Strengthening the United Nations crime prevention and criminal
justice programme, in particular its technical cooperation capacity
A/RES/71/209
agenda, and recognizing the responsibility of Me mber States to uphold human
dignity, all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, in particular for those
affected by crime and those who may be in contact with the criminal justice system,
including vulnerable members of society, regardless of their status, who may be
subject to multiple and aggravated forms of discrimination, and to prevent and
counter crime motivated by intolerance or discrimination of any kind,
Taking note with appreciation of Commission on Crime Prevention and
Criminal Justice resolution 25/2 of 27 May 2016 on promoting legal aid, including
through a network of legal aid providers, 8 in which the Commission encouraged
Member States to adopt or strengthen legislative or other measures to ensure that
effective legal aid, including for victims of crime, is provided consistent with their
domestic legislation and in line with the United Nations Principles and Guidelines
on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems, 9 and which also contributes to
the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
Deeply concerned about the negative impact of corruption on development and
on the enjoyment of human rights, and recognizing the universal importance of good
governance, transparency, integrity and accountability, thus c alling for a zerotolerance approach to corruption and more effective measures to prevent and
counter corruption in all its forms, including bribery, as well as measures to prevent
the laundering of proceeds of corruption and other forms of crime,
Welcoming the results of the sixth session of the Conference of the States
Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, held in Saint
Petersburg, Russian Federation, from 2 to 6 November 2015, and of the launch of
the second cycle of the Mechanism for the Review of Implementation of the
Convention,
Bearing in mind that the return of assets is one of the main objectives and a
fundamental principle of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and that
the States parties to the Convention are obligated to afford one another the widest
measure of cooperation and assistance in that regard,
Recognizing that, thanks to their nearly universal adherence and wide scope of
application, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized
Crime 10 and the United Nations Convention against Corruption offer fundame ntal
legal bases for international cooperation to support the investigation and prosecution
of crimes covered by these Conventions, including for extradition, mutual legal
assistance and confiscation and asset recovery, and that they provide effective
mechanisms that should be further implemented and utilized in practice,
Recognizing also the efforts of the Group of 20 in countering corruption at
both the global and the national levels, taking note with appreciation of the anti corruption initiatives outlined in the Group of 20 Hangzhou Summit communiqué, 11
and urging the Group of 20 to continue to engage other States Members of the
United Nations and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in its work in an
inclusive and transparent manner to ensure that Group of 20 initiatives complement
or strengthen the work being undertaken by the United Nations system,
_______________
8
See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2016, Supplement No. 10 (E/2016/30), chap. I,
sect. D.
9
Resolution 67/187, annex.
10
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2225, No. 39574.
11
See A/71/380, annex.
3/17