United Nations A/RES/56/119 General Assembly Distr.: General 23 January 2002 Fifty-sixth session Agenda item 110 Resolution adopted by the General Assembly [on the report of the Third Committee (A/56/574)] 56/119. Role, function, periodicity and duration of the United Nations congresses on the prevention of crime and the treatment of offenders The General Assembly, Recalling that, in its resolution 53/110 of 9 December 1998, it requested the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to review the role, function, periodicity and duration of the United Nations congresses on the prevention of crime and the treatment of offenders, including the issue of regional preparatory meetings for the congresses, Taking note with appreciation of the results of the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, 1 Bearing in mind that the congresses are a consultative body of the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, in accordance with paragraph 29 of the statement of principles and programme of action of the Programme, annexed to General Assembly resolution 46/152 of 18 December 1991, Recognizing the significant contributions of the congresses to the promotion and strengthening of international cooperation in crime prevention and criminal justice, Recognizing also that the congresses have been a forum for promoting the exchange of experiences in research, law and policy development and the identification of emerging trends and issues in crime prevention and criminal justice among States, intergovernmental organizations and individual experts representing various professions and disciplines, Recognizing further the role played by the congresses in preparing suggestions, for consideration by the Commission, on possible subjects for its programme of work, Aware of the need to review the functioning and method of work of the congresses in order to improve their effectiveness, _______________ 1 See Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Vienna, 10–17 April 2000: report prepared by the Secretariat (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.IV.8). 01 48161