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Statement by Mr. Jun Saito
Minister, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations

70th Session of the Third Committee
Of the United Nations General Assembly

Item106: Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
Item107: International Drug Control

8 October 2015

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

            I wish to begin my statement by expressing my gratitude at having been given the opportunity to speak today.

 

            Crime prevention and criminal justice are essential to realize a society in which every person can live with a sense of safety. We believe that only in a just society can economic and social development be achieved.

 

            In this context, we welcome the successful conclusion of the 13th Crime Congress held in Qatar, in April this year. The Doha Declaration provides us with a deeper point of view for the prevention of crimes, such as the promotion of a culture of lawfulness that supports the rule of law. We also welcome the integration of criminal justice and the prevention of crime into the 2030 Agenda, based on the Doha Declaration.

 

            Japan will host the 14th Congress in 2020, a year which marks the 50th anniversary since Japan hosted the Congress in 1970. 2020 will be an important year for Tokyo, which will also be the host of the Olympic and the Paralympic Games. As the host country of the next Congress, Japan is eager to play an even more active role in this area.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

            Regarding issues related to drug control, we believe that it is important for us the Member States to commit ourselves to the cornerstones in this field; namely the three drug control conventions, and the 2009 Political Declaration and Plan of Action.

 

            We wish to highlight the importance of addressing the problem of synthetic drugs, such as methamphetamines and NPS, through the discussions at the upcoming UNGASS on the World Drug Problem. Japan has taken various actions in this field, and we will continue to contribute our knowledge and experience to the global effort to address these challenges.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

            The prevention of transnational organized crime and terrorism is a yet another urgent subject. It is important to counter money-laundering and the financing of terrorism, while eradicating the illicit profits generated through organized crimes. In order to address this problem, my country actively cooperates with UNODC and puts high value on the activities of the Financial Action Task Force.

 

            As for the growing concern over the trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, which target the most vulnerable populations, we have a shared responsibility to eradicate such activities by addressing the root causes. In this connection, Japan drew up its 2014 Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons, and established a ministerial meeting mechanism to promote the measures contained therein.

 

            Last but not the least, the international community has to work together against the increasing incidence of cybercrime. My country attaches importance on strengthening international cooperation and building capacity to implement measures against cybercrime based on existing frameworks.

 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.