Global action on organized crime and firearm regulation
United Nations Background Release UNIS/CP/319
20 May 1996
Commission on crime prevention and criminal justice
Fifth Session
Vienna, 21-31 May 1996
Edited version
To Consider Global Action on Organized Crime, Money Laundering, Violence against Women, Extradition, Terrorist Acts, Firearm Regulation, Victims' Concerns.
Issues related to recent trends in transnational criminality - including trafficking in minors, illegal arms trafficking, smuggling of illegal migrants, corruption of public officials, computer tampering and massive international trade in stolen vehicles - will be high on the agenda of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, which begins a two-week session here tomorrow.
Recommendations for concerted action on national and transnational crime, organized crime, terrorist activities, money laundering, criminal environmental damage and the control of firearms, as well as for preventative measures directed at rising criminality and violence in cities, have been submitted to the Commission.
The Commission will seek ways of gaining wider application of existing United Nations standards and norms in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice as well as the question of strengthening cooperation with other United Nations bodies and relevent organisations working with the United Nations in the field of crime control.
Firearms Regulation
With the passing of the cold-war era and the shift from inter-State military conflicts to insecurity resulting form violent crime, the United Nations has turned its attention to a class of armament that is killing more people than major weapons - namely small, civilian-owned firearms. Such arms are increasingly associated with accidents, suicides and crime, and form a major source of illicit profits for transnational criminal networks.
And, while trade in major weapons is on the decline, small arms are spreading throughout society with little documentation, since they are frequently bought from private individuals, smuggled across borders or stolen from police and defence forces. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, in his report to the General Assembly last fall, spoke of a world "awash" with small arms both for criminal activity and because of fear of violent crime.
A world-wide survey of firearms ownership and related issues was launched last December by the Division, which convened an international team of experts in firearms and crime control for that purpose. The study aims at providing clear and practical information on arms ownership by civilians, the relationship between firearms and crime and the status of regulatory measures in force in selected countries. The data eventually compiled could be used by the Commission in the development of related strategies. A report is before the Commision on this matter (document E/CN.15/1996/14), which includes guidelines for national consultants involved in preparing country profiles on the issue in question.
Full version held SSAA National
Home > Research archive > 1996 > Global action on organized crime and firearm regulation