30 May 1991

12th plenary meeting

Crime prevention and criminal justice

The Economic and Social Council,

Aware of the responsibility assumed by the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice under Economic and Social Council resolution 155 C (VII) of 13 August 1948 and General Assembly resolution 415 (V) of 1 December 1950,

Bearing in mind the important role of the United Nations in assisting Member States to formulate more effective strategies and policies to combat crime and humanize criminal justice systems,

Concerned about the escalation of crime in all its forms, particularly in its new dimensions and transnational forms, and the violence in many parts of the world, which threatens the international community, impinges on the enjoyment of basic human rights and has a negative impact on the development process,

Recognizing the urgent need for an adequate global response to those crimes that transcend national boundaries or for any other reasons require coordinated action between States, including strengthened international mechanisms to provide criminal justice personnel with ready access to information, facilitate the exchange of technical know-how, further promote international cooperation in this field and ensure adequate coordination for practical action programmes,

Determined to ensure the continued focus on the conclusions and recommendations of the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders and to make steady progress in their practical application,

Noting with concern the continuing increase in the workload of the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, particularly in relation to the mandates entrusted to it by the Eighth Congress and by the General Assembly in its resolution 45/108 of 14 December 1990, the need to prioritize its programme and the need to confine its activities to the areas where a positive contribution can be made through international action,

Recalling its resolution 1990/27 of 24 May 1990 concerning, inter alia, the timely implementation and proper follow-up of the recommendations of the Eighth Congress,

Recalling also General Assembly resolution 45/121 of 14 December 1990, in which the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to review the resources required to enable the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch to discharge its responsibilities in accordance with the new mandates,

1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on crime prevention and criminal justice;

2. Welcomes the successful results of the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, and urges Governments to ensure the appropriate implementation of its conclusions and recommendations;

3. Requests the Secretary-General to pay particular attention to the operational aspects of the resolutions of the Eighth Congress in order to assist interested countries in promoting human resources development, reinforcing their national machinery, undertaking joint training activities and executing pilot and demonstration projects, and invites the United Nations Development Programme and the Department of Technical Cooperation for Development of the Secretariat and other relevant organizations to consider giving increased support to those endeavours;

4. Stresses the importance of General Assembly resolution 45/108 on the review of the functioning and programme of work of the United Nations in crime prevention and criminal justice in determining mechanisms for the more efficient focusing of the programme on those activities where the United Nations can make a positive contribution to the control of crime, and requests the Secretary-General to assist in the proper organization of the intergovernmental working group and the ministerial summit meeting on the creation of an effective international crime and justice programme, called for in that resolution;

5. Takes note with appreciation of the offer of the Government of France to act as host for the ministerial summit meeting in the second half of 1991;

6. Recommends that adequate provision be made for the participation of the representatives of the least developed countries that are members of the intergovernmental working group, as well as to ensure their participation in the ministerial summit meeting;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to use his best endeavours to provide resources within the existing level of the regular budget, as required, for public information activities related to the preparation and servicing of those two meetings;

8. Invites Governments to be actively involved and to provide their support to ensure the success of the ministerial summit meeting;

9. Welcomes the initiative taken by the Government of Canada to establish in Canada a new international centre for criminal law reform and criminal justice policy as an institute affiliated with the United Nations, and invites the Secretary-General to conclude an agreement with the Government, as appropriate;

10. Requests the General Assembly to give priority attention to the conclusions and recommendations of the ministerial summit meeting, with a view to taking appropriate action thereon, leading to the creation of an effective international crime and justice programme;

11. Recommends that the General Assembly, in the light of this review, consider requesting the Secretary-General to enter into a commitment for the upgrading of the status of the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs, as called for in numerous General Assembly and Economic and Social Council resolutions, the most recent of which being Assembly resolution 45/108, in a way commensurate with its increased responsibilities and required professional expertise;

12. Decides to give priority attention at its regular session of 1992 to crime prevention and criminal justice under a sub-item entitled "Crime prevention and criminal justice".