For information only - not an official document

UNIS/CP/760
12 May 2014

Crimes against wildlife stressed at Crime Commission opening

Globalized world necessitates "partnership approach" to crime, says UNODC Chief at 23rd Crime Commission

Vienna, 12 May (UN Information Service) - The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was working in close cooperation with nations to combat wildlife and forest crime's global challenge, said UNODC Executive Director, Yury Fedotov, in his opening remarks at the 23rd Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

UNODC responded to wildlife crime, Mr. Fedotov said, by helping to "generate the systematic assessments that the international community needs" against a growing global threat. He said these assessments complemented UNODC's work to improve the criminal justice response to wildlife and forest crime.

Mr. Fedotov's opening remarks touched upon many of UNODC's prime mandates, including crime and development, the treatment of prisoners, violence against children, the rule of law, human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants.

"Underpinning all of these efforts, whether to combat wildlife crime or stop trafficking and money laundering, is international cooperation in criminal matters." Mr. Fedotov said this was necessary when faced with a "globalized world characterized by an unprecedented level of connectivity. "

The five days of the 23 rd Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice will see numerous discussion on crime trends, over 40 high-profile side events, and the adoption of a series of resolutions on crime matters.

Mr. Fedotov was speaking to an audience of around 800 representatives of Member States, civil society and the media. Other notable speakers at the opening included the Chair of the CCPCJ, Vladimir Galuska, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the UN in Vienna, Ahmad bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar, Andrea Orlando, Minister of Justice, Italy and Joaquín Hernán Estrada Santamaría, Attorney-General, Nicaragua.

* *** *

To read the speech of Mr. Fedotov, please go to:
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/speeches/2014/ccpcjopening-120514.html

For additional information about the 23rd Session of Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice go to: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/commissions/CCPCJ/session/23.html

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