Vienna (Austria), 17 May 2024 - After five days of discussions to strengthen crime prevention, criminal justice responses and cooperation, the 33rd session of the Commission of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, (CCPCJ) chaired by H.E. Ivo Šrámek (Czechia), came to a conclusion today.
Around 1400 participants from 128 States, 18 intergovernmental organizations, 75 non-governmental organizations and 3 United Nations (UN) entities and 12 UN Institutes came together for this year’s CCPCJ, which convenes every year and is the principal policymaking body of the UN in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice.
In her closing remarks to the session, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Ghada Waly expressed appreciation for the work of delegates in the Commission, who “continued to lay a strong foundation for the 15th UN Crime Congress in 2026, which aims at placing the protection of people and planet at the heart of criminal justice responses.”
The thirty-third session of the CCPCJ featured a thematic discussion on the topic of “Promoting international cooperation and technical assistance to prevent and address organized crime, corruption, terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and other forms of crime, including in the areas of extradition, mutual legal assistance and asset recovery”. The discussion delved into different forms of international cooperation in criminal matters, and developments, trends, challenges and good practices related to legal and operational aspects of such cooperation.
The thematic discussion was complemented by a workshop organized by the Institutes of the UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme Network (PNI) on the same topic, informing participants of the lessons learned by criminal justice practitioners and policy makers around the world.
The session adopted four thematic resolutions covering: countering trafficking in persons in the context of rapid technological change; treatment of children associated with terrorist groups, including children who are recruited and exploited by those groups; reducing reoffending through rehabilitation and reintegration; and preventing and countering violence against children by organized criminal groups and terrorist groups in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice.
In addition, Member States adopted a resolution on the follow up to the Fourteenth Crime Congress and the preparations for the Fifteenth Crime Congress. The resolution includes information on the organizational arrangements for the Fifteenth Congress, to be held from 25 to 30 April 2026 in Abu Dhabi, which would include a high-level segment during the first two days of the Congress.
92 side events were held on topics including: trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants; victim-centered and human rights-based policies; gender-based violence; crimes against vulnerable populations; women and youth empowerment and the role of civil society in criminal justice and crime prevention; crimes that affect the environment; cybercrime; transnational and organized crime; financial crimes; corruption; terrorism; strengthening international cooperation and technical assistance; capacity-building in criminal justice systems, including leveraging artificial intelligence; restorative justice; and reducing reoffending. The side events were held alongside 16 exhibitions, showcasing multi-pronged efforts on enhancing crime prevention and criminal justice efforts.
The Chair of the Commission held two special events to further encourage international action in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice. The first special event on 13 May on “Protecting people and planet and achieving the 2030 Agenda in the digital age – Preparations for the 15th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice”, highlighted the Congress’ role in the achievement of the Agenda 2030 and also shed light on the substantive preparations for the 15th UN Crime Congress.
The second Chair’s event was organized on 14 May 2024, entitled “Generation Justice: youth voices for justice at the UN Crime Congress” and which launched the GenJust (Generation Justice) initiative and discussed on youth engagement in crime prevention and criminal justice related to the respective intergovernmental processes supported by UNODC.
