I Kommissionens meddelelse om menneskerettighedernes og demokratiseringens rolle i tredjelande fra maj 2001 blev bekæmpelse af manglende straf for forbrydelser klassificeret som et initiativ, som skulle prioriteres højt.
In the May 2001 Commission communication on the role of human rights and democratisation in third countries, the combating of unpunished crime was ranked as a measure to be promoted as a high priority.