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Doha: The Western Asian Regional Preparatory Meeting for 13th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (UNCCPCJ) – Doha 2015, started at Sharq Hotel on Monday, February 03, 2014 morning.
A high number of delegations attended the three day meeting delegations from different Arab countries, representatives of different UN organs and agencies, Interpol and Arab Interior Ministers' Council.
Legal Advisor to HE the Minister of Interior HE Maj. Gen. Dr. Abdullah Yousuf Al-Maal presided the meeting as the representative of the host country. In his opening words Dr. Al-Maal welcomed the attendants pointing that Doha is getting ready to host UNCCPCJ in 2015 and hope that it will quantum leap in the efforts of international community in crime prevention and criminal justice.
“As the Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the Congress I am pleased to inform you that Qatar has started early preparations for this international event and we have arranged media campaign to promote the congress and its objectives. As well, a website of the congress will be launched during this meeting”, he said.
He added that the State of Qatar provided financial support to United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to enhance its resources and enrich its works in preparation for the Congress. Further, Qatar is discussing with other countries on improving the agenda of the congress with fruitful recommendations. It has been decided to hold a youth forum representing youths from all continents to discuss their role in preventing society from crime and ensuring criminal justice.
The chairman of the meeting said: The Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Congresses and its recommendations and decisions had significant impact on the development of international law as demonstrated by the adoption of many international instruments to combat transnational organized crime, corruption, drugs and terrorism. These international instruments have been reflected in legislation, policies and strategies of national states and its foreign relations . The UN Crime Congresses are brighter images for international cooperation where self-interest of the states were fused in the crucible of human interest as the discussion and decisions of these congress has been considered as example for international consensus over public interest to private interest. The term ‘Vienna Spirit' is used in the literature of international relations to distinguish it from other international forums. Hence, we have to stick to this approach and strengthen what we could, he added.
‘Regional preparatory meetings are essential forums to work out the resolutions and recommendations of UNCCPCJ where geographical groups can reflect their regional concerns and perspectives to be taken care of in Doha Declaration of 2015 . Though crime has become more cross-border and its various forms are a global concern, but each geographical groups have their own special issue. Therefore, we believe that this meeting will be a milestone in the way of preparation for the Doha 2015, and we hope that this meeting will come out with action-oriented recommendations that reflect the priorities and aspirations of the countries of the Economic and social Commission for Western Asia ( (ESCWA), which represents the majority of Arab countries and their social and cultural position in the fight against crime', Maj. Gen. Al-Maal stated.
He further added that the promotion of international cooperation in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice and uphold the value and impact of United Nations standards and the need to support its institutions concerned with crime prevention is a common goal for all of us, and on this occasion we are pleased to thank and appreciate United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for their continuing efforts in the preparation 13th UN Crime Congress.
Later in press statement Maj. Gen. Dr. Abdullah Yousuf Al-Maal said Preparatory Committee for the UN Congress was formed as per the decree of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior and it consists of representatives from Ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs and Justice in addition to members from Public Prosecution and Qatar Foundation. Organizing this important congress in Qatar means a lot for the country as Qatar has become a major destination of international events.
Judge Hatem Fouad, UNODC representative for GCC said
that the large attendance at this preparatory meeting is a sign of a very positive approach of the State of Qatar in coordination and partnership with the United Nations, as it has been able to use its ties and use their capabilities as a state and a host of international forums to attract significant participation from different countries as we see delegations from all States invited and we expect to make recommendations that are very positive .
One of the main challenges of the Congress is the serious risks faced by different countries of the world in the growing phenomenon of organized crime and illicit trafficking , whether in humans, weapons or drugs and the growing capability of criminal gangs as technology has become available to them. This meeting will focus on several themes , including how to activate the channels of bilateral cooperation on regional and international levels in the face of crime and how to use the information and how to use research and analysis to gain access to strategies based on sound principles and not just guessing. It will also focus on the issue of investment in human resources and capacity building of personnel in combating and preventing crime. And More importantly, it will also discuss community partnership in the fight against crime based on the principle that crime is not a problem of law enforcement officers and criminal justice, but it is the responsibility of community control on each individual in it.
Dimitri Vlassis, Head of anti-corruption and economic crimes programme at UNODC tabled the agenda of the meeting that include a number of clauses to be discussed in 13th UN Congress. It includes the successful experiences in the implementation of policies and comprehensive strategies for crime prevention and criminal justice in order to strengthen the rule of law at national and international levels and to support sustainable development and challenges in this area, as well as international cooperation, including cooperation at the regional level to combat organized and transnational crime, role of the United Nations standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice in supporting and establishing effective, fair and accountable criminal justice systems taking into account humanitarian considerations, experiences and lessons learned in the field of meeting the needs of women and children, as well as strengthening measures of crime prevention and criminal justice to deal with sophisticated forms of crime such as cyber crime and trafficking in cultural property in addition to lessons learned and international cooperation and the contribution of the public in crime prevention and criminal justice.
In the second session HE the Ambassador Dr. Ahmed Hassan Al Hammadi , Director of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Vice President of the Preparatory Committee for the Congress welcomed the attendees and said that the UN Congress comes at a time when we are facing major challenges in crime and social justice and in dealing effectively with the crimes and to integrate the element of sustainable development in crime prevention policies and the rule of law.
He pointed to the changes in crime due to the weak growth of the economic factor and increased pollution and its impact on health, emergence of new forms of abuses, internal and external conflicts, migration and its impact on the states and the depletion of their resources .. which requires strategies to meet these challenges
He said that corruption, drugs and cyber crime and trafficking in cultural property and new forms of human trafficking and illegal trade of psychotropic substances become an obstacle to economic progress and a direct threat to social peace and need recommendations to prevent them and effective application of international conventions on crime prevention and criminal justice.
‘One of the effective tools that were not used to its full potential is to involve civil society, particularly young people, in our national efforts to combat crime and we hope that we have the opportunity during the conference to offer to the delegates, experience the State of Qatar in the field of protecting young people against crime, and utilizing their energies in the protection of the family and the nation.. As well as explaining our experience in integrating the culture of crime prevention within national development plans. Among the effective tools of crime prevention, education is the most important of human rights because it is the way to achieve sustainable development in modern society.
HE Dr. Mohammed bin Ali Koman, Secretary General of Arab Interior Ministers' Council appreciated Qatar for its hosting of the meeting and congratulated it for being host of 13th UN Congress in 2015 which will be a great opportunity for all Arab countries to explain their efforts in crime prevention.
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