27 July 1993

43rd plenary meeting

World Ministerial Conference on Organized Transnational Crime

The Economic and Social Council,

Alarmed by the increasing dimensions and sophistication of organized transnational crime,

Recognizing the danger posed by organized transnational crime to all countries of the world,

Reaffirming the need for more intensified international cooperation to prevent and control organized transnational crime,

Convinced that effective and concerted action at all levels to prevent and control the activities of organized and transnational criminal groups represents an investment in the future for all societies,

Recognizing the need to intensify and coordinate efforts against organized transnational crime at the national and regional levels in order to ensure concerted and efficient global action,

Convinced that the regular exchange and dissemination of information can assist Governments in establishing adequate criminal justice systems and in devising effective strategies and policies against crime,

Convinced also that technical assistance in this field is indispensable,

Convinced further of the need to develop means of cooperating at the investigative and judicial levels,

Considering that the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch has at its disposal the knowledge and expertise required to assist Member States in their efforts against transnational and organized crime,

Recalling General Assembly resolutions 45/107, 45/121 and 45/123 of 14 December 1990, 46/152 of 18 December 1991 and 47/87 and 47/91 of 16 December 1992,

Recalling also that, in section IV of its resolution 1992/22, of 30 July 1992, the Council recognized the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice as the principal policy-making body of the United Nations in crime prevention and criminal justice,

1. Requests the Secretary-General to organize, without real growth implications for the overall United Nations regular budget for the biennium 1994-1995, a World Ministerial Conference on Organized Transnational Crime, to be held in the third quarter of 1994, which should have the following objectives:

(a) To examine the problems and dangers posed by transnational and organized crime in the various regions of the world;

(b) To consider national legislation and to evaluate its adequacy to deal with the various forms of organized transnational crime and to identify appropriate guidelines for legislative and other measures to be taken at the national level;

(c) To identify the most effective forms of international cooperation for the prevention and control of organized transnational crime at the investigative, prosecutorial and judicial levels;

(d) To consider appropriate modalities and guidelines for the prevention and control of organized transnational crime at the regional and international levels;

(e) To consider whether it would be feasible to elaborate international instruments, including conventions, against organized transnational crime;

2. Accepts with appreciation the offer of the Government of Italy to act as host for the Conference;

3. Invites all Member States to be represented at the Conference at the highest possible level;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its third session on the status of the preparations for the Conference.

43rd plenary meeting 27 July 1993