[JURIST] UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon [official website] addressed the 13th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice [official website] in Doha, Qatar on Sunday and highlighted [UN news report] the crucial connection between the rule of law and sustainable development. The Congress also adopted the Doha Declaration which highlights important aspects of fighting global organized crime, how countries can prevent crime and strengthening criminal justice systems. In his speech, Ban stated:

All societies need fair criminal justice systems, effective, accountable institutions, and access to justice for all… Accountable security services can go a long way toward ending cycles of violence. Strengthening legal rights helps address inequalities… There can be no sustainable development without human rights and the rule of law… This September, Member States will consider a post-2015 development agenda that can pave the way to a better future for billions of people. Success requires that the new agenda and sustainable development goals reflect the centrality of the rule of law.

Ban also noted that international cooperation is critical in achieving these goals, especially stopping organized crime and terrorism.

The Crime Congress [UN backgrounder] runs through April 19 and takes place a few months before an important summit on the future global development agenda that will occur in September. Attendees include criminal justice and crime prevention experts, policymakers, representatives of government and non-government organizations, specialized agencies, and media members. Throughout the years the Congress has focused [historical backgrounder, PDF] on such issues as prison labor, prison personnel, alcohol issues, drugs, money-laundering and cybercrime. The first event in 1955 included 51 governments, 43 NGO’s and 512 participants. The most recent event in 2010 included 104 government, 45 NGO’s, 17 IGO’s and over 2,000 participants.