UN Crime Congress Advances Global Solutions to Emerging Threats
The 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi progresses with substantive discussions on environmental crimes, digital fraud, money laundering and the strategic use of artificial intelligence in criminal justice systems.
Abu Dhabi is hosting the second day of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, bringing together a diverse assembly of international stakeholders to address the evolving landscape of criminal threats and justice system responses. The Congress, running until 1 October at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, has established itself as a platform for ministers, judicial authorities, civil society representatives and academic experts to collaborate on practical solutions.
The day’s programming encompassed extensive deliberation across multiple specialised sessions. Six thematic meetings examined interconnected challenges confronting criminal justice systems worldwide, whilst 22 ancillary meetings provided deeper exploration of specific issues. Participants also engaged with workshop sessions, the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme Network Lab, and four Youth Lab initiatives, reflecting the Congress’s commitment to intergenerational dialogue.
A particular focus emerged on environmental crime prevention, with a special high-level event titled “Winning against Crimes that Affect the Environment: From Promises to Results” examining mechanisms to convert international commitments into enforceable legal and operational frameworks. Complementary discussions explored wildlife crime prevention, illegal fishing as organised crime, and law enforcement’s role in advancing climate justice.
Digital transformation featured prominently throughout proceedings. Sessions addressed how artificial intelligence is reshaping the fraud landscape, with particular attention to victim identification, digital evidence tracing and transnational investigative coordination. A dedicated meeting on trafficking in persons examined how technology can support prevention, detection and victim protection efforts in the digital era.
Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, UAE Minister of Justice and Congress President, advanced bilateral cooperation by signing memoranda of understanding with Qatar and Bahrain, strengthening legal frameworks for extradition, evidence exchange and mutual legal assistance. Additional bilateral meetings with counterparts from Ireland, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Thailand, Belgium, San Marino and Germany explored opportunities for enhanced judicial collaboration.
Financial crime disruption received substantial attention, with sessions on money laundering prevention, terrorist financing disruption and corruption combating. Discussions centred on strengthening financial investigations, advancing asset recovery and developing risk-based approaches to identifying and interrupting criminal financial flows.
Recognising the importance of access to justice, participants examined approaches to building fairer and more effective criminal justice systems. Ancillary meetings addressed victims’ rights, women’s participation in crime prevention, capacity-building for response to violence against women and girls, and the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders within digitalised frameworks.
International cooperation in drug-related crime prevention featured digital transformation prominently, with discussions on artificial intelligence applications and early-warning systems. The Congress’s youth engagement programme provided practical learning opportunities, including a mock courtroom session enabling participants to analyse cases and propose international responses, alongside sessions on digital trust, community prevention strategies and the intersection of crime prevention with health considerations.
Source: WAM