text: prevention. A comprehensive approach that took into account political, social and economic factors had replaced the repressive model. The problem of crime would be compounded if there were no comprehensive development, where people were afforded justice in all its aspects. Chronic hunger and unemployment stimulated crime in countries where billions of dollars in foreign debt were hampering progress. In some regions, inflation was up to 1,000 per cent per year, per capita investment and salaries had dropped, child mortality had reached the figure of 66 per 1,000, and prospects for the 1990s were bleak. 7. If current conditions persisted, crime would also continue to escalate. Criminal justice had to be looked at as a coherent system. An assessment of current justice administration had to be carried out in a systematic way with the assistance of information technology. Penal sanctions should be mitigated, without removing the possibility of severe penalties in more serious cases. Overcrowding of gaols could be combated by a policy of providing alternatives to imprisonment. It was clear that those problems required a proportional response that took into account the world-wide dimensions and increasing seriousness of crime and its devastating consequences. 8. Some concern was expressed about the large number of drafts that would have to be examined by the Eighth Congress. It was noted that the sheer volume and complexity of the material could choke the Congress, particularly in view of its short duration. The amount of work could damage the relaxed and friendly atmosphere required for the objective consideration of the drafts. Perhaps the Committee should establish a scale of priorities, eliminating some proposals given a low ranking. Others, however, thought it was already too late for such decisions, since so much effort had already been invested in the preparation of the draft instruments.
analysis: The text discusses the relationship between crime and economic development, highlighting the impact of poverty, unemployment, and foreign debt on crime rates. It also touches on the need for a comprehensive approach to justice, including the use of information technology to assess and reform the criminal justice system. This suggests that the category should be focused on economic development and social issues.