contributions to the upcoming fourteenth Congress.
The Chair of the Commission, H.E. Ambassador Mitsuru Kitano of Japan, welcomed the NGOs and provided remarks on the current session of the CCPCJ and the preparations for the fourteenth Crime Congress