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12 April 2015 – Kicking off the 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Doha, Qatar, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon along with several other top UN officials today spotlighted the critical connection between rule of law and sustainable development.
“All societies need fair criminal justice systems, effective, accountable institutions, and access to justice for all,” Mr. Ban said in his keynote address 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 address inequalities,” he added.
“There can be no sustainable development without human rights and the rule of law,” the Secretary-General continued.
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 media are attending the forum, which is held every five years.
The Doha Crime Congress, running through 19 April, was opened by the Prime Minister of Qatar, Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. The Congress takes place several months ahead of a major summit on the future global development agenda, scheduled to take place at UN Headquarters in September.
The Crime Congress today adopted the 'Doha Declaration', a political document emphasizing 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 Secretary-General called international cooperation and coordination critical, particularly in areas such as combating 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 in online fraud, identity theft, and lost intellectual property. It affects millions of people around the world, as well as businesses and governments.”
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