Every five years, since 1955, the United Nations has convened world congresses covering the myriad of issues pertaining to crime, its prevention and deterrence, as well as to improving the operations of criminal justice systems and fostering international cooperation in these fields. For over half a century, the congresses have shaped international and domestic policy in crime prevention and criminal justice, and they remain unique as the only major United Nations conference that brings together policymakers and practitioners in the area of crime prevention and criminal justice, with the participation of parliamentarians, individual experts from academia and representatives from civil society and the media.
The Fourteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice will be convened in April 2020 in Kyoto, at the generous invitation of the Government of Japan. The main theme of the Fourteenth Congress is: "Advancing crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law: towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda."
African Regional Preparatory Meeting (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 9-11 April 2019).
In pursuance, UNODC has invited AALCO to participate as an observer in one or more of the regional preparatory meetings.