26 May 1983

Functions and long-term programme of work of the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its resolution 1584 (L) of 21 May 1971 on criminality and social change, in which, inter alia, it decided that the members of the Advisory Committee of Experts on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders should be appointed by the Economic and Social Council on the recommendation of the Secretary-General, that the Committee should be renamed the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control and that it should report to the Commission for Social Development and, as appropriate on particular aspects, to the Commission on Human Rights and the Commission on Narcotic Drugs,

Recalling also, however, General Assembly resolution 32/60 of 8 December 1977, in which, inter alia, the Assembly decided that the members of the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control should be elected by the Economic and Social Council for a term of four years, with half the membership being elected every two years, on the basis of the principle of equitable geographical distribution, from among experts who possess the necessary qualifications and professional or scientific knowledge in the field and are nominated by Member States, and Economic and Social Council resolutions 1979/19 and 1979/30 of 9 May 1979 on the functions and long-term programme of work and on the enlargement of the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control,

Recalling further its decision 1981/122 of 6 May 1981 and General Assembly resolution 36/21 of 9 November 1981,

Mindful of General Assembly resolution 32/60 and of resolution 35/171 of 15 December 1980, by which the Assembly endorsed the Caracas Declaration adopted by the Sixth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, annexed to that resolution, and the recommendations of the Congress relating to the new perspectives for international co-operation in respect of crime prevention,

Considering that in the Caracas Declaration the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council were invited to ensure that appropriate measures be taken to strengthen, as necessary, the activities of the competent United Nations organs concerned with crime prevention and the treatment of offenders,

Deeply concerned that crime continues to spread in many parts of the world, requiring continuing and ever-increasing attention on the part of the world community, as demonstrated by the concern expressed by the General Assembly in resolutions 35/171 and 36/21,

Taking note of the important contributions of the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control in elaborating the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, the report on methods and ways likely to be most effective in preventing crime and improving the treatment of offenders, and its recommendations on capital punishment and arbitrary or summary executions,

Taking into account the fact that, in paragraph 2 of General Assembly resolution 32/60, the Committee was entrusted with the function of submitting to the Economic and Social Council appropriate proposals concerning the preparation of United Nations congresses on the prevention of crime and the treatment of offenders, and that the composition and the appointment procedures of the Committee were modified in paragraph 4 of the same resolution,

Bearing in mind that the United Nations congresses on the prevention of crime and the treatment of offenders have a comprehensive scope and that their agenda normally cover the main subjects within the functions and programme of the Committee,

Convinced that the magnitude and fundamental importance of the functions entrusted to the Committee require not only the most informed, thoughtful and deliberate consideration by the Committee, but also the timely submission of its recommendations to, and action thereon by, the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly,

1. Decides that henceforth the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control shall report directly to the Council;

2. Decides also that the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control will send its report to the Commission for Social Development and, where appropriate, to other relevant United Nations organs.