Alliance of Sport honoured to attend UNODC summit in Thailand
The Alliance of Sport was honoured to travel to Thailand last week to participate in the Expert Group meeting of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The Expert Group examined effective ways of integrating sport into youth crime prevention and criminal justice strategies, with a view to analysing and compiling best practice and developing policy recommendations.
The aims of the meeting were:
- To generate information and raise awareness about opportunities and challenges with regards to integrating sport and sport-based learning into crime prevention and criminal justice strategies.
- To develop policy recommendations on how sport and sport-based learning could be integrated into youth crime prevention and criminal justice strategies.
(These recommendations will now be brought to the 29th session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice for consideration (May 2020, Vienna) and the 14th Crime Congress for information (April 2020, Kyoto)). - Contribute to a community of practice on youth crime prevention and the use of sport and sport-based learning in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as the United Nations Kazan Action Plan on Sport for Development and Peace.
The meeting was hosted by the Government of Thailand and brought together around 40 experts, including those in government, representatives of civil society organisations and representatives of sport organisations and relevant United Nations entities.
The Alliance of Sport’s Chief Executive, James Mapstone, spoke at a session to identify possible entry points for sport in crime prevention and criminal justice. Commonwealth Secretriat Oliver Dudfield, a member of our Steering Group, and Professor Rosie Meek, author of last year’s Sporting Chance report, also delivered keynotes speeches.
The highlight of the trip for many was a visit to Ban Karuna Juvenile Vocational Training Center in Samut Prakarn Province. There delegates witnessed the power of sport in action and learned more about the regime, community partnerships and role of sport in rehabilitation.
“It was truly an honour to attend the Expert Group meeting and contribute to the agenda alongside many fantastic colleagues from international agencies, governments, academia and NGOs,” said James.
“The event was a great opportunity to share our work and support the development of sport’s role in crime prevention and criminal justice across the globe.”
The event was opened by Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati Kromluangrajasarinisiribajra Mahavajrarajadhita (below).
