Legal > Gradual unification of criminal law and co-operation of states in the prevention and suppression of crime

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[Communicated to the Assembly,
the Council and the Members of
the League.]
A/v,X. 2. (43)
Official No.: A. 7. 1933.V.
Geneva, May 30th, 1933.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
GRADUAL UNIFICATION OF CRIMINAL LAW
* AND CO-OPERATION OF STATES
IN THE PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION OF CRIME
Note by the Secretary-General.
By a resolution adopted on September 23rd, 1931, the Assembly decided, inter alia, to
instruct the Secretary-General :
(a) To forward the report on Penal and Penitentiary Questions made to it by its
Fifth Committee,1 with the Minutes of the Committee, to certain international
organisations, and to ask them in what manner they considered that “ the assistance of
the League of Nations might be of value with a view to achieving a gradual unification
of criminal law and the co-operation of States in the prevention and suppression of
crime ” ;
(b) To forward the observations of the organisations so consulted to the Members
of the League and to ask them if they desired that the League of Nations should lend its
assistance for the purposes specified above.
In execution of the decision mentioned at (a), the Secretary-General consulted the
following organisations :
The International Penal Law Association ;
The International Bureau for the Unification of Criminal Law ;
The International Criminal Police Commission ;
The International Penal and Penitentiary Commission ;
The Howard League for Penal Reform ;
The International Law Association ;
The International Penal Law Union.
Representatives of these organisations met in Geneva on May 10th, 1932, and drew up a
joint reply to the Secretary-General in the form of a resolution, which was subsequently
approved by the organisations.
This resolution and the draft for the proposed new Statutes of the Bureau for the
Unification of Criminal Law which accompanied it are reproduced as an Annex to the present
document.
At the Assembly’s session of 1932, the resolution of the organisations was referred to the
Fifth Committee.2 It was agreed that no decision should be taken on the substance of the
resolution, but that the Secretary-General should proceed to the consultation of the
Governments contemplated by the resolution of September 23rd, 1931, sending to them
the report of the Fifth Committee in order that they might have before them the opinions
expressed in regard to the resolution and calling their special attention to the resolution.
The replies which have been received from the Governments to the enquiry which the
Secretary-General has addressed to them in execution of the decisions of the Assembly
(Circular Letter No. 174.1932.IV) are reproduced below. Any further replies received will
be circulated as supplements to the present document.
1 Document A.70.1931.V.
2 Document A.58.1932.IV.
Series of League of Nations Publications
V. LEGAL
1933. V. 3.
S.D.N. 1.245(F.) 1.065 (A.) 6/33 - Imp. Granchamp, Annemasse