Background Release

Twelfth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

 

to Be Held in Salvador, Brazil, 12-19 April

 

VIENNA, 30 March (United Nations Information Service) ‑‑ Marking the fifty-fifth anniversary of such meetings, the Twelfth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice will be held in Salvador, Brazil, from 12-19 April 2010 under the theme “Comprehensive strategies for global challenges:  crime prevention and criminal justice systems and their development in a changing world”.

The Congress is a global forum that will bring together the largest and most diverse gathering of policymakers and practitioners of crime prevention and criminal justice from all walks of life, with more than 3,000 participants expected.  The opening session will take place at 10 a.m. on 12 April, in the Plenary Hall of the Centro de Convenções da Bahia.

With high-level representatives from more than 120 countries expected to attend, the Congress will discuss eight agenda items in the Plenary and two Committees:  children, youth and crime; terrorism; crime prevention; smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons; money-laundering; cybercrime; international cooperation in fighting crime; and violence against migrants and their families.  In addition, the Congress will focus on the role of the criminal justice system as a key pillar of the rule-of-law architecture and the need for safe and just societies as a prerequisite for development and attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.

Five workshops will also be held on the following themes:  international criminal justice education for the rule of law; survey of United Nations and other best practices in the treatment of prisoners in the criminal justice system; practical approaches to preventing urban crime; links between drug trafficking and other forms of organized crime; international coordinated responses and strategies; and best practices against overcrowding in correctional facilities.

A high-level segment will be held during the last three days of the Congress (17-19 April), in which more than 25 ministers and other high-level Government representatives will address the main agenda items.  The political declaration to be adopted by the Congress will be submitted to the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in its nineteenth session, to be held in Vienna, Austria, next month.

Also taking place during the Congress will be more than 70 meetings organized by non-governmental organizations, on various issues related to crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law.

Held every five years since 1955 in different parts of the world, the United Nations Crime Congress has contributed to shaping international and domestic policies and promoting novel thinking and approaches to complex issues at the heart of one of the key institutions of the modern State ‑‑ the criminal justice system.  The first Congress, held in Geneva, Switzerland, drew representatives of 51 Governments, 43 non-governmental organizations and 512 other participants.  The 2005 Congress, which took place in Bangkok, Thailand, was attended by 129 Government representatives and 35 from non-governmental organizations, in addition to more than 3,000 other participants.

Accreditation at Congress Venue

Registration will begin on Friday, 9 April, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  As of Saturday, 10 April, the registration desk will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on 16 and 17 April from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Journalists are encouraged to register online in advance so as to avoid delays at the Congress venue.  The form and other information are available online on the United Nations Information Service website (www.unis.unvienna.org).

For media-related questions, kindly contact:  Maher Nasser, Spokesperson, Twelfth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, and Director, United Nations Information Service Vienna, mobile:  (+43-699) 1459-5676, e-mail:  maher.nasser@unvienna.org; or Jaya Mohan, Information Officer, United Nations Information Service, Vienna, mobile:  (+43-699) 1459-4448, e-mail:  jaya.mohan@unvienna.org.

For further information on media accreditation, kindly contact:  Veronika Crowe-Mayerhofer, Accreditation Assistant, United Nations Information Service, Vienna, mobile:  (+43-699) 1459-3342, e-mail:  press@unvienna.org.

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For information media • not an official record