(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The 13th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice started in Doha on Sunday, with the participation of delegations from more than 142 countries and 110 heads of state and government.

Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani attended the opening session of the event whose main theme is "Integrating crime prevention and criminal justice into the wider UN agenda to address social and economic challenges and to promote the rule of law at the national and international levels, and public participation." The event, 12-19 April, marks the sixtieth anniversary of UN congresses on crime prevention and criminal justice, bringing together governments, policy-makers and experts to exchange their experiences and intensify international cooperation in tackling the threat of transnational organized crime.

This 13th Congress is being held amid increasing prevalence of all types of crimes and continued existence of the hotbeds of conflict, tension, insecurity and instability as well as the lack of development in many regions, which led to the escalation of violence, terrorism and corruption, Qatar's Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani.

He added that Qatar is hosting the event as part of its international responsibility and recognition of the importance of achieving criminal justice, as well as establishing national communities and a safe societies governed by the rule of law and the principles of freedom and justice.

The Qatari Premier referred to an initiative Doha put forward to save "a generation of displaced children and youth at the regional level by establishing a fund for education and professional development for the benefit of displaced persons, and refugees who are victims of conflicts in the Middle East." The initiative focuses on providing a dual education system combining school education and vocational training in institutions.

He also called on the UN to work on restoring credibility to the world community through the UNSC's commitment to fulfilling international legitimacy through all measures against the perpetrators of such crimes.

Over sixty years, crime congresses have contributed to shaping international and domestic criminal justice policies and enhancing international cooperation for combating the world threat of organized crime, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the opening session.

He added that the aim of the Doha Congress is to share successes and expertise to prevent crime and promote the rule of law to support sustainable development, urging the world countries to sign the UN accords and mechanisms for countering drugs, crime and corruption.

The event had elected the Qatari Prime Minster as President of the 13th UN Congress on Crime Prevention, Criminal Justice, in addition to electing members of the Bureau of the Congress.