Minutes of the meeting of the Alliance of NGOs
March 2, 2016
Participants (26)
NGO Alliance members:
- Michael Platzer – Co Chair of the NGO Alliance
- Karen Judd Smith, Co-Chair NGO Alliance
- Max Edelbacher- Officer in Charge of ACUNS Vienna
- Rory Field- International Association of Prosecutors
- Inge Geyes- ZONTA International
- Fabio Maurer- McNN Guest Ltd.
- Marlene Parenzan International Federation of Business and Professional Women
- Dore Vrdlovec- Sorophemist International
- Renate Amesbauer- Women’s Federation for World Peace
- Irmgard Mäntler- Women’s Federation for World Peace
- Eleonore Hauer- Rona International Council of Women
- Eveline Zehetmayer- Rona International Council of Women
- Gebhard Fidler vereinzur Für der
- Birgit Kramer- Society for the Advancement of Global Understanding
- Maria Riehl- Women’s Federation for World Peace Online Alliance Members:
- Michael O’Connell, World Society of Victimology
- Gillian Dell, Transparency International
- Kimberley Garth-James, CSU,and US Sentencing Commission Victims Group
- DiSimone from Miami
- Janice Joseph, Academy of Criminal Justice Science (ACJS)
- Hawi Rapudo, Kenya
- Yael, New York UNODC:
II. Mirella Dummar Frahi, CST Dimosthenis Chrysikos, OCB Billy Batware, CST Dominika Jelinkova, CST Steven Wingate, CST
Summary of the discussion
The discussions focused on the upcoming 25th session of the Crime Commission and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), and the 8th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (COP UNTOC).
Mirella Dummar Frahi
Briefed about the Crime Commission from 23 -27 of May and COP UNTOC from 17-21 October. On CCPCJ, many NGOs have applied for side events at the CCPCJ, most of which were accommodated.
Useful documentation can be found on UNODC website, mainly draft resolutions and the provisional agenda.
In addition to the side events, ISPAC invites members of the Alliance to participate in its sixteenth plenary session which will take place on 24 May at 9:00-10:30 a.m.
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On COP UNTOC, an invitation was sent to NGOs without ECOSOC Status to express their interest to attend the 8th session. The participation is open to all relevant NGOs, deadline was set for 9 May 2016.
Dimosthenis Chrysikos
Informed about the preparations for COP UNTOC.
o The framework of participation is delineated by rule 17 of the rules of procedures (see attached)
o For relevant NGOs having ECOSOC status an invitation will be sent to them sometime in June
o Regarding the provisional agenda of session of the conference
Michael Platzer
- Covers a wide range of issues including reviewing the implementation of UNTOC
- How convention can combat organized crime through different forms of cooperation and assistance
- NGOs are allowed to participate in the plenary but not in working groups
- Working groups are thematically and substantially linked to relevant topics
- of the plenary
- New process reviving the framework of discussions for a review
- mechanism through the establishment of a new working group
- Expressed concern that NGOs could not attend the working groups, and felt that the plenaries and side events were only a partial participations.
To the question about when to apply for side events it was said that a form would be circulated around July.
He also informed that on Monday 23 May 17:30, there will be a discussion at Vienna Criminal Court (Wiener Landesgericht) on juvenile justice reform in Austria which has changed considerably in the last 3 years.
Michael met with the Permanent Representative of Germany in Austria who is also the Chair of CCPCJ. He has requested him to meet with NGOs at the commission on a date that is still to be determined.
Michal Platzer or Maximilian Edelbacher will send a letter requesting for an informal meeting with Mr. Fedotov.
Karen Judd Smith, Acting Chair, NY NGO Alliance:
- Advised participants to use the UNODC and the Alliance websites which give all relevant information about CCPCJ.
- Asked whether there an informal gathering on the NGOs to catch up and get advised? There is a specific space called the NGO Lounge (M0E27) which can be used at any time.
- Informed about the work of ICRD on the ground building capacity of local religious leaders and communities in Pakistan and Yemen in addressing the issue of upgrading the education in Saudi Arabia.
ICRD is organizing a side event on defusing religious extremism: building the capacity of conservative religious communities as key partners in counter terrorism efforts. Among speakers at the event will be a representative of the Kingdom of Morocco. The event will take place Tuesday, 24 May at 13:10 in MOE100.
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– It was suggested to have 30 to 40 minutes to talk about the panama papers to create a discussion during the crime commission.
Gillian Dell
Informed about the Anti-Corruption Summit: a global opportunity which will take place on 12 May in London which will be hosted by the British Prime Minister David Cameron. A pre- Summit conference for civil society, business and government leaders – tackling corruption together – is planned on 11 May.
Maxmilian Edelbacher
- – International group from Graz will present their papers to UNODC experts on June 17 on corruption and how to use academic knowledge in the practical world of policing
- – Conference on the topic of corruption in organized crime in Slovakia
- – A side event on elderly victims and offenders of crime is being organized at the CCPCJ.Sorophomists international
III.
Informed about a side event on women as victims and perpetrators of terrorism which will feature UNODC’s Ms. Solongo as speaker.
Follow-up actions:
Request letter the informal meeting with Mr. Fedotov to be sent by Michal Platzer or Maximilian Edelbacher;
Adam Foldes (TI) to be in touch with Michael Platzer on the Panama papers during the CCPCJ;
Gillian Dell will contact Michael Platzer, Maximilian Edelbacher and Rory Field; Put recording of the meeting online- make available for those who couldn’t attend; Michael Platzer and Maximilian Edelbacher to plan a social event 24 May at 19:00.
