The United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme Network (PNI) consists of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and 18 institutes and entities around the world. The mission of the PNI is to assist the international community in strengthening cooperation in crime prevention and criminal justice on the global, regional and sub-regional levels, within the framework of the United Nations Crime Programme. In January 2022, the members of the PNI decided to publish a “PNI Newsletter” as a way of sharing information on the contributions of the Network, in a way that could benefit a wide range of international and regional stakeholders as well as the general public. The Newsletter also serves to promote cooperation within the Network as well as with UN entities and with national and international stakeholders, through the dissemination of information and the sharing of knowledge. The Newsletter is published twice a year, in the spring and the autumn.

This 4th edition of the PNI Newsletter coincides with the thematic discussion of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) on the follow-up to the Kyoto Declaration, which took place on 21-22 September 2023. Accordingly, this issue dedicates significant focus to Pillar III of the Kyoto Declaration – “Promoting the Rule of Law”. A detailed analysis of the PNI’s engagement in the CCPCJ thematic discussion and its global activities supporting Pillar III implementation is featured in the first section. As we look forward to the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in 2026, this issue offers an article by Dr. Matti Joutsen providing a comprehensive overview of the preparation and thematic discussions ahead. Furthermore, we proudly join in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Australian Institute of Criminology, featuring an insightful article about the establishment of the Australian National Anti-Corruption Commission. To provide an intimate glance into individual institutes within our Network, this issue includes interviews with the Directors of HEUNI and the TIJ, offering a unique perspective into the inner workings and aspirations.

Read the PNI Newsletter – Fourth Issue, Autumn 2023.

Photo by Bernardo Lorena Ponte on Unsplash.