Vienna (Austria), 26 November 2019 - The Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Yury Fedotov, exchanged letters with the Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations in Vienna, Takeshi Hikihara, to finalize arrangements for the Fourteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice hosted by Japan in Kyoto from 20 to 27 April 2020.
The UN Crime Congress, held every five years since 1955, is the world's largest and most representative forum in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, bringing together policy-makers, practitioners, academia, intergovernmental organizations and civil society to exchange views and experience as well as identify emerging trends and issues.
The Fourth Congress was held in Kyoto in 1970, and its main theme was "Crime and Development". Fifty years later, the Congress returns to Kyoto to discuss "Advancing crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law: towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda".
"Governments have a decade to deliver on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. By tackling crime challenges and strengthening justice and the rule of law, the Kyoto Crime Congress can make a decisive contribution to unlock progress on the SDGs. I am grateful to Japan for its commitment to advancing our global efforts," said Mr. Fedotov.
In accordance with General Assembly resolution 73/184, the Fourteenth Congress is to adopt a single declaration to be submitted to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice for its consideration, and Ambassdor Hikihara is chairing informal consultations on the declaration.
Ambassador Hikihara said: "Hosting the Fourteenth Congress shows Japan's strong commitment to counter crime together with the international community. Japan will make every effort to turn the Fourteenth Congress into a success, including through the adoption of a meaningful political declaration."
Fourteenth United Nations Congress on Crime prevention and Criminal Justice
