Analyzing the Prevention of Environmental Crimes in the light of the United Nations Guidelines based on the Ethical Principle of Prevention of Harm

Abstract

Background and Aim: Considering the significance of prevention as one of the most important issues in ethical and legal systems, and increasing the risk of environmental crimes, this study aimed to analyze the prevention of environmental crimes in the light of UN guidelines. Materials and Methods: This analytical study examines the prevention of environmental crimes in the light of the UN guidelines. This analysis is done based on the ethical principle of prevention of harm. Findings: Given the globalization of environmental damages, green criminologists have focused on the principle of no harm. They have recognized environmental harm as the criterion in the definition of the environmental crime rather than criminalization. The United Nations has adopted guidelines for the prevention of crime in 1996 and 2002 in the Economic Council to promote crime prevention programs at the national level. The key principles in these guidelines included: government governance, crime prevention in social and economic policies; participatory prevention; accountability; sustainability; cost-benefit analysis; knowledge-based; compliance with the Human rights; solidarity, Interdependency and differentiation. Conclusion: The utilization of the principles of the United Nations Guidelines focusing on the ethical Principle of Prevention of harm, can help us to prevent environmental crimes. In order to prevent environmental damage and harm, participation of the civil society in the field of protection of environment is recommended through providing access of the citizens and empowering them, as well as, supporting community-based and non-governmental organizations. Please cite this article as: Mirkamali AR, Hajivand A. Analyzing the Prevention of Environmental Crimes in the light of the United Nations Guidelines based on the Ethical Principle of Prevention of Harm. Bioethics Journal 2017; 7(26): 61-75.