24 May 1989

15th plenary meeting

Statute of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its resolution 1086 B (XXXIX) of 30 July 1965, in which it requested the Secretary-General to proceed to the establishment of a funds-in-trust account to be administered by the United Nations for the purpose of strengthening the capacity of the Organization to carry out its responsibilities in the social defence field,

Recalling also the establishment in 1968 at Rome of the United Nations Social Defence Research Institute within the framework of Council resolution 1086 B (XXXIX),

Recalling further resolution 20 of the Seventh United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, in which the Congress noted with satisfaction the invaluable contribution made, inter alia, by the United Nations Social Defence Research Institute to the growing international and national recognition of the central importance of action-oriented research as an effective instrument for the formulation and implementation of policies for crime prevention and control,

Noting with satisfaction that the activities of the United Nations Social Defence Research Institute have been positively reviewed by the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control on a periodic basis and that the Institute's work programme has evolved and expanded in response to the needs of the international community, particularly in the developing regions of the world,

Noting especially the diversification of the Institute's activities in terms of extension of research results through training and field activities aimed at assisting developing countries and in terms of an enhanced contribution to the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme,

Bearing in mind that the Milan Plan of Action, adopted by the Seventh United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, called for the strengthening of the United Nations regional and interregional institutes in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice,

Mindful of the importance of updating the terms of reference and the modus operandi of the United Nations Social Defence Research Institute to bring them into line with current thinking in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, in particular concerning the needs of developing countries,

Mindful also of the importance of making more permanent arrangements for the governance of the Institute,

1. Adopts the statute of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute set out in the annex below;

2. Requests the Secretary-General to take steps, in consultation with the Director of the Institute, to implement the statute and to report thereon to the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control at its eleventh session.

Annex STATUTE OF THE UNITED NATIONS INTERREGIONAL CRIME AND JUSTICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Article I ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INSTITUTE The United Nations Social Defence Research Institute (UNSDRI) is hereby established as the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI).

Article II OBJECTIVES AND FUNCTIONS 1. The objective of the Institute shall be to contribute, through research, training, field activities and the collection, exchange and dissemination of information, to the formulation and implementation of improved policies in the field of crime prevention and control, due regard being paid to the integration of such policies within broader policies for socio-economic change and development, and to the protection of human rights. The Institute shall assist intergovernmental, governmental and non-governmental organizations in their efforts in this regard. Accordingly, the principal functions of the Institute shall be the following:

(a) To promote, conduct, co-ordinate and support research and, in collaboration with the countries concerned, to organize and support field activities with a view to:

(i) Establishing a reliable base of knowledge and information on social problems involving juvenile delinquency and adult criminality, special attention being given to the new, frequently transnational forms of the phenomena;

(ii) Identifying appropriate strategies, policies and instruments for the prevention and control of the phenomena so as to contribute to socio-economic development and to promote the protection of human rights;

(iii) Designing practical models and systems aimed at providing support for policy formulation, implementation and evaluation;

(b) To provide action-oriented research and training relating to the United Nations programme on crime prevention and criminal justice;

(c) To design and carry out training activities at the interregional level and, at the request of interested countries, at the national level;

(d) To promote the exchange of information by, inter alia, maintaining an international documentation centre on criminology and related disciplines to enable the Institute to respond to the need of the international community for the dissemination of information world wide and to serve the needs of the United Nations and of scholars and other experts requiring such facilities.

2. In the pursuit of its objectives, the Institute shall carry out its activities in close collaboration and co-ordination with institutes and other bodies within and outside the United Nations system, especially with the United Nations regional institutes on the prevention of crime.

ARTICLE III STATUS, ORGANIZATION AND LOCATION OF THE INSTITUTE

1. The Institute shall be a United Nations entity and thus form part of the United Nations system.

2. The Institute shall have its own Board of Trustees and a Director and supporting staff. It shall be subject to the Financial Regulations and Staff Regulations of the United Nations, except as may be provided otherwise by the General Assembly. It shall also be subject to the Financial Rules, the Staff Rules and all other administrative issuances of the Secretary-General, except as may be otherwise decided by the Secretary-General.

3. The Headquarters of the Institute shall be located at Rome. The Institute may, with the approval of the Board of Trustees and of the Secretary-General, establish such other offices as it deems necessary.

Article IV BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1. The Institute and its work shall be governed by a Board of Trustees (hereinafter referred to as "the Board") under the overall guidance of the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control.

2. The Board shall be composed of the following:

(a) Seven members selected by the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control upon nomination by the Secretary-General and endorsed by the Economic and Social Council, with due regard to the fact that the Institute and its work are funded from voluntary contributions and to the principle of equitable geographical distribution. The members shall be chosen from among eminent persons who possess the necessary qualifications and expertise. They shall serve in their individual capacity for a term of five years from the date of the first Board meeting in which they are invited to participate. They shall be eligible for reappointment by the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control with the endorsement of the Economic and Social Council for not more than one additional term. Members shall retire by rotation; for this purpose, when the members are first appointed, three shall serve for five years, two for four years and two for three years. The members to serve these initial terms shall be determined by the Board at i

ts first session by the drawing of lots;

(b) A representative of the Secretary-General, who shall normally be the Head of the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs, a representative of the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, a representative of the host country and the Director of the Institute shall serve as ex officio members of the Board.

3. The Board, under the guidance of the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control, shall:

(a) Formulate principles, policies and guidelines for the activities of the Institute;

(b) Consider and approve the work programme and budget proposals of the Institute on the basis of recommendations submitted to it by the Director of the Institute;

(c) Evaluate the Institute's completed and ongoing activities on the basis of periodic reports submitted to it by the Director of the Institute;

(d) Make the recommendations necessary or desirable for the operation of the Institute;

(e) Report periodically to the Economic and Social Council through the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control.

4. The Board shall meet at least once every two years. It shall adopt its own rules of procedure. It shall elect its own officers, including its President, in accordance with the adopted rules of procedure. It shall take its decisions in the manner provided in its rules of procedure.

5. The Board shall consider methods for enhancing the financial resources of the Institute with a view to ensuring the effectiveness of its operations and their continuity within the overall framework of the United Nations programme on crime prevention and criminal justice.

6. Members of the Board, in furtherance of the principles and policies of the Institute, may be invited to help in achieving the goals of the Institute by attending meetings on behalf of the Institute, raising funds for the Institute's operations and helping to establish national support teams, if possible, in their respective countries for the attainment of the objectives of the Institute.

7. Organizations of the United Nations system and other institutions may be represented as appropriate at meetings of the Board in respect of activities of interest to them under the conditions outlined in the rules of procedure of the Board.

Article V DIRECTOR AND STAFF

1. The Director shall be appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations after consultation with the Board.

2. The Director shall have overall responsibility for the organization, direction and administration of the Institute in accordance with general directives issued by the Board and within the terms of the authority delegated to the Director by the Secretary-General. The Director shall, inter alia:

(a) Submit the work programmes and the budget estimates of the Institute to the Board for its consideration and adoption;

(b) Oversee the execution of the work programmes and make the expenditures envisaged in the budget of the Institute as adopted by the Board;

(c) Submit to the Board annual and ad hoc reports on the activities of the Institute and the execution of its work programmes;

(d) Submit to the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control the reports approved by the Board;

(e) Appoint and direct the staff of the Institute on behalf of the Secretary-General;

(f) Co-ordinate the work of the Institute with that of other organs and bodies of the United Nations, the specialized agencies and international, national and regional institutions engaged in similar fields;

(g) Negotiate arrangements with Governments and intergovernmental organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations and academic and philanthropic institutions, with a view to offering and receiving services related to the activities of the Institute;

(h) Actively seek appropriate funding for the implementation of the work programme of the Institute;

(i) Accept, subject to the provisions of article VII, voluntary contributions to the Institute;

(j) Make the necessary arrangements for securing established and continuous contact with, and support from, United Nations Headquarters;

(k) Undertake other assignments or activities as may be determined by the Board or requested by the Secretary-General, provided that any such requests are consistent with the programme budget approved by the Board.

3. The staff of the Institute shall be appointed by the Director under letters of appointment signed by him or her in the name of the Secretary-General and limited to service with the Institute. The staff shall be responsible to the Director in the exercise of their functions.

4. The terms and conditions of service of the Director and the staff shall be those provided in the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules of the United Nations, subject to such arrangements for special rules or terms of appointment as may be proposed by the Director and approved by the Secretary-General.

5. The Director and the staff of the Institute shall not seek or receive instructions from any Government or from any authority external to the United Nations. They shall refrain from any action that might reflect on their position as international officials responsible only to the Organization.

6. The Director and the staff of the Institute shall be officials of the United Nations and therefore shall be covered by Article 105 of the Charter of the United Nations, and by other international agreements and United Nations resolutions defining the status of such officials.

Article VI FELLOWS AND CONSULTANTS 1. The Director may designate a limited number of well-qualified persons to serve as senior fellows of the Institute. Senior fellows shall be permitted to pursue their research at the Institute and shall be expected to provide advice and assistance in matters related to the work programme of the Institute.

2. The Director may also designate junior fellows as part of the training programme of the Institute. Junior fellows shall be expected to provide assistance in matters concerning the work programme of the Institute.

3. The Institute shall establish a restricted network of national fellows specialized in the field of criminological research to assist the activities of the Institute by advising on studies, research and training.

4. Fellows shall be designated in accordance with criteria established by the Board and procedures formulated by the Secretary-General and shall not be considered to be members of the staff of the Institute.

5. The Director may arrange for the services of consultants for special assignments in connection with the work programme of the Institute. Such consultants shall be engaged in accordance with policies established by the Secretary-General.

Article VII FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND RULES GOVERNING THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF THE INSTITUTE The activities of the Institute shall be funded by voluntary contributions from States. The Institute may derive further resources in cash or in kind from the United Nations, its specialized agencies, other intergovernmental and governmental organizations and institutions, and non-governmental organizations. Acceptance by the Institute of offers of such further assistance shall, in every case, be subject to the decision of the President of the Board, in consultation with the Director of the Institute, in accordance with the basic aims of the Institute and the relevant provisions of the rules governing the financial management of the Institute. The President of the Board shall report on the matter to the Board at its following session.

Article VIII ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER SUPPORT The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide the Institute with appropriate administrative and other support in accordance with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations. The Institute shall reimburse the United Nations the cost of such support, as determined by the Controller of the United Nations after consultation with the Director.

Article IX RELATIONS WITH THE CENTRE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS OF THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE AT VIENNA, AND OTHER UNITED NATIONS BODIES, SPECIALIZED AGENCIES AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

1. The Institute shall establish and maintain a close consultative, co-operative and working relationship with the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations Office at Vienna, including in particular the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch.

2. The Institute may also establish and maintain such relations as it considers appropriate with other United Nations bodies, specialized agencies and international organizations.