VIENNA, 19 April 2013 - Speaking ahead of the opening of the twenty-second session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, on Monday 22nd April, UNODC Executive Director, Yury Fedotov, underscored the close links between his office's work on the rule of law and justice, the UN anti-crime standards, and those needing protection.
Mr. Fedotov praised the Crime Commission's role in supporting UN standards on crime prevention and criminal justice. He said the UN standards were "the visible face of justice offering protection for women against violence, justice for children, support for the victims of crime, legal aid for defendants, best prison practices for inmates, and ethics and integrity for all criminal justice actors".
Notable events at the Crime Commission include a 23rd April meeting on wildlife and forest crime. Yury Fedotov, the Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) John Scanlon, as well as representatives from countries and leading environmental civil society organizations, will discuss ways to reduce demand, and the need to recognize this activity as a serious transnational organized crime.
"Wildlife and forest crime used to be discussed as an emerging crime. This has changed. Transnational organized crime is always found where large profits are to be made. Today, wildlife and forest crime is worth billions and has become one of the world's major crimes. With animal species teetering on extinction and forests being reduced, we need to quickly build a coordinated response to this crime," said Mr. Fedotov.
Each year, the Crime Commission attracts more than 800 representatives of Member States, non-governmental organizations and the media to promote standards on criminal justice and crime prevention. Over 20 resolutions have been tabled at the Crime Commission. Subjects include femicide, human trafficking, fraudulent medicines and counter-terrorism. There are also some 30 high-profile side events held around the Crime Commission on violence against children in prison, urban violence, the role of the media fighting corruption, among others.
Likely speakers at the opening session included Fred Teeven, State Secretary for Security and Justice, and Minister for Migration, from the Netherlands, the Guatemalan Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Raúl Morales, and the director of Europol, Rob Wainwright.
Relevant links:
Twenty-second Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
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For more information please contact:
David Dadge
Spokesperson, UNODC
Telephone: (+43-1) 26060-5629
Mobile: (+43-699) 1459-5629
Email: david.dadge[at]unvienna.org
