From 13 to 17 May 2024, Latvian diplomats in Vienna, Austria are participating in the 33rd session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ). The aim of the Commission is to strengthen the capacity of member states' legal systems to detect, prevent, prosecute and combat all types of transnational organized crime, to ensure equal access to justice, as well as to build effective, accountable and inclusive law enforcement institutions at all levels.
At the 33rd session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Latvia presented a joint statement by Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, in which they expressed support for the work of the commission, condemned Russia's aggression against Ukraine, and criticised the instrumentalization of migrants by Belarusian state institutions.
In addition, Latvia expressed its gratitude to those countries, who supported the election of Latvia as a member of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice for years 2025 to 2027.
Joint statement of Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland at the 33rd session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice:
33rd SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
UNITED NATIONS OFFICE ON DRUGS AND CRIME (UNODC)
Mr. Chair, Dear Colleagues,
I would like to deliver the statement on behalf of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. Our countries align itself with the statement made on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
We want to acknowledge the importance of the work of the CCPCJ which is vital in helping Member States to protect human dignity, foster international cooperation to address a wide range of crimes.
Once again, we want to stress that the rule of law, full and equal access to justice, guaranteeing the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms are essential for the stability and development of societies.
Despite broad international condemnation, the Russian Federation continues its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, causing an extensive human suffering with many civilian casualties, including the most vulnerable: children, women, and elderly.
While we speak, the Russian Federation continues destroying the lives of thousands of innocent civilians. Russia continues to disregard the international humanitarian law by attacking civilian population and civilian infrastructure. All those responsible for war crimes and other serious crimes will be held accountable for their actions, in accordance with international law. Letter “J” in CCPCJ stands for “justice”, and it will be served.
Russia must immediately cease its aggression, unconditionally withdraw all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine and fully respect Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.
Violence against children affects millions of children all over the world. Child abuse has long-lasting consequences, damaging children's psychological development, the effects of which will be felt for the rest of their lives. We are grateful to co-sponsors of both crucial resolutions on children affected by insecurity, crimes, or terrorism for their initiatives.
Because of brutal invasion of Russia to Ukraine, thousands of children have been illegally deported from occupied Ukrainian territories to Russia and Belarus without consent of family or caretakers. In occupied Ukrainian territories, children's ties with their families and the natural environment in which they grew up were forcibly broken.
Russia must immediately ensure the safe return of all forcibly transferred, deported Ukrainians, notably children.
Human trafficking is a global problem, which is exacerbated in war zones where survivors lack basic social protection, essential services are interrupted, and the rule of law is broken. People in conflict zones must struggle to gain access to food and other supplies, they are vulnerable to physical and sexual violence, trauma, risk of exploitation and other abuses. This, in turn, increases the risk of sex trafficking, labour trafficking, and exploitation particularly for children, minorities, survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Human trafficking is a sensitive issue, which requires our constant attention, determination, and commitment to fight it.
While fully acknowledging the seriousness and importance fighting trafficking in persons, we would like to express our concern about the draft resolution proposed by Belarus, a co-aggressor of Russia in the war against Ukraine.
It is hypocritical, that Belarus again put forward a proposal to take an action against trafficking in persons in digital age while their institutions have deliberately instrumentalized migration - thousands of people were brought from various regions of Asia and Africa into Belarus and pushed further across the EU eastern border in recent years.
The resolution 1992/22 that lays out the mandate of CCPCJ stipulates that the aim of its establishment is to contribute to the preservation and reinforcement of democracy and justice based on the rule of law.
When some countries are trying to destabilize international rules-based order and commit crimes directed against the rule of law, we have an obligation to stand for those values and protect them even stronger.
Therefore, we fully support the mandate and work of CCPCJ and will continue to be committed to constructive work to implement its mandate.
Thank you, Mr Chair.