Abu Dhabi to host UN congress on crime and criminal justice

The UAE is preparing to host the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi, bringing together governments and justice experts to address emerging and cross-border crime.

The Congress runs at ADNEC from September 26 - October 1, with discussions covering cybercrime, money laundering, drug trafficking and organised crime, as well as the growing impact of technology and artificial intelligence on criminal justice.

A key focus will be the Abu Dhabi Declaration, which is intended to provide a roadmap for international cooperation on crime prevention and criminal justice over the next five years.

Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, Minister of Justice, said hosting the Congress represents an international responsibility for the UAE and an opportunity to strengthen cooperation on crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law.

He said the UAE hopes the Congress will begin a new phase of international cooperation, with the Abu Dhabi Declaration turning agreement between countries into practical priorities, partnerships and initiatives.

Speaking to the ARN News Centre, Judge Hatem Fouad, Regional Representative for the Gulf Region at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, said the UAE is providing a platform for countries to work together despite wider international tensions.

“The United Arab Emirates, despite the critical situation worldwide and particularly in the region with so many conflicts taking place at the same time, is still very committed to hosting and providing a platform for the countries of the world to be able to safely sit together.”

Negotiations over the declaration have been under way for around a year, with Fouad saying member states are now close to reaching agreement ahead of its expected adoption at the Congress.

“It is nearly reaching a consensus, but of course, we have to leave this to the designated session on the first day for member states to actually adopt the Abu Dhabi Declaration.”

Technology will also feature prominently, both in discussions about emerging forms of crime and how justice systems can respond to them.

Abdulrahman Murad Al Balooshi, Assistant Undersecretary for the International Cooperation and Legal Affairs Sector at the Ministry of Justice and General Coordinator of the Congress, told the ARN News Centre that the UAE's contribution will focus on five areas: children, young people, women, artificial intelligence and the environment.

“We are focussing on AI in two ways actually, also to fighting the criminal, what they are using the AI. Also, we are looking for the progress our justice with using AI. So we have one programme, it will be AI access to justice.”

The Congress will examine how artificial intelligence is increasingly being used by criminals, while also looking at how the technology could improve access to justice.

Its wider programme includes 93 experts and specialists, around 15 main events, 200 meetings and 38 specialised exhibitions, with sessions also covering the protection of women, children and young people, environmental crime and international cooperation.

A two-day Youth Forum will take place ahead of the main Congress, while the Abu Dhabi Declaration is expected to guide international work on crime prevention and criminal justice over the following five years.