Press Releases

1. At the outset, Minister Hayashi expressed his gratitude to Executive Director Waly for her extensive efforts to ensure the success of the Kyoto Congress, which Japan hosted last year, while stating that the role of UNODC, whose mission is to promote the rule of law, has become even more important, amid the wavering of the international order. Executive Director Waly expressed her deep condolences regarding the passing of former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo, as well as her gratitude for the support extended by Japan to UNODC to date. In response, Minister Hayashi expressed his gratitude for Executive Director Waly’s words of condolence.
2. Minister Hayashi and Executive Director Waly shared the recognition of the need to strengthen measures against inter alia trafficking in persons in Ukraine and neighboring countries. Furthermore, Minister Hayashi and Executive Director Waly confirmed that they will work together for the peace and stability of Afghanistan through initiatives such as measures to combat drugs. Based on these discussions, Executive Director Waly requested continued support from Japan in UNODC's efforts to address these emergent issues. Executive Director Waly also stressed the importance of UNODC's role in promoting the rule of law.
3. Minister Hayashi expressed appreciation for the fact that coordination between Japan and UNODC has produced significant results, including on measures against terrorism, measures to combat drugs, and law enforcement capacity building, in regions centered on Southeast Asia as well as Afghanistan and neighboring countries. Furthermore, they confirmed that Japan and UNODC will continue to work together towards establishing the rule of law.

[Reference 1] United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
UNODC was established in 1997 as a result of the merging of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme and the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme. Headquartered in Vienna, UNODC carries out research and analyses on illegal drugs and crime, helps countries with the conclusion and execution of conventions related to crime and narcotic drugs and with the development of domestic legislation, and provides technical cooperation for capacity building in countering organized crime and terrorism.

[Reference 2] 14th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (Kyoto Congress)
The UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice is the United Nations’ largest international conference (held once every five years) in the area of crime prevention and criminal justice, and UNODC serves as its Secretariat. The 14th Congress, for which Japan was the host country, was held from March 7 to 12, 2021, at the Kyoto International Conference Center, and discussed countermeasures and forms of international cooperation in the fields of crime prevention and criminal justice, with the attendance of representatives from 152 UN Member States, international organizations such as UNODC, and non-governmental organizations, including online participants. The Congress adopted the Kyoto Declaration, which will serve as guiding principles for the United Nations and Member States in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice.