Federal Republic of Germany

Statement for the general debate (national statement)

34th Session of the

Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

(19 - 23 May 2025, Vienna)

Mr Chair,

I would like to express my appreciation for the excellent preparation of this conference and to welcome you as chair of our session.

First of all: the German delegation fully supports the statement on behalf of the European Union.

As is clear from the agenda, this year’s session is centred on measured, proportionate and appropriate crime prevention, which we wholeheartedly endorse.

Germany also warmly welcomes the spotlight on the particular needs of women, children, migrants and other vulnerable groups. We are of the firm conviction that crime prevention measures can only be effective in the long term if they take account of the different life circumstances of those affected.

We also welcome the focus this year on environmental crime and the protection of cultural property.

The fight against environmental crime is a core policy objective for Germany. We want to prevent its destructive impact on essential ecosystems, health and fair competition, or at the very least recover the illegal proceeds of environmental crime. Furthermore, the protection of cultural property is a global challenge that can in our view only be overcome through international cooperation. We would also welcome a focus on the fight against the many dimensions of forced labour.

Mr Chair,

We firmly believe that continuity is essential if crime prevention is to be truly effective.

New strategies are (only) necessary where we are confronting new phenomena or specific developments. In all other areas, our efforts must be focused on the strong and systematic application of existing mechanisms.

Effective crime prevention also requires continuity for organizations. Terminating agreements or indeed even calling into question international organizations is not just a false economy; it is a step backwards. Effective structures that have been carefully built up over the years must not be destroyed. A stable institutional framework is essential to long-term success.

And what is more: crime prevention does not stop at the prison gates. Global implementation of the Nelson Mandela and the Bangkok Rules is a central concern for Germany. Human dignity must also be respected throughout the prison system. That is one reason why we strongly oppose the death penalty in all its forms.

Mr Chair,

Let us work together for preventive criminal justice policy that is rooted in responsibility and human dignity – and in which gender equality and diversity are not a foreign concept, but universal goals.

Thank you very much!