POLICY & DIPLOMACYTHE KYOTO CONGRESS

THE ROLE OFCRIMINALJUSTICEIN ACHIEVINGTHE SDGSThe United Nations Crime Congress, the largest UN conference in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice,held in March in Kyoto, will build momentum for the world to focus on the importance of public-private partnerships
in achieving the SDGs.
The 14th United Nations Congress on Crime
Prevention and Criminal Justice (the KyotoCongress) will be held in Kyoto, Japan, from March
7 to 12 this year. The congress, which is the largest
conference in the field, has been held every fiveyears under the auspices of the United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The Kyoto
Congress—the first congress held since the UN
Sustainable Development Summit of 2015, at which
the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
was adopted—will discuss initiatives and efforts inthe field of crime prevention and criminal justice

towards achieving the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs).
Among the 17 goals, discussions at the congressare expected to refer not only to Goal 16, for“peace, justice, and strong institutions,” but also
Goal 17, concerning “partnerships for the goals,”
which is essential to achieving the previous goal. In
preventing criminals from becoming recidivists (i.e.,repeat offenders), which is one of the topics Japan
will place particular emphasis on at this congress,
public-private partnerships will be essential. In Japan,
private-sector partners play an important role inThis will be the second time that the congress is held in Japan, the last time having been in 1970 with the 4th Congress, convened likewise at the Kyoto International
Conference Center. The latest meeting will be notable for offering a hybrid format, with some participants attending physically at the venue, and others taking part online.
©Kyoto International Conference Center

The 14th United Nations Congress onCrime Prevention and Criminal JusticeOverall Theme

Advancing crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law:
towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda
Agenda Items
1. Comprehensive strategies for crime prevention towards social and economic development
2. Integrated approaches to challenges facing the criminal justice system
3. Multidimensional approaches by Governments to promoting the rule of law by, inter alia,･ providing access to justice for all;･ building effective, accountable, impartial and inclusive institutions;･ and considering social, educational and other relevant measures, including fostering
a culture of lawfulness while respecting cultural identities,

The Youth Forum—where young people from around theworld will discuss actions they are taking to make society
safer and achieve the SDGs—will be held on February 27
and 28, in advance of the Kyoto Congress, at which theyouths will present their recommendations.

in line with the Doha Declaration
4. International cooperation and technical assistance to prevent and address all forms of crime:(a) Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations;(b) New and emerging forms of crime

KITAZUME Katsuhiro (left) and TAKENAKA Ayano (right) of Japan’s
MOJ. They both strive for the realization of a peaceful and just society,taking advantage of their work experience at the Rehabilitation Bureau andin prisons, respectively.

various settings in reducing rates of re-offending.
This is exemplified by the fact that not only
correction officers but also social workers provide
advice to inmates with a view to facilitating social
reintegration upon release. Meanwhile, NPOs
assist with learning support at correctional facilities
for juveniles. The overall approach is intended tohelp former inmates and juveniles return to societysmoothly, while preventing them from becoming
criminals again. TAKENAKA Ayano, a Ministry ofJustice (MOJ) official with experience as a correction
officer, says, “For many inmates, I think that externalfactors, such as their family environment, had helped
propel them toward crime. Citizens’ support isespecially important to give such inmates an avenue
to lead their lives without re-offending.”
Across the country, approximately 46,000
hogoshi (volunteer probation officers) are working
to help criminals and delinquents reintegrate into

local communities, supervising and supporting
probationers and parolees with government
probation officers. According to KITAZUME
Katsuhiro, formerly with the MOJ Rehabilitation
Bureau, some countries have partially modeled theirown volunteer probation officer systems on Japan’shogoshi system, adding, “Japan is known as a safecountry, and one foundation for that is the systemof support provided by public-private partnerships,
such as probation officers and hogoshi. At the Kyoto
Congress, we want to share Japan’s initiatives with theworld and make the world more peaceful and just.”
Japan’s efforts illustrate how public-private
cooperation is essential for crime prevention. At
the Kyoto Congress in March, justice ministers
from a multitude of countries will be joined byan array of stakeholders—including experts,NGOs, and companies—who will participate indeliberations, exhibitions, and other events. It will
be an opportunity to remind the world about theimportance of multi-stakeholder partnerships incrime prevention.

Hogoshi (volunteer probationofficers) meet withprobationers and parolees tohelp their reintegration into
society and also provide
emotional support.