Abu Dhabi hosts landmark UN Congress on crime prevention and criminal justice
The 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice convenes in the emirate with over 110 countries and 5,100 participants, marking the largest gathering of its kind to date.
Abu Dhabi has become the focus of global attention as the world’s largest gathering on crime prevention and criminal justice opens its proceedings. The 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice – Abu Dhabi 2026 brings together an unprecedented assembly of nations, with more than 110 countries represented by over 5,100 participants and delegations led by more than 40 Ministers addressing more than 200 events.
Monica Juma, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), underscored the profound significance of this gathering in her opening remarks. She emphasised that the rule of law and criminal justice remain fundamental pillars in safeguarding the security and wellbeing of people and the planet. The remarkable turnout, she stressed, represents a unified commitment to these essential principles across every region of the world.
Ms Juma commended the United Arab Emirates for its steadfast stewardship throughout the preparations for this momentous occasion, acknowledging the extraordinary determination that has enabled the Congress to reach fruition. The transition of the Congress presidency from Japan, which hosted the previous gathering in Kyoto five years ago, marks a significant juncture in international cooperation on matters of global significance.
The Executive Director articulated a compelling vision for the role of multilateralism in addressing challenges that directly affect people’s daily lives. Abu Dhabi, she noted, presents an opportunity to rebuild confidence in international cooperation at a time when such confidence is essential.
Drawing on historical precedent, Ms Juma observed that the Crime Congress has consistently convened during periods of substantial global transformation. This Congress, she emphasised, represents another critical inflection point where the crime prevention and criminal justice agenda must be fundamentally reframed.
She highlighted the accelerating pace of technological advancement and artificial intelligence as central concerns requiring immediate attention. The challenge, she explained, lies in ensuring that legal frameworks, institutions and responses can evolve at a pace commensurate with emerging threats. Technology must be harnessed as a constructive force for justice rather than as an agent of harm, fostering more effective and efficient systems of accountability.
Connectivity across borders, sectors and institutions remains paramount, Ms Juma stressed, forming the essential foundations for justice systems that are accessible, credible and protective. She emphasised that Abu Dhabi has not merely assembled to observe global change, but to determine how the international community must respond strategically and coherently.
The Abu Dhabi Declaration provides a framework for action, though Ms Juma cautioned that declarations achieve their true value only through rigorous implementation. The Pledge for Justice initiative, she suggested, offers a meaningful mechanism through which the commitments made during this Congress can be translated into concrete, measurable outcomes.
Source: WAM