Vienna, 20 May 2019 - Preventing and countering crime motivated by intolerance or discrimination and the role of criminal justice systems in enabling sustainable development will be key topics of the 28th session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, which opened today.
This will be the Commission's last session before the 2020 United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Kyoto, Japan. The session's thematic debate, beginning on Tuesday, 21 May, will address the responsibility of criminal justice systems in preventing and countering hate crime.
The importance of the CCPCJ's work was emphasized by the President of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, who, in a video message to the Commission, stressed its "vital role in developing criminal justice policies and programmes that are grounded in the rule of law and incorporate human rights and gender perspectives, social and economic development and social inclusion."
In his address to the opening session, Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) underscored that "crime motivated by intolerance or discrimination, abuses interconnectivity and exploits vulnerability."
"We can only counter these threats by working together," he said. "By strengthening effective, fair, humane and accountable criminal justice systems that protect people and their rights."
The Executive Director shared the message of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who welcomed the timely focus of the Commission: "I am convinced that by working together, we can reject hate, protect our communities against this threat and uphold our shared values. We all have a part to play in fostering a better world for all."
ECOSOC President Inga Rhonda King, in a video message to the session, said: "This year is critical for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice contributes important elements to its integrated implementation," in particular SDG 16, which will be reviewed at ECOSOC's upcoming High-Level Political Forum in July.
The 28th session is chaired by Ambassador Alena Kupchyna of Belarus, and over the coming days will discuss resolutions addressing the prevention and countering of child sexual exploitation and sexual abuse online; cybercrime and terrorism; tackling all forms of transnational organized crime especially smuggling of cultural property, wildlife, and commercial goods; and enhancing the security of the precious metals supply chain, among other challenges. More than 100 side events will take place over the course of the week.
As the main policymaking body of the United Nations addressing crime prevention and criminal justice issues, the CCPCJ plays a critical role in advancing collective efforts against national and transnational crime, while strengthening fair and effective criminal justice institutions.
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For further information, please contact: Sonya Yee
Speechwriter and Spokesperson, UNODC
Telephone: (+43 1) 26060-4990
Mobile: (+43-699) 1459-4990
Email: sonya.yee[at]un.org
