Press Briefing

Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice 17th Session (CCPCJ)

VIENNA, 14 April (UN Information Service) - UNIS  Vienna organized the opening press briefing for the 17th session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) on 14 April to inform the media on major issues under discussion at this year's session.

The main focus of this year's meeting is on how governments can curb violence against women and girls. Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director, UNODC briefed the media. Nasra Hassan, Director, UNIS chaired and moderated the press briefing. The Commission, which meets annually, is the principal United Nations body for formulating international policies in crime control and is in session in Vienna, from 14-18 April.

In his opening comments, Mr. Costa pointed out that 2008 was the mid-point with regard to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Although Rule of Law was not an MDG, it was crucial as a basis for achieving all the goals. He said that at least one of every three women was likely to be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime. Women aged 15-44 were more at risk from rape and domestic violence than from cancer, motor accidents, war and malaria.  Furthermore, he stated that the role of UNODC included: criminal justice responses to violence against women, focusing on the needs of female victims and survivors of violence and violence against women in the context of human trafficking. He also highlighted regions of concern for trafficking of arms, drugs and persons in Central and Western Africa, the Sahel and Sahara areas

The statements were followed by a Q&A session. In answer to a question from Süddeutsche Zeitung, Mr. Costa said that ministers from affected countries in West Africa would be discussing how to address the growing threats to the region. UNODC would present a proposal based on those discussions.