Established in 1992 by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) resolution 1992/1, the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) acts as the principal policymaking body of the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice. Furthermore, the CCPCJ works to improve international action to combat transnational crime and the efficiency and fairness of criminal justice administration systems. In this context the CCPCJ provides an invaluable forum for UN Member States and stakeholders to exchange expertise, experience and information in order to develop national and international strategies and identify priorities in the criminal justice domain. The CCPCJ also acts as the preparatory body to the UN Crime Congress, which meets every five years as the world’s largest and most diverse gathering of policymakers, practitioners, academia, intergovernmental organizations and civil society in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice. The 14th Crime Congress was successfully concluded in Kyoto (Japan) one month ago and brought a political declaration for adoption to the CCPCJ, setting international priorities in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice for the years to come.
“The Commission is the most suitable forum to translate the Kyoto Declaration into concrete action & in ensuring robust, meaningful and effective follow-up to the UNODC Congress”
Yōko Kamikawa, Minister of Justice of Japan, the host country of the 14th UN Crime Congress
30th Anniversary session of the CCPCJ
The 30th session of the CCPCJ is held in a hybrid format between 17 and 21 May 2021 in Vienna,. The topic of the thematic discussion this year focuses on “Effective measures to prevent and counter the smuggling of migrants, while protecting the rights of smuggled migrants, particularly women and children, and those of unaccompanied migrant children”.
During the opening ceremony on the first day, the role of the CCPCJ as an essential mechanism for practical collaboration between States in the fight against national and transnational crime and in improving the efficiency and fairness of criminal justice systems, was highlighted.
“Work of CCPCJ is more pertinent than ever, with advancing crime prevention & criminal justice as the key to fairer COVID-19 response, & a critical factor to recover better from crisis & for timely achievement of 2030 Agenda”
Munir Akram, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
The UNODC Executive Director Ms Ghada Waly delivered a message from the Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres, encouraging Member States “to make progress in strengthening rights-based responses and addressing urgent justice and rule of law priorities, including global prison challenges”.
About 90 side events will take place online on topics ranging from preventing and countering gender-based violence; addressing and prosecuting trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants; youth crime prevention; supporting prisoners’ rehabilitation and reintegration; preventing and combating organized crime and corruption; strengthening crime prevention and criminal justice responses, including amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
GIFP and related initiatives in the CCPCJ
The GIFP will be represented in this forum through its projects and related initiatives in several side events, namely:
CRIMJUST
18 MAY 14.10–15.00 Addressing integrity gaps in criminal justice institutions in West Africa and Latin America.
19 MAY 14.10–15.00 Showcasing the value of inter-regional criminal justice cooperation along the cocaine trafficking route: good examples from Bolivia.
AIRCOP
18 May 2021 14.10–15.00 All that glitters is not gold: stepping up responses to illegal mining and trafficking in precious metals
20 MAY 13.10–14.00 From take-off to landing: providing assistance to set up a Passenger Information Unit under the United Nations Countering Terrorist Travel Programme’s operational pillar.
