Ninth UN Congress focuses on practical solutions: new convention, code of conduct considered.

• Position: 1995 United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders - Includes information on actions of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

Eschewing vague generalities and focusing on specific priorities, the Ninth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (29 April-8 May, Cairo) adopted wide-ranging practical measures oriented to finding workable solutions to global crime problems, particularly in four major areas: preventing urban, juvenile and violent crimes: taking action against transnational and organized crime; promoting international cooperation to fight crime; and identifying the role of criminal law in environmental protection.

The gathering also featured an unprecedented two-part plenary debate on corruption, led by a panel of international experts.

"The time has come to move beyond declarations and statements of principle to action", UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali declared in a message delivered by Conference Secretary-General Giorgio Giacomelli to more than 1,700 Congress participants from 138 countries. "Rising crime is impairing the process of development and the general well-being of humanity."

Among 11 resolutions adopted by the Congress was an omnibus text on the four major areas of concern, as well as calls for consideration of a new international convention against organized transnational crimes, action to quell the proliferation of firearms, promote laws and procedures to deal with violence against women, and prohibit child pornography and abuse.

Addressing specifics

While previous Crime Congresses have been characterized by wide-ranging agendas oriented mainly towards technical aspects of improving the treatment of offenders, the General Assembly, in convening the Ninth Crime Congress, had asked that it be geared towards substantive topics identified by Governments as priorities in the field of crime control.

"Responding to a need for a more practical orientation, this Congress is expected to take a more practical and visible role: identifying new concerns and recommending practical measures to respond to those concerns", Mr. Giacomelli told participants on 29 April.

To reflect this focus, the Congress assumed a new format including the traditional plenary forum for debate, as well as technical workshops on specific issues.

Much of the work of the Congress was done in more informal workshops, where national strategies to combat specific kinds of crime were discussed, and recommendations made to improve international response. Workshops were held on: extradition and international cooperation; computerization of records; the mass media and its role in crime prevention; criminal law and environmental protection; urban policy; and the prevention of violence and violent crime.

The two main committees of the Congress also took a practical approach in their discussions of specific topics, such as reform and modernization of justice systems, prevention of urban and juvenile crime, and issues relating to victims.

In addition to discussing measures to combat corruption, plenary debate included general discussion of...