UN Crime Congress Opens in Abu Dhabi to Address Cyber Threats and AI

The 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice convenes at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi from 26 September to 1 October. Up to 5,000 delegates, including more than 32 justice and interior ministers from over 97 countries, are attending what organisers described as the largest edition of the Congress in its 70-year history, Gulf News reported.

Held once every five years, the United Nations forum sets international priorities on criminal justice and the rule of law. This year's agenda focuses on tackling organised crime, cybercrime, and human trafficking, while examining the ethical and regulatory integration of artificial intelligence within justice systems.

Member states are expected to formally adopt the Abu Dhabi Declaration on the opening day. The document serves as a strategic blueprint to guide international justice cooperation over the next five years under the UAE's Congress presidency. The declaration is structured around four pillars: prevention and resilience, justice and the rule of law, evolving criminal threats, and innovation and cooperation.

According to the report, the declaration prioritises measures against cyber threats, rules for responsible AI usage, asset recovery mechanisms, anti-corruption enforcement, and child- and victim-focused legal protections. The text updates the 2020 Kyoto Declaration to reflect digital transformation, incorporating UAE-backed provisions regarding women, children, youth, artificial intelligence, and environmental crime.

Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, UAE Minister of Justice and Chairman of the Federal Judicial Council, stated that the summit represents a move from recommendations to actionable implementation, noting that cross-border justice and security challenges can only be managed through international cooperation.