The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) continues to play an important role in shaping the global response to crime, including the complex and evolving challenge of drug-related offences. The CCPCJ brings together Member States, international organisations, and civil society players to guide the development and ratification of international standards, seeks to promote effective justice systems, and strengthen cooperation across borders. Its work is intended to sit at the intersection of public safety, rule of law, and increasingly, public health, reflecting a general shift in how drug-related crime is conceptualised and addressed globally.
In general there has been a move toward more explicitly coordinated, multi-sector approaches, which includes recognising that enforcement alone is insufficient, and that sustainable reductions in drug-related crime depend on strengthening the interfaces between justice systems, prevention services, treatment providers, and recovery support structures. The emphasis on building effective institutions, improving data systems, and supporting professionalisation of the workforce reflects a set of priorities that align closely with the direction of several Member States and their international engagement strategies.
It is within this evolving context that ISSUP’s role has continued to expand to increasingly engage more directly with justice sector actors, particularly law enforcement, courts, and policymakers, recognising that these groups are not only key stakeholders, but essential collaborators in shaping effective responses. This expansion has been a natural progression for ISSUP over time, seeking to strengthen all parts of the workforce that interact with substance use and related crime.
At this year’s CCPCJ, ISSUP will contribute to this dialogue through our participation in a side event titled “Strengthening Justice Systems and Workforce to Reduce Drug-Related Crime,” organised in partnership with Member States , including the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, with the support of the Organization of American States, TASC Chicago and the World Federation Against Drugs The event will take place on 3 June from 16:30 to 17:30 CEST in a hybrid format, and will be accessible to all interested participants, in Room M5 at the Vienna International Centre, with the option to participate online via this teams link. The session will explore how justice institutions can work more effectively with prevention, treatment, and recovery services to reduce drug related crime, support individuals in moving away from repeated offending behaviours and support long-term reintegration outcomes.
ISSUP’s contribution will focus on the role of workforce development as a practical and scalable mechanism for improving system-wide responses. Drawing on our global network of over 50,000 professionals and 44 National Chapters, ISSUP will highlight how training, knowledge exchange, and professional standards can strengthen collaboration across sectors. Particular attention will be given to building capacity among justice sector professionals to engage with evidence-informed interventions, as well as strengthening referral pathways between law enforcement and health and social services.
A key area of focus will be on preventing the recruitment of young people into drug-related criminal networks, an issue that sits at the convergence of public safety and prevention. Here, ISSUP’s experience in youth-focused prevention and community-based responses provides a valuable complement to justice sector strategies, demonstrating how early intervention and coordinated responses can reduce vulnerability and disrupt pathways into crime.
This engagement also reflects an area of strategic focus within ISSUP toward expanded inclusion of law enforcement and policymakers as both target audiences and active partners. By positioning these groups not only as recipients of knowledge, but as contributors to the development and implementation of evidence-informed approaches, ISSUP is helping to bridge longstanding divides between sectors.
As discussions at the CCPCJ continue to emphasise the importance of integrated, pragmatic, and outcomes-focused responses, ISSUP’s growing role in this space underscores the value of a connected, skilled, and collaborative global workforce. Through our participation, ISSUP is not only contributing to the conversation, but actively supporting system-wide strengthening efforts that are increasingly recognised as essential to addressing drug-related crime in a sustainable and effective way.
The full programme and more details are available on the CCPCJ website.