DRAFT CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS RECOMMENDED BY CRIME PREVENTION COMMISSION
Press Release
SOC/CP/191
DRAFT CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS RECOMMENDED BY CRIME PREVENTION COMMISSION
19960604 Measures on Environmental Crime, Firearms Regulation, Violence against Women, Victims' Rights, Juvenile Justice also Approved(Reproduced as received from UN Information Service.)
VIENNA, 31 May -- A draft international code of conduct for public officials, conceived as a tool to guide States' efforts to combat the threat that corruption poses to the stability and security of many societies, was approved this morning in the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
The text is being recommended to the Economic and Social Council for transmission to the General Assembly, whose adoption would give it effect. The resolution containing the draft code was approved by the Commission without a vote, as were seven others, including a call for continued collection of information on countries' regulations concerning firearms, with a view to preparing a global data bank. That text, stemming from a Japanese initiative, attracted 18 sponsors.
By another resolution, the Council would instruct the Secretary-General to continue researching ways to apply criminal law to environmental protection, including the possible eventual establishment of an international environmental court. The text, a Costa Rican proposal, was also sponsored by Côte d'Ivoire, Greece, Guatemala and Lebanon.
Also approved were resolutions calling for the setting up of an advisory steering group on computerization of criminal justice operations, and for a mechanism to be established to mobilize resources for technical assistance in all aspects of crime prevention and criminal justice. Practical approaches to the elimination of violence against women, preparation of a draft manual on victims' rights, and development of an international programme of action for juvenile justice, were the subject of other recommendations approved this morning.
Environmental Protection
The draft resolution on environmental protection recommends that the Economic and Social Council ask the Secretary-General to poll Member States on the feasibility of establishing an international court on the environment. The Council would also ask him to continue gathering information on national and regional initiatives in environmental criminal law, and to develop a standard-setting manual for practitioners. States would be called on to make contributions to support technical cooperation activities in that area.
According to the strategic management plan accompanying the text, the primary activities envisaged are: the circulation of a note verbale to seek States' views, and the organization of an expert meeting on environmental enforcement, to be hosted by Costa Rica in November.
Firearms
By the draft resolution on firearms, the Council would approve a work plan entailing the preparation this year of 50 country reports to be submitted by national consultants with expertise in firearms regulation, and the subsequent development of a global electronic data bank on national regulatory measures.
Following a set format, the reports would cover each country's situation with regard to: regulations on possession and use of firearms by civilians; the legal manufacture and sale of firearms; evidence of illegal small arms trafficking and smuggling; and the incidence of gun-related crimes, accidents and suicides. Their contents, as well as the responses to a more broadly circulated questionnaire, would be analysed and presented to an expert meeting in December, with a view to making recommendations for further action by States. Envisaged for next year are the development of the data bank, and the holding of regional workshops in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and Europe.
According to a statement of programme budget implications, those activities would require allocations totalling $367,500, including $113,500 for consultants to develop the computerized database and prepare training materials for the workshops, and $231,000 for travel of workshop participants. Three work-months of data processing ($12,000) could be absorbed from existing resources; therefore, additional resources of $355,000 would have to be found.
Justice for Victims
Also approved was a call for two expert group meetings to prepare a draft manual on the application of the General Assembly's 1985 Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power.
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By the text, sponsored by Austria, Canada, Croatia, Finland, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Portugal and Uganda, the meetings would also explore the feasibility of a database on promising practices and legislation in the area of victimology and victims' rights. The first meeting, to be held in Washington D.C., in August, would be sponsored by the Office for Victims of Crime of the United States Department of Justice. The Netherlands has offered to host a subsequent meeting.
Juvenile Justice
By the text on juvenile justice, sponsored by 24 nations, the Council would call on governments to include the administration of justice in their national development, to allocate adequate resources for juvenile justice, and to avail themselves of United Nations technical assistance in that field. The High Commissioner for Human Rights would be asked to pay special attention to the subject, and to work closely with other relevant elements of the United Nations system in providing technical assistance to requesting States. An expert group would meet to elaborate a programme of action for promoting the effective use and application of international standards and norms in juvenile justice. The meeting, to be held in Vienna before the Commission's next session, would be funded by Austria.
Corruption
A 30-Power draft recommends that the Assembly adopt an international code of conduct for public officials, while asking the Secretary-General to elaborate a plan of action against corruption and to provide increased advisory services and technical assistance to requesting States in that area.
The draft code, annexed to the text, covers such issues as conflicts of interest, disclosure of assets and the non-acceptance of gifts of favours that might influence their judgement or the performance of their duties.
Technical Cooperation
In the resolution on technical cooperation and strengthening the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme, the Commission calls for greater cooperation between the Division and the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP), including the undertaking of joint initiatives, and for the Crime Commission and the Commission on Narcotic Drugs to consider establishing a joint unit for technical assistance on the prevention of money laundering and the control of the proceeds of crime.
Sponsored by 17 countries, the resolution encouraged the United Nations system and relevant organizations to cooperate with the programme and calls on Member States to strengthen technical assistance and cooperation at the
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regional level. It calls upon Member States to provide general funding and earmarked contributions and to consider funding technical assistance proposals. The establishment of a mechanism for resource mobilization should also be explored.
Violence against Women
The Commission approved a 35-Power text by which the Council would urge States to ensure that violence against women, whether in public or private, is recognized as a criminal matter open to public scrutiny and intervention. They would be urged to take steps -- including social development, environmental design and educational prevention programmes -- to promote women's safety in the home and in society. In addition, States would be asked to review their laws to ensure women's fair and equal treatment by their criminal justice systems.
The main activity of the Division under that draft would be to seek the views of Member States on a draft plan of "practical crime control measures and strategies for the elimination of violence against women".
Computerization
The Commission would also have the Council decide to set up an advisory steering group to: review the experience of States with computerization of criminal justice operations and information systems; oversee the technical cooperation programme; assist States in identifying funding sources for computerization projects; and assist in the design, development and implementation of such projects. The resolution containing that action had 13 sponsors.
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