Fighting terrorism and corruption among resolutions adopted at UN crime commission

The intensification of the battle against terrorism, promoting the rule of law in states emerging from conflict and rapid implementation of a new international treaty against corruption were among key resolutions adopted at this year’s session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ).

Over 600 delegates reviewed the activities of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) at the session which ended yesterday in Vienna, also focusing on transnational organized crime and standard norms in crime prevention and criminal justice.

The session’s main thematic discussion was on the rule of law and development, stressing the links between the two. The resolution on the issue urged UNODC to pay special attention to countries emerging from conflict, particularly in Africa, to develop assessment tools for peacekeeping and reconstruction. It called on Member States to provide assistance and on financial and development institutions to fund projects in the justice sector.

The Commission recognized terrorism as one of the most serious threats to freedom, democracy and human rights, and as a main source of destabilization for countries and societies. The draft resolution, to be considered by the 59th session of the UN General Assembly opening in September, condemns “the heinous acts of terrorism” in many parts of the world, including deliberate attacks against humanitarian personnel and UN and associated personnel.

It calls for an intensification of the efforts against terrorism, including training of judicial and prosecutorial personnel, and urges Member States “to strengthen, to the greatest extent possible” international cooperation to combat the scourge.

The Commission also called countries to ratify the UN Convention against Corruption, and give UNODC the necessary resources to promote its entry into force, and to provide technical assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition to allow them to ratify and implement the treaty.

So far 108 countries have signed and two have ratified the Convention, which seeks to combat corruption worldwide by, among other things, returning assets obtained through bribery and embezzlement to the country of origin. It will enter into force when ratified by 30 countries.

Other resolutions called for combating the spread of HIV/AIDS in prisons, reducing urban crime, illicit trafficking in human organs, kidnapping and money laundering, and protecting child victims and witnesses of crime.