Vienna, 13 October 2014 - The Seventh Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime closed on 10 October with a statement from the director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime's Division for Treaty Affairs, John Sandage, who said confronting organised crime, and the threats it poses to peace, security, development and human rights requires sustained effort and dedication.
Mr. Sandage said, "We cannot afford complacency, and we owe it to the many victims of transnational organized crime to live up to the commitments we have made."
He offered his thanks to the President of the Conference of the Parties, the Romanian Permanent Representative to the UN in Vienna, Ambassador Cristian Istrate, as well as the Bureau, for all their hard work over the conference week. Mr. Sandage also expressed the hope that Member States would continue to support UNODC based on the spirit of shared responsibility.
The conference was attended by more than 800 participants, including ministers from national capitals. Numerous side-events were also held over the five days ranging from human trafficking to the role of non-violence in eradicating drugs and crime in West Africa.
For further information, please contact:
David Dadge
Spokesperson, UNODC
Telephone: (+43- 1) 26060-5629
Mobile: (+43) 699-1459-5629
Email: david.dadge[at]unvienna.org
