Crime prevention, criminal justice and the Sustainable Development Goals
Democracy, Monarchy and Dictatorship!
Through years of revolting strikes and heart-melting sacrifices, the styles of governance have changed from brutal to fine for the majority. But despite these struggles, one thing has remained unchanged, the Prisons.
Had it been only the cells that were unchanged, it wouldn’t have been a great issue owing to the expert architecture of ancient times but in fact, it is the torture scenes that haven’t changed. Justice doesn’t seem to be equal to all.
Strengthening the rule of law relies on the prevention of crime and the promotion of fair, humane and accountable criminal justice systems. Here comes the need to define ‘CRIME’. In the ordinary language, crime is any deed that causes harm to an individual or the society and/or goes against the laws of the country. And of course, it is punishable under the law. As easy as one can guess, a criminal is an individual involved with a crime, although it is not often seen used for petty theft cases or creating a public nuisance.
According to common notion, a criminal is someone who has committed a grave crime.
Crime prevention comprises strategies and measures that seek to reduce the risk of crimes occurring, and their potential harmful effects on individuals and society, including fear of crime, by intervening to influence their multiple causes.
Wonder why the fear of crime is such a huge issue? It generates negative personal and neighbourhood consequences. People would not move into a country due to fear of crime bringing down tourism. Thus, bit by bit it can even tear down the economy of the country.
Now let us take a look at the second part. The criminal justice system encompasses the work of the police, prosecution and judiciary regarding criminal matters, as well as the access to legal aid, prison reform and alternatives to imprisonment and restorative justice. It also includes cross-cutting issues, such as gender, human rights and the considerations for victims and children within the criminal justice system.
How crime prevention and criminal justice reform is linked to the SDGs
Reducing conflict, crime, violence and discrimination, ensuring inclusion, stable conditions and good governance are key elements of people’s well-being and essential for securing sustainable development. It draws together the strands of peace, the rule of law, human rights, development and equality into a comprehensive and forward-looking framework.
Hence, this area is directly linked to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which unequivocally establishes the link between security, rule of law, justice, and sustainable development. All these must form the core part of any global development agenda. Security and justice are the means to achieving improvements in poverty reduction, reversing inequality and enhancing effective governance.
Specifically, criminal justice and the rule of law are at the core of SDG 16, though other Goals also address these issues, such as SDG 5 and its specific target on violence against women.
Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
The Economic and Social Council(ECOSOC) of the UN which sets up commissions in economic and social fields and for the promotion of human rights, and such other commissions as may be required for the performance of its functions.
Thus, upon the request of the General Assembly in its resolution 46/152, the Economic and Social Council established the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice as one of its functional commissions, which also acts as a subsidiary body. It is the principal policymaking body within the United Nations system on crime prevention and criminal justice issues.
Functions
The Commission meets once every year in Vienna. In accordance with the “Statement of principles and programme of action of the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme”, contained in the annexe to General Assembly resolution 46/152, the Commission has the following functions:
· To provide policy guidance to the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice.
· To develop, monitor and review the implementation of the crime prevention and criminal justice programme.
· To facilitate and help to coordinate the activities of the institutes for the prevention of crime and treatment of offenders, affiliated to the United Nations.
· To mobilize the support of Member States for the programme.
· To prepare for United Nations congresses on crime prevention and criminal justice.
· To consider suggestions regarding possible subjects for the programme of work.
In addition to strategic management, budgetary and administrative questions, during its regular session, the Commission considers a number of standing items, including:
· The integration and coordination of efforts by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and by the Member States in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, as well as United Nations standards and norms;
· Global crime trends and emerging issues and responses in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice;
· Matters relating to previous United Nations congresses and upcoming ones.
In its resolution 46/152, the General Assembly decided that the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice programme would provide States with practical assistance, such as data collection, information- and experience-sharing and training, to prevent crime within and among States and to improve responses to it.
Unique features
The Vienna consensus promotes extensive negotiations on each resolution and encourages commitment from all parties involved to achieve the support of all States and to adopt resolutions on the basis of consensus.
A voting procedure is, in principle, possible, as provided for in rule 57 of the rules of procedure of the functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council. It is, however, not regularly used, in the light of the Vienna consensus and the spirit of cooperation among the Member States. These features render the Vienna commission distinct.
Moving on to our conclusion, let us consider a wider perspective involving the moral aspects of crime and criminal justice. I know, it sounds quite ironic. Still, it does exist. A crime may or may not be committed upon prior discretion which is called an organised crime in the former case. In the latter, the consequences that led to the crime may have been totally coincidental. In such a case, we must do the needful to ensure that the individual does not face severe jurisdiction and turn uncontrollably criminal in mind. This is where the role of criminal justice comes into the limelight. It ensures that the convicted individuals irrespective of the crime they have committed, are entitled to the basic human rights or sometimes even more. Well, my question for thought in this direction is whether ‘all’ should be given equal justice. Shouldn’t the crimes and their background be considered while venting out punishments? Ponder.
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