Message regarding the postponement of the Kyoto Congress and the Kyoto Congress Youth Forum from the Minister of Justice (March 24, 2020)

We regret to announce that the United Nations has announced the postponement of the 14th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (the Kyoto Congress), which was scheduled to be held in Kyoto, Japan on April 20-27, 2020 due to the worldwide current situation surrounding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Accordingly, we have decided to postpone the Youth Forum, which was scheduled to be held the week before the Kyoto Congress.

We greatly appreciate the support that has been extended to the Kyoto Congress and the Youth Forum by many parties, including Kyoto prefecture and Kyoto city, which have worked to prepare for these events. In order to host the Kyoto Congress and make it even more successful, the Ministry of Justice, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is committed to discharge its responsibilities as the host country, including coordination with the United Nations with a view to setting the alternate dates.

We would like to thank all of you who have engaged in preparations for the Kyoto Congress and the Youth Forum, and we appreciate your continued support for the forthcoming Kyoto Congress.