24 May 1989

15th plenary meeting

United Nations network of government-appointed national correspondents in the field of crime prevention and control

The Economic and Social Council,

Reaffirming General Assembly resolution 415 (V) of 1 December 1950, in which the Assembly established a system of national correspondents appointed by Governments to co-operate with the Secretariat in all matters concerning crime prevention and control,

Reaffirming Economic and Social Council resolution 357 (XII) of 13 March 1951, in which the Council emphasized that the appointment of national correspondents should be made on the basis of their expert qualifications or experience, professional or scientific, in the field of crime prevention and control,

Recognizing the important role of national correspondents, the valuable contributions they have made and the work they have accomplished in the promotion and implementation of the United Nations programme of work in the field of crime prevention and control, including that of the United Nations institutes, the United Nations quinquennial congresses on the prevention of crime and the treatment of offenders, and the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control,

Further recognizing the role the network has played in achieving a consensus and promoting co-operation, at the regional, interregional and international levels, on questions of criminal policy,

Bearing in mind the various legislative directives which have, over the years, called upon the national correspondent network to undertake an increasing number of activities of a technical and scientific nature, such as the conducting of research, participation in the implementation of major regional and global surveys, preparation of analytical reports on developments in crime and juvenile delinquency and criminal justice operations,

Also bearing in mind the fact that the role, functions and contributions of the network have substantially increased over the years, both in level and scope,

Taking into account the recommendations of the First General Meeting of National Correspondents, held on the occasion of the Seventh United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders,

1. Expresses satisfaction with the work and efforts of the Secretariat in bringing about an expansion of the national correspondents network to cover nearly all countries of the world;

2. Invites those Member States that have not yet done so to appoint one or more national correspondents and to inform the Secretary-General accordingly;

3. Further invites Member States:

(a) To appoint national correspondents from among experts, practitioners and policy makers in the field of crime prevention and control, and when appointing more than one national correspondent, to designate a chief national correspondent as national co-ordinator, as is already the case in numerous countries;

(b) To facilitate and support the work of national correspondents, recognizing their role and functions and according appropriate official status at the national level, thus promoting more effective collaboration with the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and control;

(c) To enhance the representation and involvement of national correspondents in technical meetings of the United Nations by, inter alia, including them in governmental delegations to United Nations quinquennial congresses on the prevention of crime and the treatment of offenders and relevant preparatory meetings;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to make every effort to strengthen the functional capacity of the network and to co-ordinate and mobilize it by, inter alia:

(a) Fostering more systematic involvement in the United Nations programme of work;

(b) Ensuring a more effective flow of information and closer collaboration;

(c) Taking more fully into account the views of national correspondents on key questions of criminal policy to ensure their reflection in the work of the United Nations, facilitating consensus building, and ensuring that the programme of work responds to the technical needs and problems of various regions;

(d) Convening general meetings of national correspondents attending United Nations quinquennial congresses;

(e) Exploring ways and means of establishing strong, permanent, ongoing links between the network and the United Nations Secretariat, the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control, the United Nations Development Programme and United Nations institutes, as well as justice agencies, scientific institutions and other organizations world wide;

(f) Continuing to publish, at regular intervals, information circulars to keep national correspondents abreast of developments in the work programme of the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and control;

(g) Encouraging the organization of international advisory groups and meetings of national correspondents, to review, in particular, the implementation of relevant resolutions;

5. Requests the United Nations Development Programme to provide liaison services between national correspondents and the Secretariat;

6. Requests the United Nations institutes to involve national correspondents more fully in their activities;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to implement the present resolution and to report thereon to the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control at its eleventh session;

8. Recommends that the Secretary-General transmit the present resolution to the Governments of Member States.