International co-operation in combating organized crime : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

Recalling the responsibility assumed by the United Nations in the field of crime pevention and criminal justice,

Concerned that organized crime has increased in many parts of the world and has become more transnational in character, leading, in particular, to the spread of such negative phenomena as violence, terrorism, corruption and illegal trade in narcotic drugs and, in general, undermining the development process, impairing the quality of life and threatening human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Taking into account the decisions of the Seventh United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders relating to organized crime,as well as the views expressed on the matter by members of the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control,

Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 1989/70 of 24 May 1989,

Convinced of the need to strengthen international co-operation in combating organized crime,

Convinced also that the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders will, inter alia, explore the possibilities and ways of strengthening further international co-operation in combating organized crime,

Recognizing the pivotal role of the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control in providing guidance and the co-ordinating role to be played by the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat, especially by the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch, in strengthening international co-operation in crime prevention and criminal justice,

1.         Invites the Economic and Social Council to request the Committee on Crime Prevention and Control, at its eleventh session, to give special attention in its work to promoting international co-operation in combating organized crime;

2.         Calls upon Governments, international organizations and interested non-governmental organizations to co-operate to that end with the Committee and to submit to the Committee, through the Secretary-General, their proposals on strengthening international co-operation in combating organized crime;

3.         Requests the Committee to consider ways of strengthening international co-operation in combating organized crime, taking due account of the opinions of Governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations, as well as opinions expressed at and decisions taken by the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, and to submit its views, through the Economic and Social Council, to the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session.