DOHA: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is committed to efforts to oppose the criminals who sabotage the rule of law and sustainable development, UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov said at a high-level meeting at the 13th Crime Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at the Qatar National Convention Centre in Doha.
Speaking at a panel meeting on ‘Rule of Law, Human Rights and post 2015 Development Agenda’, Fedotov said, "Together, we can advance justice and uphold human dignity, and confront the criminals who undermine the rule of law and sustainable development."
HE the Minister of Foreign Affairs Khalid Bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah spoke at the high level meeting attended by other UN officials, ministers and delegates from global organisations and civil societies.
Other speakers at the meeting hosted by Italy and Thailand, included President of the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly Sam Kutesa; President of ECOSOC Martin Sajdik; Assistant Secretary-General of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Ivan Simonovic; Assistant Secretary-General Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), Dmitry Titov; former President of Slovenia, Danilo Turk; Minister of Justice of Italy, Andrea Orlando; Minister of Justice of Thailand, Paiboon Khumchaya; and Assistant Administrator the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Magdy Martinez-Soliman.
Fedotov reiterated UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's remarks to the Congress on the first day that "there can be no peace without development and no development without peace. Lasting peace and sustainable development cannot be fully realised without respect for human rights and the rule of law." Acknowledging the importance of protecting the sustainable development goals from crime, Fedotov said major efforts were needed to ensure that the UN provides an integrated approach.
"Eradicating corruption, advancing effective justice systems and international co-operation to achieve goals are most important priorities," he said.
The UNODC chief emphasized that coordination was essential to promote genuine participation and ownership by countries.
Countries needed clear, meaningful targets to uphold their commitments as well as to bolster international cooperation founded on the spirit of shared responsibility, he said.
Fedotov said, "It leaves no doubt that responsive, transparent and strong institutions that operate in accordance with the rule of law and promote justice are essential for overcoming poverty, and realizing human rights and fundamental freedoms."
President of the 69th UN General Assembly Sam Kutesa said, "Good governance is central to all three pillars of UN namely: development, human rights, peace and security. The integral relationship between these three implies that none can be effectively realised without other."
Sustainable development will be difficult to achieve without rule of law and human rights. We must provide an enabling and conducive environment for quality investment for business to take place, he said.
Reiterating the call for rule of law and effective justice, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic said, "Unjust law creates dissent. Professional capabilities of security forces, police and judiciary must be enhanced and target goals must be supported by indicators."
