Maj. Gen. Abdullah Yousuf al-Mal and Jo Dedeyne Amann addressing the media today at the Qatar National Convention Centre. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam
By Joseph Varghese/Staff Reporter
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and more than 110 ministers including prime ministers are among the dignitaries who will attend the 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice that HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani will inaugurate at the Qatar National Convention Centre Sunday.
Briefing the media Saturday, Maj Gen Abdullah Yousuf al-Mal, chairperson of the Preparatory Committee of the 13th UN Crime Congress and Jo Dedeyne Amann, secretary of the 13th UN Crime Congress said Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nassar bin Khalifa al-Thani, president of the 13th Crime Congress, presidents of the UN General Assembly and the UN Economic and Social Council, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes Office and several public prosecutors will attend the opening ceremony.
“About 5,000 delegates from 142 countries and high level delegates including ministers, government officials and experts from regional and international institutions will take part in the congress. This is the first time a UN Secretary General participates in the UN Crime Congress .”
The official stated that there will be high profile meetings today and tomorrow where several ministers from around the world will attend to discuss policies of countries in the fields of crime prevention and criminal justice.
“In addition to the main programme, 230 associated workshops will be conducted which will cover 75 specialised subjects on crime prevention and criminal justice. The congress will also have a knowledge centre on the subject of congress where 26 international experts will answer the queries of the media and participants,” Maj Gen al- Mal said.
There will also be an associated exhibition on an area of 10,000sqm with participation of 60 exhibitors.
Amann said the congress has all the potential to become another milestone in the history of the work of the international community to prevent and address crime in all its forms.
The official explained: “The agenda of the congress includes themes that have an impact on the lives of citizens all over the world, such as terrorism, corruption and smuggling . The treatment and social reintegration of offenders; trafficking of people and smuggling of migrants; new and emerging forms of transnational crime such as cyber crime; and trafficking in cultural property or wildlife crime will also be the focus of the congress.”
Delegates from the Doha Youth Forum held earlier in connection with the congress will hand over their recommendations at the opening ceremony Sunday.
The participating countries have jointly agreed on the Doha Declaration to be made at the final phases of the congress which includes the objectives of the new millennium. The congress will end on the 19th of this month.
The conference comes just a few months before the international community will agree on the post 2015 sustainable development goals, which will be setting the agenda for the next 15 years.
