Human rights, rule of law vital for sustainable development, UN Crime Congress told

INTERNATIONAL – As the 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice opened in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday 12 April,Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon and other high-level UN officials said that preventing crime and promoting the rule of law are crucial to support sustainable development.

“All societies need fair criminal justice systems, effective, accountable institutions, and access to justice for all”, Mr. Bansaidin a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Crime Congress.

“Accountable security services can go a long way toward ending cycles of violence. Strengthening legal rights helps to address inequalities,” he added.

“There can be no sustainable development without human rights and the rule of law”, the Secretary-General declared.

Hundreds of policymakers and practitioners in the area of crime prevention and criminal justice, as well as experts from academia, representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, specialized agencies and other UN entities, and the media are attending the forum, which is held every five years.

The DohaCrime Congress, which will run through 19 April, was opened by the Prime Minister of Qatar, Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. It is happening a few months before a major summit in New York in September on the future global development agenda.

The Congress adopted on Sunday the 'Doha Declaration', a political document that puts an emphasis on important aspects of fighting transnational organized crime and strengthening criminal justice systems and crime prevention.

“This September, Member States will consider a post-2015 development agenda that can pave the way to a better future for billions of people”, Mr. Ban said. “Success requires that the new agenda and sustainable development goals reflect the centrality of the rule of law”.

The UN Secretary-General said that “international cooperation and coordination are critical, particularly in areas such as combatting transnational organized crime and terrorism”.

“I encourage every country to ratify and implement the conventions against drugs, crime and corruption, and the international instruments against terrorism, and to support the important and varied work of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime”, he added.

“We must also adapt to changing times. Cybercrime has now become a business which exceeds billions of dollars a years a year in online fraud, identity theft, and lost intellectual property. It affects millions of people around the world, as well as businesses and Governments. We must also address the growing links between organized crime and terrorism”.

During the ceremony, three representatives of the Youth Forum, which took place before the Congress, delivered to the participants the Doha Youth Forum statement, which includes their recommendations on the main themes that will be discussed at the Congress.

UN General Assembly President Sam Kutesasaidthat the Crime Congress is “an important forum to focus on crimes affecting the ability of millions of people around the world to realize a life of prosperity and dignity”.

Mr. Kutesa called the participants of the Congress “to use this forum to generate concrete ideas that can positively contribute to the on-going negotiating process for the post-2015 development agenda in the area of crime prevention and criminal justice”.

UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) President Martin Sajdik and UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov also delivered remarks at the opening of the Crime Congress.

“We are all gathered here to further advance our united response to crime”, Mr. Sajdik said. “Although planned already years ago the timing of our congress cannot be better. After the Sendai conference on Disaster Risk Reduction of last March our congress here is another landmark meeting in this absolutely crucial year for global development”.

Mr. Fedotovsaidthat “the 13th Congress offers a timely opportunity to further advance global action, and promote a holistic approach that integrates effective crime prevention and criminal justice measures into the wider UN agenda, including in work on human rights, gender equality and protection of children”.

“The Congress is an excellent opportunity to extend and enhance international cooperation to counter transnational organized crime, terrorism and illicit financial flows, and to ensure that our responses are fast, smart and able to cope with new threats”, he added.