HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and UN Office on Drugs and Crime executive director Yury Fedotov at the closing ceremony.

By Joseph Varghese/Staff Reporter


Turning the Doha Declaration into action is a major task as the 13th  United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice has set a very high bar for the future, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime executive director Yury Fedotov told the closing ceremony of the event yesterday.
The closing ceremony of the eight-day event was attended by HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, also the president of the congress.
“The congress has provided a solid platform for the international community to recognise the tangible links between the rule of law and sustainable development. We must build on these links, as we set our post-2015 sustainable development agenda,” Fedotov explained.
“The challenge we face now is turning the historic Doha Declaration into action. I am encouraged by the determination of our hosts to make Doha the point of departure and look forward to working with them, and other partners, on translating the inspirational words of the declaration into concrete, tangible results.”  Fedotov announced that the 14th crime congress would be held in Japan in 2020.
“None of this could have been achieved”, he said, “without the wisdom and farsightedness of the Qatari government who have, from the beginning of this long journey, been certain and steadfast about the direction of the congress.”
Fedotov called on the delegates to act upon the declaration of the congress. “As you take the journey back to your capitals and to your homes, I call on you, in the name of justice and fairness, and human rights, to turn this powerful document into the action that can help people everywhere.”
He pointed out that the Doha Declaration highlighted how the lack of effective social crime prevention policies and ineffective criminal justice systems allows crime, terrorism and violence to hamper social and economic development.
The declaration stresses the commitment and political will of member states to implement comprehensive crime prevention and criminal justice strategies. These policies will work to promote the rule of law nationally and internationally.
According to the UN official, the  Doha Declaration is an empowering political statement aimed at strengthening crime prevention and criminal justice systems. It is founded on fairness, justice and humanity and driven by the need to be accessible and responsive to the rights of all individuals.
 Turning to yesterday’s migrant tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea in which some 700 lives were feared lost,  Fedotov said there can be no better example of what the crime congress stands for than mobilising to implement the Doha Declaration “on behalf of the victims of crime, including migrants, and that we track down the smugglers who feed off desperation”.
As a result, he called on all countries, inter-governmental organisations and civil society to work together in a spirit of co-operation “to end these senseless deaths”. Page 6


BELOW:
The participants of the congress at the closing ceremony. PICTURES: Shemeer Rasheed.

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