UNGA: GUIDANCE FOR RESOLUTION ON UN AFRICAN

UNCLAS STATE 109393 SENSITIVE C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (SENSITIVE CAPTION ADDED) SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AF AORC PREL SNAR UNCRIME UNGA SUBJECT: UNGA: GUIDANCE FOR RESOLUTION ON UN AFRICAN INSTITUTE FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRIME AND THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS (UNAFRI) FOR 64TH UNGA ¶1. (U) This is an action request, see paragraph 3. ¶2. (U) SUMMARY: The UN General Assembly will consider its annual resolution on the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFRI) the week of October 26 in New York. The UNAFRI resolution is expected to be adopted by consensus. 3.(SBU) ACTION REQUEST: USUN is authorized to join consensus on the adoption of the UNGA resolution, entitled "United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders." The full text of the resolution is included in paragraph 4 below. ¶4. (U) BEGIN TEXT OF THE RESOLUTION: United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 63/196 of 18 December 2008 and all other relevant resolutions, Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,* On behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the African Group. A/64/121 Bearing in mind that weaknesses in crime prevention lead to subsequent difficulties at the level of crime control mechanisms, and also bearing in mind the urgent need to establish effective crime prevention strategies for Africa, as well as the importance of law enforcement agencies and the judiciary at the regional and subregional levels, Aware of the devastating impact of new and more dynamic crime trends on the national economies of African States and of the fact that crime is a major obstacle to harmonious and sustainable development in Africa, Noting with concern that the existing criminal justice system in most African countries does not have sufficiently skilled personnel and infrastructure and is therefore ill equipped to manage the emergence of new crime trends, and acknowledging that weak laws and existing justice systems undermine efforts to facilitate the prosecution of these new crime trends, Bearing in mind the Revised African Union Plan of Action, 2007-2012, aimed at encouraging Member States to participate in and own the regional initiatives for effective crime prevention and good governance and strengthened justice administration, Emphasizing the need to create necessary coalitions with all partners in the process of achieving effective crime prevention policies, Recognizing that the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders is a focal point for all professional efforts aiming at promoting the active cooperation and collaboration of Governments, academics, institutions and scientific and professional organizations and experts in crime prevention and criminal justice, Noting that the financial situation of the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders has greatly affected its capacity to deliver its services to African Member States in an effective and comprehensive manner, ¶1. Commends the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders for its efforts to promote and coordinate regional technical cooperation activities related to crime prevention and criminal justice systems in Africa; ¶2. Also commends the initiative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in strengthening its working relationship with the Institute by supporting and involving the Institute in the implementation of a number of activities, including those contained in the Revised African Union Plan of Action, 2007-2012, on strengthening the rule of law and criminal justice systems in Africa; ¶3. Reiterates the need to strengthen further the capacity of the Institute to support national mechanisms for crime prevention and criminal justice in African countries; ¶4. Notes the efforts of the Institute to establish contacts with organizations in those countries which are promoting crime prevention programmes and its maintenance of close links with regional and subregional political entities, such as the African Union Commission, the East African Community, the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the Southern African Development Community; ¶5. Urges the States members of the Institute to continue to make every possible effort to meet their obligations to the Institute; ¶6. Welcomes the decision of the Governing Board of the Institute, at its fourth extraordinary session, held in Nairobi on 2 March 2009, to convene a conference of African ministers in November 2009 to discuss measures for improving the flow of resources to the Institute; ¶7. Also welcomes the introduction of a cost-sharing initiative by the Institute in its execution of various programmes with Member States, partners and United Nations entities; ¶8. Urges all Member States and non-governmental organizations and the international community to continue adopting concrete practical measures to support the Institute in the development of the requisite capacity and to implement its programmes and activities aimed at strengthening crime prevention and criminal justice systems in Africa; ¶9. Urges all States that have not already done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto,2 as well as the United Nations Convention against Corruption;3 ¶10. Requests the Secretary-General to intensify efforts to mobilize all relevant entities of the United Nations system to provide the necessary financial and technical support to the Institute to enable it to fulfill its mandate; ¶11. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to mobilize the financial resources necessary to maintain the Institute with the core professional staff required to enable it to function effectively in the fulfillment of its mandated obligations; ¶12. Encourages the Institute to consider focusing on specific and general vulnerabilities of each programme country and to maximize the use of available initiatives to address crime problems with existing funds, as well as available capacity, by creating useful coalitions with regional and local institutions; ¶13. Calls upon the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to continue to work closely with the Institute; ¶14. Requests the Secretary-General to enhance the promotion of regional cooperation, coordination and collaboration in the fight against crime, especially in its transnational dimension, which cannot be dealt with adequately by national action alone; ¶15. Also requests the Secretary-General to continue making concrete proposals, including for the provision of additional core professional staff, to strengthen the programmes and activities of the Institute and to report to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session on the implementation of the present resolution. 2 United Nations, Treaty Series, vols. 2225, 2237, 2241 and 2326, No. 39574. 3 Ibid., vol. 2349, No. 42146. END TEXT CLINTON