Diplomatic channels alone did not appear the most effective means for that purpose. Consequently, the assistance of the local office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and of national correspondents, as well as of the institutes, should be sought. Further, a simplified version of the questionnaire could be circulated every year, so that responding to it could become a routine activity within the relevant offices. 19. Technical co-operation, particularly in the training of personnel, was a must. Funding alone, however, was no guarantee of success. The complexity of the task created difficulties even for developed countries with a long tradition in the collection of national statistics. Often, the problem lay in the identification of the source for certain types of information. Consequently, perfectionism should be avoided and the goal should be pragmatically defined as the widest possible exchange of information. 20. The activities of the institutes were praised extensively by the Committee members. The efforts of the institutes to co-ordinate their activities and their assistance to the Secretariat were indeed impressive. Moreover, their research and training activities had been expanded considerably. None the less, their relations with the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch should be reinforced and the Branch's overall supervision of their activities strengthened in order to ensure improved co-ordination. 21. The Committee welcomed the establishment of the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders and expressed the wish that the Institute would make important contributions to the struggle against crime in the region. 22. The Committee took note of the extract from the draft medium-term plan, contained in document E/AC.57/1990/CRP.2. Actipn -takea. by. thg.. Cpmmit.tgg World fouMabion_.pn. crime vic-timg 23. At its 10th meeting, on 12 February 1990, Vasily P. Ignatov (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), on behalf of D. Cotic (Yugoslavia), D. Faulkner (United 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the United Nations' efforts to prevent crime and promote crime prevention, with a focus on the role of international organizations, national governments, and research institutes in this endeavor. The text mentions the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, and the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Branch, indicating that the text is related to international cooperation and development. The text also emphasizes the importance of data collection and training, which suggests a focus on the social and economic aspects of crime prevention.

**Category**
Education, Humanitarian aid and relief