Today's Edition
Mays Ibrahim (DUBAI)
The Abu Dhabi Declaration, a five-year roadmap for member states to strengthen international cooperation on crime prevention and criminal justice, will be announced at the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi, officials said on Monday.
The declaration will set out 67 initiatives across 18 articles and four main areas, covering crime prevention and resilience; justice and the rule of law; emerging crime threats linked to advanced technology; and innovation and cooperation.
Abdulrahman Murad Al Balooshi, Assistant Undersecretary for International Cooperation and Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Justice, outlined the details of the declaration at a press conference on Monday.
The roadmap will address organised crime, corruption, human trafficking, cybercrime and drug-related crime, in addition to strengthening international efforts to recover criminal assets.
Judge Hatem Fouad Aly, Regional Representative for the Gulf region at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), said the declaration would provide countries with a framework to strengthen their responses to crime over the coming years.
The congress will place a particular focus on involving different segments of society in crime prevention efforts, including young people, women and the private sector, officials said.
A youth forum will precede the congress, giving young people an opportunity to contribute to policy and strategy discussions and to the development of the Abu Dhabi Declaration, Aly said.
A gathering for women, held in partnership with the General Women’s Union, will focus on strengthening their participation in policymaking and implementation, while a separate session will highlight the private sector’s role in tackling organised crime, terrorism and other threats.
Aly also highlighted the media’s role as a key partner in the congress, particularly in raising public awareness of emerging crime risks, including the use of technology and artificial intelligence to facilitate criminal activity, and in communicating the recommendations and roadmap that emerge from the event.
“The UAE, 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,” Aly told journalists.
He said the congress would allow countries to work with the UN and other international partners on strengthening responses to organised crime and terrorism, as well as on the use of technology in crime prevention.
Minister of Justice Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi said the UAE’s hosting of the congress reflected its longstanding approach to building bridges, supporting multilateral action and strengthening international cooperation to address shared challenges.
“It also reflects the international confidence in the UAE and its ability to bring together governments, international organisations, policymakers and experts on a global platform for dialogue and joint action on issues directly linked to human security, societal stability and the rule of law,” the minister added.
The 15th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice will take place in Abu Dhabi from September 26 to October 1, bringing together participants from more than 97 countries, including more than 32 justice and interior ministers so far.
The programme will feature 93 speakers, 15 major events, around 200 meetings and 38 specialised exhibitions, with the Abu Dhabi Declaration set to be issued on the final day.
The congress traces its origins to its first edition in Geneva in 1955 and has since become a major international forum for developing policies and approaches on crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law.
