22 October 2010 - Vienna - (UNODC) - The 5 th Conference of States Parties of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime today made significant progress in agreeing to set up a working group to lay the ground for the possible adoption of a review mechanism in two years time. A review mechanism would monitor the progress of Member States in implementing the convention.
In praising all delegations for their constructiveness and flexibility, Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of UNODC, said: "Let us hope that establishing a review mechanism for the Convention will help the international community confront transnational organized crime more effectively. It is in all of our interests to ensure that the Convention is implemented fully."
In referring to the plight of the real victims of crime, Mr Fedotov said "Yesterday we had a powerful reminder from Mr. Nicolas Cage, UNODC's Goodwill Ambassador for Global Justice, about the human impact of organized crime, especially its impact on children. We must never forget about the victims, the ordinary people whose lives are damaged by criminals."
Mr Fedotov also asked Member States to join with him in his concern about the victims of crime, enlisting their support for the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking which will be launched in early November in New York.
Considerable attention was also devoted during the Conference to formulating and strengthening responses to new and emerging forms of transnational organised crime, such as cybercrime, environmental crime and crimes against cultural property with the adoption of a specific Resolution on cultural property crime.
In his concluding remarks to the Conference, Mr Fedotov said, "The Fifth Session of the Conference of Parties is over now, but we have much work ahead of us. To help maintain this week's positive momentum, let us never forget our ultimate goal: To create a world free of fear, a world in which all people can raise their children in communities that are safe and healthy and just."
The sixth session of the Conference of States Parties of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime will take place in 2012.
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For more information please contact:
Alun Jones
Chief of Communications
(+43-699) 1459-5726
alun.jones@unodc.org
