NCJ Number
67339
Date Published
1976
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE TASKS OF THE UNITED NATIONS (UN) COMMISSION ON CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE ARE EXPLAINED, AND THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FIFTH CONGRESS OF THE COMMISSION ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE TASK OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECTION ON CRIME PREVENTION AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS TO ASSIST ALL GOVERNMENTS IN CREATING AND MAINTAINING FAIR AND EFFICIENT CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS WITH THE AIM OF REDUCING THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC COST OF CRIME. THE UN FULFILLS THIS TASK BY (1) MONITORING WORLDWIDE CRIME TRENDS AND THE CRIME CONTROL METHODS OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, (2) MAKING EXPERIENCES OF SOME COUNTRIES AVAILABLE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD, AND (3) BY DRAWING UP A SET OF MINIMAL RULES (E.G., IN THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS) THAT ALL COUNTRIES MUST FOLLOW. THE FIFTH CONGRESS OF THE UNITED NATIONS ON CRIME PREVENTION AND OFFENDER TREATMENT, WHICH TOOK PLACE IN GENEVA IN 1975, FOCUSED ON INTERNATIONAL CHANGES IN THE EXTENT AND TYPE OF CRIMINALITY, FORMS OF SOCIAL CONTROL OF CRIME, NEW TASKS OF THE POLICE AND OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES TO MEET FUTURE CHALLENGES, INMATE TREATMENT, AND THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC COST OF CRIME. ALL REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRED THAT MODERN POLICE FACE A DILEMMA: CITIZENS EXPECT MAXIMUM POLICE PROTECTION WHILE, AT THE SAME TIME, DEMANDING A MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF FREEDOM AND CIVIL RIGHTS. THE CONGRESS AGREED ON A SET OF 10 PRINCIPLES AIMED AT THE ELIMINATION OF ANY KIND OF TORTURE AND INHUMANE TREATMENT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. CRITICS MAY ARGUE THAT SUCH RULES ARE VALUELESS SINCE THE UNITED NATIONS POSSESS NO MEANS OF ENFORCING THEM. HOWEVER, THE FACT REMAINS THAT MANY COUNTRIES VIOLATE HUMAN RIGHTS NOT FROM MALICE BUT FROM IGNORANCE AND THAT SOME DICTATORS WHO WILLFULLY VIOLATE HUMAN RIGHTS ARE RESPONSIVE TO THE WORLDWIDE EXPOSURE OF THEIR IMMORAL METHODS. -- IN GERMAN. (SAJ)