UNICRI: Stefanile meets Director De Meo, hails special relationship

NEW YORK, JULY 1 – UNICRI Director, Antonia De Meo, met Ambassador Stefano Stefanile, Deputy Permanent Representative of Italy to the UN in New York, to discuss the special relationship between the organization and its host country. “Italy looks forward to further strengthening the cooperation with UNICRI in the field of crime prevention, justice and rule of law”, the Mission said on Twitter after the meeting: “Let’s build together just, safe and inclusive societies”.

The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) was established in 1968 pursuant to Economic and Social Council Resolution 1086 B (XXXIX) of 1965, which urged an expansion of the United Nations activities in crime prevention and criminal justice. The Institute is an autonomous institution and is governed by its Board of Trustees.

Working within the broad scope of its mandate to design and implement improved policies and actions in the field of crime prevention and control, the mission of UNICRI is to advance justice, crime prevention, security and the rule of law in support of peace, human rights and sustainable development.

UNICRI’s work focuses on Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Agenda, that is centered on promoting peaceful, just and inclusive societies, free from crime and violence. Justice, crime prevention and the rule of law are the basis for fighting poverty and reducing inequalities while enhancing economic growth and stability and protecting the environment. UNICRI supports governments and the international community at large in tackling criminal threats to social peace, development and political stability.

Ms De Meo was appointed in March 2020 by Secretary General Antonio Guterres. She brought to the position over twenty years of experience in rule of law and human rights, including, criminal justice and crime prevention, gender equity and child and migrant rights. Her last assignment prior to UNICRI was as Chief of the Human Rights, Transitional Justice and Rule of Law Service at the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and Representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Libya.

She served as Chief of Staff of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from 2014 to 2017 and has held senior management positions with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Sri Lanka and Sudan (2011-2014), the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office in Sudan (2011-2012), and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Palestine, Iraq, and Jordan (2009-2011). A trial lawyer by training and former prosecutor, she commenced her overseas development work for the American Bar Association’s Central and East European Law Initiative in Moldova (1999-2000). (@OnuItalia)