The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) was established in 1992 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) following General Assembly resolution 46/152 to strengthen international cooperation in addressing crime and improving criminal justice systems. The creation of the CCPCJ reflected a shift in global priorities after the Cold War, as transnational threats such as organized crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and terrorism became more prominent and required coordinated international responses. The CCPCJ serves as the primary policymaking body within the United Nations on issues of crime prevention and criminal justice. It develops recommendations and policies that are reviewed by ECOSOC and the General Assembly, and it also oversees the work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The Commission focuses on crime prevention strategies, criminal justice reform, and emerging forms of crime such as cybercrime and environmental crime. It also promotes international cooperation and supports countries in strengthening their legal and justice systems. Today, the CCPCJ plays a key role in advancing global efforts to promote justice, reduce crime, and support safe and stable societies. This relates well to Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

Access to justice is a fundamental component of fair and effective legal systems. Significant gaps remain in ensuring that individuals can seek and obtain justice. Vulnerable or marginalized groups are especially at risk. The United Nations emphasizes the need for inclusive, transparent, and accountable legal systems that protect the rights of all individuals. Barriers to justice persist across many regions, including lack of legal aid, discrimination, limited awareness of rights, and inefficiencies within judicial systems. Many crime victims also do not report offenses or are unable to navigate complex legal processes. These challenges are further exacerbated for vulnerable populations, including women, children, and people living in poverty, as they often face structural inequalities within legal systems. Strengthening legal aid systems, improving access to information, and reforms can help ensure fair and timely judicial processes. Delegates should consider how states can strengthen legal institutions, support victims, and ensure that justice systems function equally for all individuals.

The illicit wildlife trade is an extremely lucrative and ecologically devastating form of organized crime. According to a report by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), black market trade of wildlife is worth up to USD 20 billion per year. Not only does it allow criminal groups to generate large profits, but it also has significant environmental impacts. The Western Black Rhinoceros, native to Central Africa, was hunted to extinction. Currently the trade for ivory has driven many species of elephant to endangered status. Wildlife trafficking is not limited to mammals, though. In Mexico, totoaba (a type of fish) have been heavily fished in the Gulf of California. Efforts to catch totoaba often result in bycatch, harming other marine species, often catching them accidentally in the hunt for totoaba. Beyond the environmental consequences, the illicit wildlife trade presents a security threat. Criminal networks and organizations participating in the illicit wildlife trade often use the same routes and methods as human and weapons trafficking. Not only does this entrench these illegal pathways, but the wildlife trade contributes to expanding trafficking routes. Wildlife trafficking, like human trafficking, often relies on corruption among public officials, contributing to broader trends of political destabilization in regions. Delegates in CCPCJ must work to identify solutions to this transnational issue, while also addressing its severe environmental consequences resulting from the illicit wildlife trade.