Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

Let me begin by sincerely thanking you, the Chair, the Chair of the Committee of the Whole, and all office holders for so ably guiding us through each and every step of this demanding session.

We also thank all sponsors for their excellent work and cooperation. This 34th session of the CCPCJ has delivered on important issues of common interest for the EU and for us all: crime prevention and prison management, fighting challenging threats such as the smuggling of migrants, the smuggling of commercial goods and crimes that affect the environment.

Less than one year before the 15th UN Crime Congress, we truly value this collective effort to enhance all relevant UN standards and norms to uphold safety, security and human dignity. 

This achievement confirms -  if there were any doubt - the decisive role that UNODC must continue to play in supporting the implementation of our common crime prevention and criminal justice agenda. 

Once again this year, the EU and Member States have engaged constructively in negotiations, on all the resolutions. In doing so, we have consistently sought to uphold the principles and values that underpin the UN system.

As we mark the 80th anniversary of the UN, the EU reaffirms its staunch support for the rules-based international order and effective multilateralism. We remain firmly committed to the full implementation of the  2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In the context of this Commission, we reaffirm the importance of SDG 16 to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, to provide access to justice for all and to build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

The EU and Its Member States will continue to promote gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls as a fundamental  cornerstone of peaceful, just and inclusive societies. The EU reasserts that human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. We firmly believe that without respect for human rights, there can be no crime prevention, nor criminal justice.

We sincerely hope that the spirit of Vienna continues to guide us. Let us send a clear message of international unity, something the world needs now more than ever.

Thank you, Chair.