Eighth Crime Congress looks to 21st century; international criminal court, new convention proposed.

Eighth Crime Congress looks to 21st century

The Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders examined international co-operation in crime prevention and criminal justice for the twenty-first century during a two-week session held in Havana, Cuba, from 27 August to 7 September.

Adoption of draft model treaties on extradition, mutual assistance in criminal matters, transfer of proceedings, supervision of offenders and prevention of crimes against cultural property were among the many actions taken by the Congress, which met under the shadow of expected further rapid crime growth during the 1990s and beyond.

Eighty-one speakers addressed the Congress during a five-day general debate on crime prevention and criminal justice in the context of development--one of five major agenda items--held in plenary session.

The four other substantive items--imprisonment, juvenile delinquency, organized crime and terrorism, and UN norms and guidelines--were discussed in two main committees.

Some 1,400 participants from 127 countries, five intergovernmental and 40 non-governmental organizations attended the Congress. Since 1955, crime congresses have been held by the UN every five years.

Margaret J. Anstee, Secretary-General of the Congress and Director-General of the UN Office at Vienna (UNOV)--the seat of the UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch--at the final meeting said that the Congress had adopted more resolutions, recommendations, principles and model treaties--some 40 actions--than all prior Congresses put together.

Extensive preparations for the Congress, including a series of interregional and regional meetings, were carried out by the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch of UNOV whose Chief, Eduardo Vetere, served as Executive Secretary of the Congress.

Juan Escalona Reguera, President of Cuba's National Assembly, was elected President of the Eighth Congress.

UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, in a message to the Congress on 27 August, said that crime had been transformed into a "global menace" by technological advances and the internationalization of many activities.

Fidel Castro Ruz, President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of Cuba, in an opening address, said crime and development were linked and that success in the fight against crime required international co-operation and commitment to the fight against poverty and marginalization.

Viable anti-crime action

In an effort to enhance the effectiveness of UN action in the crime field, the Congress asked the General Assembly to convene a ministerial meeting to decide on a viable future crime prevention and criminal justice programme and to consider the need for a convention to develop that programme. The Assembly was urged to establish an intergovernmental working group to elaborate proposals for the programme and suggest ways to implement it.

The Congress called on Member States to promote criminal sanctions against the dumping of hazardous wastes and consider enacting criminal legislation to protect persons threatened by the deterioration of the environment.

Member States were asked to develop policies to counter urban crime and develop economic policies to reduce crime by combating corruption, drug trafficking and other forms of exploitation.

Twenty-four guidelines for national action and international cooperation on the prevention and control of organized crime were set out by the Congress.

States were urged to intensify measures against organized crime linked with illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Ten principles to combat drug addiction at the national level were detailed by the Congress.

The Committee was also asked to consider a universal and/or regional register of judicial sentences imposed for trafficking in drugs, arms and persons; terrorist activities; and for offences against ecosystems and cultural property.

States were asked to consider national and international action against terrorism. A study on developing a new international convention to protect vulnerable targets, such as hydroelectric or nuclear facilities was also asked.

Protecting the human rights of victims of crime and abuse of power was urged by the Congress, as was an international fund to compensate and assist victims of international crimes.

The Congress also adopted resolutions on pre-trial detention, contracting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in prison, sentencing policies and assessing the release of life-sentence prisoners.

The increase of non-custodial sanctions, as well as care for sick and drug-dependent prisoners, were urged.

The General Assembly would call upon Member States to apply the UN Standard Minimum Rules for Non-Custodial Measures--known as the "Tokyo Rules"--designed to help States develop alternative sentences.

Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by law enforcement officials and on the roles of lawyers and prosecutors were also adopted.

Member States were encouraged to conclude agreements for transferring enforcement of penal sanctions and formulate a model agreement for submission to the Ninth Crime Congress to be held in 1995. Regular contact with the International Committee of the Red Cross with regard to detention was urged.

The General Assembly was asked to affirm a statement on basic principles for the treatment of prisoners, proclaim an international year for the protection of victim and rehabilitation of offenders, and measures to promote the computerization of criminal justice administration.

A three-year moratorium on use of the death penalty was rejected, when a draft proposing it did not obtain the necessary two-thirds vote.

The Congress encouraged discussion of domestic violence in connection with the International Year of the Family to be observed in 1994. It was to be a priority item at the Ninth Congress. Programmes dealing with the instrumental use of children in criminal activities were also requested.

The Congress wanted Member States to apply the "Riyadh Guidelines" for the prevention of juvenile deliquency, which emphasize early preventive and protective intervention for young persons, with special attention given to children at social risk. Nations would be urged to adapt their national legislation, policies and practices to UN Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty.