UN crime congress opens in Abu Dhabi

The 15th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice kicked off Friday in Abu Dhabi with the adoption of a sweeping new agreement aimed at helping countries fight increasingly sophisticated, tech-driven crime.

The Abu Dhabi Declaration, approved by acclamation from the roughly 119 countries represented, zeroes in on threats that barely existed a decade ago: "crime as a service," "violence as a service," and the growing abuse of cyberinfrastructure by criminal networks. 

Under the deal, member states pledge to modernize their justice systems and lean into new technologies - including AI - while promising to keep human oversight, transparency and data protection firmly in the mix.

Billed as the world's largest gathering on crime prevention, this year's Congress has drawn more than 5,100 participants and over 40 justice ministers and senior officials. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohamed set the tone in a video address, arguing that justice "cannot be a privilege" and must "protect every person, uphold every person's rights and leave no one behind."

Monica Juma, who heads the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which runs the Congress, put it more bluntly: at a moment when trust in international cooperation is wobbling, she said, "let Abu Dhabi be a testament" that it can still work.

Young voices, and a plan to keep momentum going

This edition stands out for another reason: it's the most youth-focused Crime Congress yet, with young delegates delivering statements, sitting on panels, and running their own dedicated Youth Lab and art exhibition,  the product of a two-day Youth Forum held just before the main event.

To keep the declaration from becoming just another paper promise, countries are also signing onto "Pledge4Justice," a voluntary scheme where each government lays out specific, time-bound commitments running through 2031. Those pledges will be posted publicly on UNODC's website.

The Congress, themed "Protecting People and Planet in the Digital Age," runs through October 1 with a full slate of workshops, side events and exhibitions.