For information only - not an official document

UNIS/CP/973
29 May 2017

Statement of the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Yury Fedotov, on the Japanese Government's progress in ratifying the UN Convention on Transnational Organized Crime

VIENNA, 29 May (UN Information Service) - I welcome the Japanese Government's progress in pursuing ratification of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). The passage, on 23 May, of enabling legislation by the lower house of the Diet is a positive step towards Japan joining the 187 governments which are already parties to UNTOC.

On multiple occasions the UN General Assembly has urged Member States to consider becoming a party to UNTOC. At the 26th Session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice held last week in Vienna, participating Member States once again repeated this call.

I look forward to the day when there is universal ratification of this Convention, which is the essential foundation for promoting international cooperation in addressing crime's many continuing and emerging challenges.

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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