A/CONF. 187/1 I. Introduction response on the part of justice systems to criminal violence perpetrated against women, pursuant to the Model 1. The Fourth World Conference on Women. held in Strategies and in line with other international instruments Beijing from 4 to 15 September 1995, called upon Through the Global Programme against Trafficking in Governments, the international community and civil Human Beings, the Global Studies on Transnational society to take strategic action in a number of critical areas organized Crime and planned and ongoing operational ofconcern, one of which was violence against women. The activities, the Centre intends to foster a global approach term "violence against women" means any act of and international cooperation aimed at eliminating gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result violence against women in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to 5. The subject of women and criminal justice is relevant women,including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary to many issues to be dealt with at the Tenth United Nations deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of private life 2 Offenders. The workshop on women in the criminal justice 2. Within the framework of criminal justice administra- system, to be organized within the framework of the Tenth tion, the continued marginal status and position of women Congress, will provide a forum in which gender-related in society and vis-a-vis legal systems have also resulted in issues concerning criminal justice administration may be their special needs also being regarded as marginal. Crimi- discussed nal justice systems are male-oriented and male-dominated status of women is such that women are in a problematic Il. Module 1: Women as offenders and situation as offenders. detainees. victims and even risoner practitioners. One example of this problematic situation is transnational organized crime, with its unique processes, 6. Little is known about the participation of women in mechanisms and operations. It demonstrates the nature, perpetrating organized crime, including trafficking extent (increasing, yet unrecorded) and gravity of various persons, stolen art, endangered species and stolen cars forms of criminal violence and exploitation by which However, information is increasingly becoming available women and girls are victimized. It underlines the need to on women imprisoned as drug couriers, perhaps due to freedoms, equal protection under the law and fair treatment 7. Women account for a relatively small proportion of in the justice system. It even blurs the lines of distinction the known number of offenders of all types. Recorded between women offenders and women victims offences committed by women are predominantly property 3. An intensified response on the part of justice systems related and, increasingly, drug-related. Violent offences to criminal violence and exploitation perpetrated against committed by females have a lower incidence than those omen and girls is provided for in the Model Strategies committed by males. Most violent offences in which and Practical Measures on the Elimination of violence women were known to be the perpetrators were committed against Women in the Field of Crime Prevention and against family members, most often the women's abusive Criminal Justice( General Assembly resolution 52/86 of spouses or children. Women's involvement in crime has 12 December 1997, annex), which builds upon the objec- been linked by researchers to opportunity theory and tives of the Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth changes in opportunity structures over the years World Conference on Women. The Model Strategies are particularly in some parts of the world' Over the years aimed at deterring and punishing violence against women much attention has been given in United Nations bodies to in all its forms and at mainstreaming a gender perspective the fair treatment of women, in particular the girl child,? in the field of criminal justice by the criminal justice system. That, in turn, has had an 4. Eliminating violence against women and girls and impact on the development of an international notion of promoting their fair treatment are continuing programmatic Juvenile justice. In the wake of the Fourth United Nations concerns of the Centre for International Crime Prevention. Conference on Women, the elimination of violence against Through its programmes on technical cooperation, research women in all its forms became a major international issue, and standards and norms, the Centre promotes an efiective including in United Nations programmes, in activities con-A/CONF.187/12 3 I. Introduction 1. The Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing from 4 to 15 September 1995, called upon Governments, the international community and civil society to take strategic action in a number of critical areas of concern, one of which was violence against women.1 The term “violence against women” means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.2 2. Within the framework of criminal justice administra￾tion, the continued marginal status and position of women in society and vis-à-vis legal systems have also resulted in their special needs also being regarded as marginal. Crimi￾nal justice systems are male-oriented and male-dominated and typically do not regard gender issues as relevant. The status of women is such that women are in a problematic situation as offenders, detainees, victims and even practitioners. One example of this problematic situation is transnational organized crime, with its unique processes, mechanisms and operations. It demonstrates the nature, extent (increasing, yet unrecorded) and gravity of various forms of criminal violence and exploitation by which women and girls are victimized. It underlines the need to guarantee women their legal rights and fundamental freedoms, equal protection under the law and fair treatment in the justice system. It even blurs the lines of distinction between women offenders and women victims. 3. An intensified response on the part of justice systems to criminal violence and exploitation perpetrated against women and girls is provided for in the Model Strategies and Practical Measures on the Elimination of Violence against Women in the Field of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (General Assembly resolution 52/86 of 12 December 1997, annex), which builds upon the objec￾tives of the Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women.3 The Model Strategies are aimed at deterring and punishing violence against women in all its forms and at mainstreaming a gender perspective in the field of criminal justice. 4. Eliminating violence against women and girls and promoting their fair treatment are continuing programmatic concerns of the Centre for International Crime Prevention. Through its programmes on technical cooperation, research and standards and norms, the Centre promotes an effective response on the part of justice systems to criminal violence perpetrated against women, pursuant to the Model Strategies and in line with other international instruments. Through the Global Programme against Trafficking in Human Beings, the Global Studies on Transnational Organized Crime and planned and ongoing operational activities, the Centre intends to foster a global approach and international cooperation aimed at eliminating violence against women. 5. The subject of women and criminal justice is relevant to many issues to be dealt with at the Tenth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders. The workshop on women in the criminal justice system, to be organized within the framework of the Tenth Congress, will provide a forum in which gender-related issues concerning criminal justice administration may be discussed. II. Module 1: Women as offenders and prisoners 6. Little is known about the participation of women in perpetrating organized crime, including trafficking in persons, stolen art, endangered species and stolen cars. However, information is increasingly becoming available on women imprisoned as drug couriers, perhaps due to their rapidly increasing numbers. 7. Women account for a relatively small proportion of the known number of offenders of all types.4 Recorded offences committed by women are predominantly property￾related and, increasingly, drug-related. Violent offences committed by females have a lower incidence than those committed by males. Most violent offences in which women were known to be the perpetrators were committed against family members, most often the women’s abusive spouses or children. Women’s involvement in crime has been linked by researchers to opportunity theory and changes in opportunity structures over the years, particularly in some parts of the world.5 Over the years, much attention has been given in United Nations bodies to the fair treatment of women,6 in particular the girl child,7 by the criminal justice system. That, in turn, has had an impact on the development of an international notion of juvenile justice.8 In the wake of the Fourth United Nations Conference on Women, the elimination of violence against women in all its forms became a major international issue, including in United Nations programmes, in activities con-