World conferences on organized crime, money laundering to be hosted by Italy.

The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, at its second session (Vienna, 13-23 April), accepted an offer by Italy to host a world conference on organized crime in the second half of 1994.

It also welcomed the convening of an international conference on money laundering, also to be hosted by Italy in 1994, and decided that the Ninth UN Congress on the Prevention of crime and the Treatment of Offenders should be held in early 1995.

The problem of organized crime, featured prominently in debate, was addressed by Giorgio Giacomelli, Director-General of the UN Office at Vienna. He paid tribute to judge Giovanni Falcone, who headed the Italian delegation to the Commission's first session in 1992. The Judge was murdered shortly thereafter because of his anti-Mafia stance. Mr. Giacomelli hoped Judge Falcone would continue to inspire all who were involved in the fight against organized crime.

The Commission, in accepting Italy's offer, stated that the conference on organized crime should identify the most effective forms of international cooperation to prevent and control organized transnational crime and examine the feasibility of elaborating a UN convention in that regard.

Ninth Crime Congress

The Commission recommended that the Ninth Crime Congress discuss four themes:

* international cooperation and practical technical assistance for strengthening the rule of law;

* action against national and transnational economic and organized crime, and the role of criminal law in environmental protection;

* improvement of management of police and criminal justice systems;

* and strategies for preventing urban crime, violent criminality, juvenile crime and victimization.

Egypt, Iran and Tunisia have offered to host the meeting. A decision on the venue will be made by the Economic and Social Council.

Crime Congresses are held every five years. The previous eight had produced important instruments, guidelines and standards on various crime prevention and criminal justice issues.

The future direction of UN anticrime activities was debated and further defined at the session by the Commission.

Mr. Giacomelli said a viable blueprint" of a work programme already existed and the Commission should move on to refine and elaborate the emerging ideas and integrate them into a cohesive network of activities.

He said that that was accomplished and the Commission had provided a good direction for future work. He had been impressed by the wide range of priority themes chosen by the Commission, particularly those relating to transnational and economic crimes, including money laundering.

Other priority themes that the Commission reaffirmed were: the role of criminal law in environmental protection; crime prevention in urban areas and of juvenile and violent crime; and efficiency, fairness and improvement in the management and administration of criminal justice systems.

Women, environment

A draft on violence against women urged Governments to offer full assistance to women who were victims of violence, and take measures to combat violence within the community, such as rape, sexual abuse and traditional practices harmful to women.

The Secretary-General was requested to consider the possibility of including environmental crime as an issue for technical cooperation and to disseminate guidelines for cooperation and technical assistance in the field of urban crime prevention. The Commission encouraged Governments and organizations to provide financial and technical support to the African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders.

In an omnibus text on crime control matters, the Commission called for setting up various crime control projects in developing countries and countries in transition. The Secretary-General was requested to promote the implementation of UN standards and norms in the criminal justice field. The 40-member Commission was established in 1992 to replace the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control in providing policy guidance on crime prevention and criminal justice.