A/CONF. 187/1 information about whether they are part of a larger orga- (ii) Implications and ramifications for women of nized activit new policies and programmes in the field of crime 40. The problem of transnational crime, more than any prevention and criminal justice; other form of crime, requires international cooperation (iii) In the area of incarceration of women, specific especially in multidisciplinary research. Through interna health needs, maternal responsibilities, vulnerability tional research cooperation it is possible to obtain informa- to exploitation and abuse while in confinement, and tion on cross-border crime such information is useful in programmes and services to meet the needs of an the prevention of crime and in policy-making. New increasingly culturally and racially diverse female esearch methods are also needed to establish a link of prison population cooperation between practitioners, researchers and non- governmental and voluntary organizations in different (iv) In respect of women offenders, crime preven- fields. International cooperation makes it possible to gather tion policies first and foremost addressing the Socio- the results of comparative research, which in turn makes it economic status of women, social and community possible to develop macrolevel indicators, as well as support, and options available to the most disadvan benchmarks. With evaluative research it is possible to taged women in society, determine which methods really work; and with the coope- (v) Implementation of relevant international ins ration of an international network. the research results can truments to ensure that equality, justice and the pro- be conveyed to a large audience. New methods are also tection of human rights are key objectives of the needed to tackle the questions connected to non-traditional responses on the part of the justice system in every forms of crime experienced by women, both as offenders ociety to the criminal conduct of women and as victims. Research on the subject should be (vi) The importance of analyses of the role of dinated at the local. national and international levels women in criminal organizations to increasing the 41. Researchers examining questions concerning women knowledge available on the organizational operations and transnational crime may themselves be threatened with and mechanisms of transnational crime. and the or be subject to physical danger; the use of force by mem- nature and extent ofcommunity involvement, support bers of criminal organizations in order to maintain the status quo is the rule rather than an exception. Research (b) Women as victims and survivors (module 2) results may be considered a threat to the highly lucrative business of transnational crime, and researchers may be (1) Ways to reduce the vulnerability of women and dentified with members of law enforcement or other sys- to develop indigenous strategies aimed at reducing tems of control. Also, close cooperation with the police their exploitation and abuse, with emphasis on the nt might create some ethical considerations. For example, in some countries the victims of trafficking in women or (ii) Provision of sustainable economic options for women working as prostitutes may be considered to be women as a key issue in addressing the victimization offenders, that puts the researcher in a position where he or of women, particularly in the processes involved in she might unintentionally assist the police, thus further trafficking in persons, weakening the status of the women concerned (iii) Development of common strategies and the strengthening of communication networks between VI. Possible issues for discussion governmental agencies and non-governmental orga- nizations so as to provide more effective support to women who resist victimization 42. Issues that could be examined in the workshop nclude the following (iv) Development of ways to render support to (a)Women as offenders and prisoners(module D): them and later give evidence in court; (i Relation between the victimization and status (v) Elimination of barriers to reporting, so that women who make the decision to report their vic timization are supported by appropriate procedures, mechanisms and processes, safeguarding of theA/CONF.187/12 9 information about whether they are part of a larger orga￾nized activity. 40. The problem of transnational crime, more than any other form of crime, requires international cooperation, especially in multidisciplinary research. Through interna￾tional research cooperation it is possible to obtain informa￾tion on cross-border crime; such information is useful in the prevention of crime and in policy-making. New research methods are also needed to establish a link of cooperation between practitioners, researchers and non￾governmental and voluntary organizations in different fields. International cooperation makes it possible to gather the results of comparative research, which in turn makes it possible to develop macrolevel indicators, as well as benchmarks. With evaluative research it is possible to determine which methods really work; and with the coope￾ration of an international network, the research results can be conveyed to a large audience. New methods are also needed to tackle the questions connected to non-traditional forms of crime experienced by women, both as offenders and as victims. Research on the subject should be coordinated at the local, national and international levels. 41. Researchers examining questions concerning women and transnational crime may themselves be threatened with or be subject to physical danger; the use of force by mem￾bers of criminal organizations in order to maintain the status quo is the rule rather than an exception. Research results may be considered a threat to the highly lucrative business of transnational crime, and researchers may be identified with members of law enforcement or other sys￾tems of control. Also, close cooperation with the police might create some ethical considerations. For example, in some countries the victims of trafficking in women or women working as prostitutes may be considered to be offenders; that puts the researcher in a position where he or she might unintentionally assist the police, thus further weakening the status of the women concerned. VI. Possible issues for discussion 42. Issues that could be examined in the workshop, include the following: (a) Women as offenders and prisoners (module 1): (i) Relation between the victimization and status of women; (ii) Implications and ramifications for women of new policies and programmes in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice; (iii) In the area of incarceration of women, specific health needs, maternal responsibilities, vulnerability to exploitation and abuse while in confinement, and programmes and services to meet the needs of an increasingly culturally and racially diverse female prison population; (iv) In respect of women offenders, crime preven￾tion policies first and foremost addressing the socio￾economic status of women, social and community support, and options available to the most disadvan￾taged women in society; (v) Implementation of relevant international ins￾truments to ensure that equality, justice and the pro￾tection of human rights are key objectives of the responses on the part of the justice system in every society to the criminal conduct of women; (vi) The importance of analyses of the role of women in criminal organizations to increasing the knowledge available on the organizational operations and mechanisms of transnational crime, and the nature and extent of community involvement, support and collaboration; (b) Women as victims and survivors (module 2): (i) Ways to reduce the vulnerability of women and to develop indigenous strategies aimed at reducing their exploitation and abuse, with emphasis on the empowerment of women; (ii) Provision of sustainable economic options for women as a key issue in addressing the victimization of women, particularly in the processes involved in trafficking in persons; (iii) Development of common strategies and the strengthening of communication networks between governmental agencies and non-governmental orga￾nizations so as to provide more effective support to women who resist victimization; (iv) Development of ways to render support to women and girls when they report crimes against them and later give evidence in court; (v) Elimination of barriers to reporting, so that women who make the decision to report their vic￾timization are supported by appropriate procedures, mechanisms and processes; safeguarding of the