TEXT ON DRAFT UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION ON CRIME AND SECURITY DEBATED IN COMMISSION ON CRIME PREVENTION
Press Release
SOC/CP/190
TEXT ON DRAFT UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION ON CRIME AND SECURITY DEBATED IN COMMISSION ON CRIME PREVENTION
19960531 United States Proposal Would Commit States to Act against Serious Offences(Reproduced as received from UN Information Service.)
VIENNA, 30 May -- A call for suggestions for the theme, agenda items, workshops and venue of the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders, scheduled to take place in the year 2000 at a venue to be determined, was issued this afternoon by the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
The Commission took that action by approving a draft resolution, sponsored by Austria and Canada, that invites States to submit their views and asks the Secretary-General to seek the views of concerned organizations.
The balance of the meeting was devoted to the discussion of a revised draft on a United Nations declaration on "crime and public security", by which States would pledge a range of crime-control measures to protect persons within their jurisdictions; secure their borders against smuggling and money laundering; and strengthen the rule of law.
A United States initiative, the draft is co-sponsored by Chile, Kuwait, Spain and Turkey. If adopted by the General Assembly, it would commit States to combat serious transnational crimes, including terrorist crimes, money laundering and trafficking in drugs and weapons; and to refrain from providing "safe havens" for those who engage in such activities.
States would also agree to enact laws and regulations to provide for confiscation and seizure of criminal proceeds, and to combat and prohibit bribery and corruption of public officials. They would also commit themselves to strengthen international cooperation and technical assistance to combat a broad range of offences, including smuggling of persons, gunrunning, passport forgery and counterfeiting. The 11-article text would be recommended to the Economic and Social Council for transmission to the Assembly.
With little time left in the session to accommodate objections raised, the representative of the United States indicated that the proposed declaration was sufficiently important to his delegation that it would
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withdraw two other draft resolutions -- on the smuggling of illegal migrants and on model agreements on extradition -- to allow more time for its consideration.
Among the sticking points were a reference to "a historic opportunity for opening markets and promoting democracy", to which China objected, and a reference to States' responsibility to protect "the physical and economic well-being of their people", which Colombia wished to amend. Noting that the session was scheduled to end tomorrow, with some 15 other drafts yet to be considered, the Chairman, Tadanori Inomata (Japan), said the Commission lacked the "political will" to approve a consensus text.
After further debate on the issues raised, the Commission agreed to hold further informal consultations on the draft declaration this evening.
At its next meeting, the Commission is expected to act on a range of proposals for activities to be carried out by the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme.
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