24 May 1990

13th Plenary Meeting

1990/19. Technical co-operation in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice

The Economic and Social Council,

Considering that one of the purposes of the United Nations, as proclaimed in its Charter, is to achieve international co-operation in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion,

Convinced that, within the framework of development, crime prevention and criminal justice should be guided by respect for the principles proclaimed in the Caracas Declaration and the Milan Plan of Action, the Guiding Principles for Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in the Context of Development and a New International Economic Order, and other pertinent instruments adopted by the Seventh United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders,

Convinced also that concerted efforts in all areas will lead to the practical application of these principles, with full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Considering that the deteriorating socio-economic situation in some countries demands the aid of the international community, in all areas, within the framework of freely concluded bilateral or multilateral conventions,

Emphasizing the usefulness of regional and interregional co-operation in crime prevention and criminal justice, as fostered by the United Nations regional and interregional institutes and other such organizations that work closely with the United Nations,

Noting with satisfaction the statutory establishment of the United Nations African Regional Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, and reaffirming the vital role the Institute is called upon to play in assisting the African region in the formulation and implementation of appropriate crime prevention and criminal justice policies and programmes,

Acknowledging the economic constraints on the States members of the African region to meet their financial obligations to the Institute to enable it to start operations and to implement its mandate,

Aware of the conditions attached to funding by the United Nations Development Programme, which would limit the staffing, administrative and operational capabilities of the Institute,

Convinced that the viability of the Institute requires adequate funding on a predictable, assured and continuous basis,

1. Recommends that the international community, working through bilateral or multilateral arrangements, should provide Member States, at their request, with the necessary assistance, in order to contribute to the establishment of the infrastructure required for crime prevention and criminal justice;

2. Invites Member States to increase their co-operation in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice by expanding their operational activities in this area;

3. Urges the United Nations Development Programme to provide adequate funding for the United Nations African Regional Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders on a predictable, assured and continuous basis, for a minimum of six years, subject to biennial evaluation of performance of the Institute by its Board and the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control;

4. Urges Governments to provide supplementary financial and technical support so as to enable the United Nations to help developing countries in their efforts to identify, analyse, follow up and evaluate crime trends, to formulate crime prevention and control strategies that are effective and in harmony with their national development plans, priorities and objectives, and to implement criminal justice policies with a view to ensuring respect for United Nations principles and standards in this area;

5. Invites Member States to include crime prevention and criminal justice policies in their planning process, particularly when formulating national development plans, so as to reduce the human, social and economic costs associated with criminality and delinquency, and to allocate sufficient funds to the activities of the criminal justice system, paying appropriate attention to research and training;

6. Urges the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the Department of Technical Co-operation for Development of the United Nations Secretariat and other financial organizations to continue to provide financial support and assistance within their programme of technical co-operation activities;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to inform the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control at its twelfth session of the measures taken by the Member States to achieve the objectives of the present resolution.