H.E. Mr. Yury Fedotov, (Executive Director, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)
Justice and security, and threats to judicial systems and law enforcement, like Transnational organised crime, drugs, trafficking, terrorism and corruption, are now part of the debate on the post-2015 development agenda. This emphasis on combating transnational organised crime and promoting the rule of law as an essential and integrated part of development effort goes to the heart of work at the UNODC, the guardian of the international conventions on drugs, Transnational organised crime, and corruption.
He said his office had recently led consultations with an expert group on developing appropriate indicators, including for rule of law and justice and security as they relate to development. These consultations resulted in a concept paper that brings together these various streams and sets out a roadmap for a measurement framework for justice and security in relation to development.
He noted that a number of upcoming events will take this discussion forward, such as the 5th conference on state parties to the UN Convention against corruption to be held in Panama City. The commission on narcotic drugs is to conduct a high-level review of the implementation of the 2009 political declaration and plan of action, and the 13th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice are to be held in Qatar in 2015, especially focus on integrating crime prevention and criminal justice into the wider UN agenda to address social and economic challenges and promote the rule of law.
“One challenge that we continue to face is the tendency to work in uncoordinated silos. It is too often the case that those concerned with governance, justice and development work in isolation from one another. This clearly needs to change. Because it is a fact that terrible consequences of crime and drugs affect us all.”
A recent UNODC study on Transnational organised crime in East Asia and the Pacific conservatively estimated the value of crime flows in the region at US$90 billion per year. South-east Asia has become increasingly interconnected with major partners, including development banks and UN agencies, helping to bring states closer together. This integration offers unprecedented opportunities to countries and people but it is also vulnerable to exploitation by criminals.
“Effective and humane justice systems and institutions are fundamental to building societies that facilitate growth and development. Not only does the absence of rule of law hinder development progress, but the promotion of justice and the rule of law are critical for achieving development success. In south-east Asia, indicators look positive for the sustained upward trajectory for economic development. That said, human well-being and its connection with fairness and justice cannot be reduced simply to the measurement of GDP and growth.”