For information only - not an official document
UNIS/CP/837
19 April 2015
Doha/Vienna, 19 April 2015 (UN Information Service)-In closing the 13th Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Doha today, the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Yury Fedotov, said that the event had set a very high bar for the future, and that the key task now was to turn the Congress's Declaration into action.
"This Congress has provided a solid platform for the international community to recognize the tangible links between the rule of law and sustainable development. We must build on those links as we set our sustainable development agenda for the next 15 years," he said.
Mr. Fedotov noted the congress was the first to have the UN Secretary General, the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Economic and Social Council in attendance. It was also the first, in the 60-year history of crime congresses, to adopt its agenda early, to hold a dynamic youth forum and to pass the congress's declaration on the congress's first day.
None of this could have been achieved, he said, without the "wisdom and farsightedness of the Qatari government who have, from the beginning of this long journey, been certain and steadfast about the direction of the congress".
Mr. Fedotov ended his speech with a call to action. He said, "As you take the journey back to your capitals and to your homes, I call on you, in the name of justice and fairness, and human rights, to turn this powerful document into the action that can help people…everywhere."
The Doha Declaration stresses the commitment and political will of Member States to implement comprehensive crime prevention and criminal justice strategies. These policies will work to promote the rule of law nationally and internationally.
During the eight-day congress more than 4,000 participants attended from 149 countries. Nearly 200 meetings were held covering a wide range of topics. These ranged from the rule of law to smuggling of migrants, and from combatting wildlife crime to violence against women and children.
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All archived videos of the UN Crime Congress on UN Web TV are available at: http://bit.ly/1DuYElB
For more information go to: http://www.un.org/en/events/crimecongress2015/index.shtml
For further information please contact:
Martin
Nesirky
Spokesperson for the 13
th UN Crime Congress
Tel: (+974) 55726047
Email: martin.nesirky[at]unvienna.org
Samir
Al Darabi
Deputy Spokesperson for the 13
th UN Crime Congress
Tel: (+974) 66776718
Email: aldarabi[at]un.org
Anne
Thomas
Information Officer
Tel: (+974) 66882624
Email: anne.thomas[at]unvienna.org
