Vienna Chapter
Mr. President,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. I
am pleased to convey to you our pleasure in seeing you presiding over the
Eleventh United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
The Group is confident of your ability to successfully conduct the
activities of this Congress and I wish to assure you of the Group's
support in the task ahead.
I also take this opportunity to thank the efforts made by the
Government of Thailand to prepare for the hosting of this important event,
as well as the Secretariat for their work in assisting you in the
preparation of our meetings and for making the documents available.
Mr. President,
1. The United Nations Congress remains a unique forum for the meeting
and exchange of views by Governments, International Organisations,
Non-governmental Organisations and Experts from the various fields of
crime prevention and Criminal Justice. The past UN Congresses have
provided valuable advice and suggestions to the United Nations and the
Member States in formulating the policies and strategies for crime
prevention in different areas of criminal justice systems. The Group is
therefore, of the view that the present practice and frequency of holding
the Congress should be continued.
2. The Group appreciates the work of the regional preparatory
meetings for the 11th United Nations Congress, and holds the view that,
the recommendations and conclusions made by the regional preparatory
meetings should be reflected in the outcome of the Congress. The Congress
should further continue to provide advice to the Commission on Crime
Prevention and Criminal Justice. The Group also recommends that "follow
up of the UN Congress" should be included as a separate agenda item
in every annual session of the CCPCJ.
Mr. President,
3. The G77and China strongly believes that during this Congress the
highest priority should be given to the effective implementation of of the
already existing legal instruments. The Group attaches great importance to
the commitments made in the Vienna Declaration on Crime and Justice:
Meeting the Challenges of the Twenty-first Century, which, acknowledged
that comprehensive crime prevention strategies must address the root
causes and risk factors related to crime. The Group is concerned about the
lack of follow up to the Action Plans for the implementation fo the Vienna
Declaration and stresses the need to strengthen these activities. The
Group further stresses the need for adequate follow up of the Vienna
Declaration and the allocation of adequate recourses.
4. The Group further believes that, effective implementation of the
obligations set forth in existing international crime prevention
instruments requires international cooperation, technical assistance and
capacity-building. Therefore, the Group of 77 and China urges donor
countries and financing institutions to make adequate regular voluntary
contributions to enable developing countries and countries with economies
in transition to become parties to and/or implement those treaties, namely
TOC Convention and its three protocols, Convention against Corruption, as
well as the 12 UN anti-terrorism instruments.
5. The G-77 and China welcomes the signing in Merida, Mexico of the
United Nations Convention against corruption and underscores the need for
the speedy entry into force and the subsequent implementation of the
Convention by all Member States of the United Nations. The Group commends
the efforts of the UNODC for initiating regional workshops to promote the
entry into force of the Convention and calls on the Office to expand its
activities to support and facilitate the process of ratification and
subsequent implementation of the Convention. The vigor which marked the
ODC endeavors to promote the ratification and implementation of the TOC
Convention or the 13 international instruments on terrorism is also
required in pursuing technical assistance activities in relation to the
Convention against Corruption.
Mr. President,
6. Given the importance of asset recovery as an essential component
of the Convention against Corruption, we shall give the highest priority
to adopting the measures necessary to make asset recovery possible, in
accordance with the Convention. We welcome the Asset Recovery Initiative
launched on 9 December 2004 by the UNODC, which aimed at assisting
developing countries and countries with economies in transition in
building and strengthening their capacities to recover assets; and call on
donor countries and financing institution to make voluntary contributions
to facilitate the effective implementation of the Initiative.
7. As regards kidnapping, the G-77 and China notes with concern the
risk of kidnapping in many areas of the world as a means of funding
criminal organizations and terrorist activities, and due to the increasing
evidence of links with transnational organized crime and the international
drug trafficking networks, urges the international community to enhance
cooperation and take urgent measures to combat it in a resolute and
coordinated manner.
8. The Group of 77 and China is concerned about the increased
involvement of organized criminal groups in trafficking in looted, stolen
or smuggled cultural property as well as illicit trafficking in protected
species of flora and fauna and their by products. Therefore, the Group
calls upon Member States to continue adopting effective measures,
strengthening their international cooperation and joining efforts with
relevant regional and international organizations and networks in order to
prevent, combat, punish and eradicate these forms of crime more
effectively.
9. Concerning money laundering, the Group calls for the strengthening
and expansion of the activities of UNODC under the Global Programme
against money laundering.
10. The G77 and China is of the view that an open-ended Expert Group
should be established to examine the feasibility of an international
convention for facilitating international cooperation in areas such as
money laundering, trafficking in and theft of cultural properties,
kidnapping and cybercrime.
Mr. President,
11. The Group of 77 and China supports efforts to strengthen
international cooperation in combating terrorism. The Group wishes to
underscore the need for enhanced international cooperation in combating
terrorism, according to Security Council Resolution 1373 and other
relevant resolutions. It also wishes to stress the importance of finding a
long-term and comprehensive strategy to prevent and eradicate terrorism.
The Group underscores the central role of the United Nations in fight
against terrorism and supports the ongoing negotiations in New York on the
draft UN Comprehensive Convention on Terrorism, based on the determination
of a universally accepted comprehensive definition of terrorism in
conformity with the UN Charter and relevant UN resolutions.
12. The Group further believes that a broad and sustained strategy to
combat terrorism must include increased Inter-agency cooperation and
capacity building, both at the national, regional and international
levels. Sufficient training and other forms of technical assistance,
transfer of technology and also more adequate donor assistance to
developing countries are needed to facilitate implementation of
international instruments relating to terrorism. In this context, we urge
the Terrorism Prevention Branch of UNODC within its mandate and on request
of the Member States to continue to provide all necessary assistance and
provision of expertise needed to strengthen the rule of law and to build
national capacities to implement the Conventions and Protocols relevant to
terrorism.
13. The Group is convinced that it is imperative that any effective
crime prevention strategy should adequately address the breeding grounds
and risk factors of crime such as, injustice, poverty, unemployment,
marginalization of vulnerable people, lack of education, as well as double
standards.
In conclusion, Mr. President, I would like to assure you that the
Group would continue to provide its active support for successful
conclusion of the 11th Congress.
I thank you.
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