GLOBAL: UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

Submitted by crinadmin on

[SALVADOR, 19 April 2010] - The Twelfth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice has adopted a Declaration calling on Member States to adapt their criminal justice systems to a changing world.

The Congress, which is held every five years, took place from 12 to 19 April in Salvador, Brazil. Representatives from governments and NGOs from more than 100 countries took part in political meetings and workshops on a range of criminal justice issues.

The Twelfth Congress paid particular attention to children, youth and crime; smuggling of migrants; trafficking in persons; money-laundering; and cybercrime.

In the Salvador Declaration, Member States highlight the need to respect and protect human rights in crime prevention and the administration of criminal justice.

"As human beings, as well as members of the community of civilised nations, we have a shared responsibility to place human rights at the heart of the justice system," said Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Antonio Maria Costa.

Focus on juvenile justice

The Declaration opens by calling on Member States to respect the rights of children and young people in conflict with the law, urging them to prioritise alternatives to imprisonment and emphasise educational measures and rehabilitation.

The Declaration recommends that States develop legislation, procedures, policies and practices for child victims or witnesses of crime.

The main focus of the Congress was on the role of States, however, participants stressed that effective crime prevention and criminal justice systems cannot be ensured by governments alone, the private sector, NGOs, the media, educational institutions and the general public must also contribute.

The Government of Qatar has offered to host the next meeting in 2015.

  • Read the Draft Declaration here.
  • Read a statement by Defence for Children International calling for the reform of juvenile justice systems

Further information

pdf: http://www.crin.org/docs/UN_crime_prevention.pdf

Organisation: 
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Attachment Link: 
http://www.crin.org/docs/UN_crime_prevention.pdf

Countries

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