For information only - not an official document

UNIS/MA/008
17 April 2013

Media Advisory

The victims of terrorism, wildlife crime, and violence against women and children are all high on the agenda of this year's UN Crime Commission

Media invited to attend the opening of the Twenty-Second Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at 10 a.m. on Monday 22 April 2013, as well as side-events

VIENNA, 17 April (UN Information Service) - With over 20 resolutions tabled, and many more topical side events, the 22nd Session of the Crime Commission is heavily focused on promoting action to protect wildlife, women and children and to support the victims of terrorism.

On Tuesday 23rd April, at 1 p.m., there will be a special exhibition in the Rotunda of the Vienna International Centre entitled: "100 Reflections Out of Sorrow" in support and remembrance of the victims of acts of terrorism. The opening of the exhibition will be followed by a side event on the same issue. At 1.30 p.m., on the same day, at a side event in Room M7 on wildlife crime, the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Yury Fedotov, and 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 for illegal wildlife, as well as the need for this activity to be recognized as a serious transnational organized crime.

There are also side events closely examining violence and its victims. On Tuesday 23rd April at 9 a.m. in Room M3 there is a side event titled, "Femicide - Stop the Killing of Women and Children". On the same day, at 1.30 p.m., another side event in Room M7 will discuss "Violence against Children within the Justice System". Topics covered by other side events include fisheries crime, criminal waste, the media's role in fighting corruption, crime statistics, illicit financial flows in the Horn of Africa, among others.

The Opening Session of the Plenary Session and side events are open to the media. Among those expected to address the Opening Session are: the State Secretary for Security and Justice, and Minister for Migration of the Netherlands Fred Teeven, the Vice-Minister of Justice of China Zhang Sujun, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala Carlos Raúl Morales, the Vice-Minister of Interior of Spain Luis Aguilera Ruiz, the Legal Advisor of the State Minister for Interior Affairs of Qatar Abdulla Yousof Al-Mal, the Attorney General of the State of Palestine Mohamed Abdghani Iwaiwi and the Director of Europol Rob Wainwright.

For media accreditation:

Media representatives who wish to attend the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice  and/or the side events and who are not accredited to the VIC should contact press@unvienna.org.

Please register by Friday 19th April by writing to press@unvienna.org. For information on facilities and general information for the media, write to anne.thomas@unvienna.org or call + 43 1 26060 5588.

Access to the M-building is via Checkpoint One of the Vienna International Centre. Camera crews should confirm their participation in advance in writing. Media are advised to come to the venue at least half an hour before the briefing to avoid delays at security.

* *** *

For additional information about the 22nd Session of Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice go to: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/commissions/CCPCJ/index.html

For further information please contact:

Anne Thomas
Information Officer, UNIS Vienna
Telephone: (+43-1) 26060-5588
Mobile: (+43) 699-1459-5588
Email: anne.thomas[at]unvienna.org