UN event turns spotlight on 2015 Crime Congress in Doha, the world's largest gathering of policy-makers and practitioners in crime prevention and criminal justice areas
Vienna, 9 October 2014 - In remarks delivered today at an event held at the UN headquarters in New York on crime prevention and criminal justice, the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Yury Fedotov, drew attention to the close ties between countering illicit drugs and organized crime, and building societies founded on sustainable development.
"UNODC stands ready," said Mr. Fedotov, "to contribute to wider UN efforts to achieve sustainable development goals." This commitment, he said, could be achieved through the Vienna-based organization's work in support of the conventions on drugs, organized crime, and corruption, the universal instruments on terrorism; as well as UNODC's research and global programme network.
Coordination and cooperation in achieving these goals were also underscored in his speech. Mr. Fedotov said, "Partnerships with the UN family as well as with civil society, community organizations and young people are essential to promoting the rule of law, preventing crime and reducing violence."
Mr. Fedotov congratulated the Qatar government for agreeing to hold the 13th Crime Congress in Doha, as well as its diligent work in the lead-up to the conference. He said the event, to be held between 12-19 April, "… comes as the world is engaged in a discussion on the post-2015 development agenda, which will culminate in the UN Summit next September."
Next year's event in Doha marks the 60th anniversary of the Crime Congress. The world's largest and most diverse gathering of policy-makers and practitioners in the area of crime prevention and criminal justice. Throughout its life, the global event has shaped and informed the UN's actions in these crucial areas. The theme of the 2015 Crime Congress is "Integrating crime prevention and criminal justice into the wider UN agenda to address social and economic challenges and to promote the rule of law at the national and international levels, and public participation".
Mr. Fedotov's remarks came at a high level event on the 13th Crime Congress focusing on integrating crime prevention and criminal justice into the wider United Nations agenda, held in the ECOSOC Chamber. Other speakers included, Sheikha Alya Bint Ahmed Bin Saif Al Thani, Ambassador of Qatar to the UN, and Ahmed Hassan Al-Hammadi, Vice President of the Preparatory Committee for Thirteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
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
