MINSK, 10 December (BelTA) - Permanent Representative of Belarus to the international organizations in Vienna Alena Kupchyna was elected Chairperson of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) during the 27th reconvened session of the commission in Vienna on 6-7 December, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Ministry.
This is the first time Belarus representative has been elected chair of the functional commission of ECOSOC. Alena Kupchyna will hold this post until mid-December 2019. The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke about the main areas of the CCPCJ activities for the coming year. It will focus on assessing the contribution to crime prevention and effective fight against in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, the discussion of the approaches to the prevention of crimes motivated by intolerance and discrimination,” the ministry said. In addition, the commission will be in charge of the preparation of the United Nations congress on crime prevention and criminal justice to be held in Japan in 2020.
The Economic and Social Council is at the heart of the United Nations system to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. The Council comprises eight functional commissions. Two of them, i.e. on crime prevention and criminal justice and on narcotic drugs, operate on the basis of the UN Office in Vienna.
The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice acts as the principal policymaking body of the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, including in combating trafficking in persons, transnational crime and corruption. The CCPCJ monitors the application of the corresponding UN norms and standards, develops recommendations to counteract new and emerging forms of crime.
The commission comprises 40 countries that represent all regions of the world. Belarus joined it in 2010. In April 2018 Belarus was elected to the composition of the commission for three years.
