The General Assembly,
 
      Recalling its resolution 46/152 of 18 December 1991 on the creation of
an effective United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme,
in which it approved the statement of principles and programme of action
annexed to that resolution,
 
      Bearing in mind the goals of the United Nations in the field of crime
prevention and criminal justice, specifically the reduction of criminality,
more efficient and effective law enforcement and administration of justice,
respect for human rights and promotion of the highest standards of fairness,
humanity and professional conduct,
 
      Convinced of the desirability of closer coordination and cooperation
among States in combating crime, including drug-related crimes, such as
terrorist crimes, illicit arms trade and money-laundering, and bearing in mind
the role that could be played by both the United Nations and regional
organizations in this respect,
 
      Recognizing the urgent need to increase technical cooperation activities
in order to assist countries, in particular developing countries and countries
in transition, with their efforts in translating United Nations policy
guidelines into practice,
 
      Recalling its relevant resolutions, in which it requested the
Secretary-General, as a matter of urgency, to provide the United Nations Crime
Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme with sufficient resources for the
full implementation of its mandate, in conformity with the high priority
attached to the Programme,
 
      1.    Takes note with appreciation of the report of the
Secretary-General on the progress made in the implementation of General
Assembly resolutions 50/145 and 50/146 of 21 December 1995;
 
      2.    Reaffirms the importance of the United Nations Crime Prevention
and Criminal Justice Programme and the crucial role it has to play in
promoting effective action to strengthen international cooperation in crime
prevention and criminal justice, in responding to the needs of the
international community in the face of both national and transnational
criminality and in assisting Member States in achieving the goals of
preventing crime within and among States and improving the response to crime;
 
      3.    Also reaffirms the priority of the Programme, in accordance with
the relevant resolutions, and the need for an appropriate share of the
existing United Nations resources for the Programme;
 
      4.    Welcomes the upgrading of the Crime Prevention and Criminal
Justice Branch of the Secretariat to a division, while noting the severe
impact of the budgetary cuts on its capacity to deliver the services required
by Member States;
 
      5.    Reaffirms its resolution 50/214 of 23 December 1995, and requests
the Secretary-General to ensure, in particular, the full implementation of
section III, paragraphs 29 and 30, of that resolution;
 
      6.    Requests the Secretary-General to strengthen further the Programme
by providing it with the resources necessary for the full implementation of
its mandate, including follow-up action to the Naples Political Declaration
and Global Action Plan against Organized Transnational Crime and to the Ninth
United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of
Offenders;
 
      7.    Reaffirms the high priority attached to technical cooperation and
advisory services in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, and
stresses the need to continue to improve the operational activities of the
Programme, in particular in developing countries and countries in transition,
in order to meet the needs of Member States, at their request, for support in
crime prevention and criminal justice;
 
      8.    Calls upon States and United Nations funding agencies to make
significant financial contributions for operational activities of the
Programme, and encourages all States to make voluntary contributions for that
purpose to the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Fund, also
taking into account the activities required for the implementation of the
Naples Political Declaration and Global Action Plan against Organized
Transnational Crime;
 
      9.    Calls upon the United Nations Development Programme, the World
Bank and other international, regional and national funding agencies to
support technical operational activities in this field and to include such
activities in their programmes, utilizing the expertise of the United Nations
Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme in such activities and
cooperating closely on relevant technical assistance projects and advisory
missions;
 
      10.   Takes note with appreciation of the contributions of the Programme
to United Nations peacekeeping and special missions, as well as its
contributions to the follow-up to those missions, inter alia, through advisory
services, and encourages the Secretary-General, as a way of strengthening the
rule of law, to recommend the inclusion of the re-establishment and reform of
criminal justice systems in peacekeeping operations;
 
      11.   Requests the Secretary-General to continue to strengthen
cooperation between the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division and the
United Nations International Drug Control Programme, in particular in the area
of money-laundering;
 
      12.   Also requests the Secretary-General to take all necessary measures
to assist the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, as the
principal policy-making body in this field, in performing its activities,
including cooperation and coordination with other relevant bodies, such as the
Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the Commission on Human Rights and the
Commission on the Status of Women;
 
      13.   Calls upon the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
to give effect to its relevant resolutions on strategic management of the
Programme, in particular those concerning reporting requirements, submission
of proposals and resource mobilization;
 
      14.   Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the
implementation of the present resolution to the General Assembly at its
fifty-second session.