CCPCJ35: Meeting 7 – 5 June 2026

Excellencies, dear delegates, good morning. We will now continue our consideration of Agenda Item 9. We go back to the list of speakers and the Next speaker is the delegation of France. France, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair, and with your indulgence, just stemming from the call, if you—

I will need one minute to get the statement ready.

The statement is ready, but to have it in front of me, if I could pass—

Absolutely, this is understood, and we will I would like to first ask the delegation of Kenya to take the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Distinguished delegates, we are honored and delighted once again to join you in this important forum. Kenya values the role of CCPCJ in advancing policies, practices on crime prevention and criminal justice. We stand before this esteemed assembly on behalf of people of Kenya eager to contribute to this agenda and the follow-up of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention, Criminal Justice, and the preparations for the 16th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. Kenya reaffirms its strong commitment to the integration and coordination efforts in the crime prevention and criminal justice in close partnership with UNODC. Kenya reaffirms the importance of sustained and effective follow-ups to the outcomes of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, in particular with commitments contained in the Kyoto Declaration on Advancing Crime Prevention, Criminal Justice, and the Rule of Law. We underscore that the full and timely implementation of these commitments remains essential to addressing contemporary and emerging crime challenges while promoting sustainable development human rights, and rule of law. Kenya welcomes the ongoing efforts by the international community under the coordination of the UNODC to translate the Congress outcomes into concrete action through technical assistance, policy guidance, data collection, and knowledge sharing. We emphasize the value of integrating the Congress follow-up into national and regional strategies, ensuring coherence with broader UN Frameworks and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As preparations begin for the 16th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Kenya underscores the need for an inclusive, forward-looking, and action-oriented process. We encourage early and meaningful engagement of member states and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the Congress agenda is responsive to evolving threats, including cybercrime, environmental crime, organized crime, and corruption, while strengthening people-centered justice system. Kenya looks forward to contributing constructively to the preparation— preparatory process and to the 16th Congress. We, with a view to advancing practical solutions, strengthening international cooperation, and reinforcing crime prevention and criminal justice systems that are effective, resilient, and grounded in the rule of law. In conclusion, Chair, Kenya underscores the importance of policy coherence, coordination, and partnership in the implementation of this instrument. Kenya remains committed to working with the UNODC and member states to ensure holistic, people-centered, and effective global response to crime and criminal justice challenges. Thank you, Chair. Asante sana.

Thank you. And I now would like to give the floor to France. You have the floor.

Merci, Monsieur.

Thank you, Chairperson, and thank you for your patience. Chairperson, France welcomes the organization in September in Abu Dhabi of the 15th Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. France is actively engaged in negotiations on the Abu Dhabi Declaration, which began at the beginning of 2025 with the organization of regional meetings. This negotiation requires significant work because a great deal is at stake. In this regard, we thank the UAE presidency in the person of His Excellency Judge Aboushi, his team, and the entire permanent representation of the UAE, and we commend the work of the UNODC Secretariat, which has the task of ensuring the functioning of this mechanism. France would like to see us come to a consensus soon. And will continue with its engagement in negotiations, in particular on focusing on priorities which are the impact of the use of artificial intelligence in justice systems and environmental crimes. Chairperson, the Crime Congress is also an occasion for civil society and the— and the world of academia, whose essential role in crime prevention, the fight against organized crime and criminal justice is known, to contribute to the debates of the United Nations. Very— some hundreds of these organizations expressed their interest in coming to Abu Dhabi when the Congress was still planned for last April. France welcomes this occasion to have an exchange with them, but notes with concern various cancellations. We propose that the presidency and the secretary provide for time to have dialogue with the organizations before the Congress in order to confirm details of organization of the event and inform them about the adoption of the Abu Dhabi Declaration. Sir, France would like to finally recall that multilingualism is an essential functioning principle of the United Nations, and it regrets that the conditions to exercise this principle have been brought into question on various occasions from the beginning of this year in UNODC, including within this Commission, which only benefits from 4 days of interpretation in the Plenary and no interpretation for the Committee of the Whole. France reiterates its request that the Congress, which is a major event organized every 5 years and which brings together large delegations of experts and civil society organizations be completely interpreted, both within the plenary as well as within committees and workshops where everyone can contribute under the best possible conditions. The Crime Congress, the UNODC, and this Commission deserve as much. So it is within this constructive state of mind that France intends to contribute to the continuation of negotiations and preparations for this edition of the Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Thank you.

And next speaker is the delegation of the United States of America. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. We request that this statement be included in the official record. The United States has serious concerns with both the UNODC background papers prepared for the Crime Congress and the current draft of the Abu Dhabi Declaration. Let me speak plainly. The Commission and the Congress exist to address crime prevention and criminal justice. They are not the venue for health policy, social development, environmental protection, or gender ideology. The documents prepared by UNODC in advance of the Crime Congress read like a compendium of unrelated UN social agendas: environmental degradation, the so-called triple planetary crisis, and more. None of this belongs in a crime prevention forum. The same ideological overreach runs through the Abu Dhabi Declaration. The United States has repeatedly tried to socialize our concerns in advance of the Congress to avoid continuing debate on the Declaration. Unfortunately, countries seem intent on continuing to promote the divisive and wasteful topics that serve to diminish the integrity of the Congress and associated declaration. The repeated emphasis on mainstreaming gender perspectives, socioeconomic development, and environmental protection in crime prevention policy reflects priorities that belong in other fora. This scope creep must end. It dilutes the Commission's effectiveness and wastes limited resources. Education, public health, and housing matter, but they have their own venues. The Congress must concentrate on its core mandate: dismantling criminal networks and preventing crime. Even when discussions do focus on crime, we see a troubling imbalance. Too much attention goes to rehabilitation, alternatives to incarceration, and community-based programs. Meanwhile, violent offenders operate with impunity because basic prosecutorial functions remain underfunded and ineffective. Before we discuss restorative justice, we must deliver actual justice. Countries that cannot investigate crimes, build cases, or secure convictions have no foundation for alternative approaches. Criminals make cost-benefit calculations. When the cost side of that equation is weak, when prosecution is unlikely and consequences are rare, crime flourishes no matter how many community programs we fund. Why does crime persist at alarming rates globally? The UNODC's background documents attribute it to poverty, inequality, and limited opportunity. This misses the more immediate problem: weak criminal justice systems and lack of political will. Countries fail to investigate offenses. They fail to prosecute. They fail to hold offenders accountable. The United States urges the Congress to focus on practical, results-driven action to dismantle transnational organized criminal organizations. Member states, not the Secretariat, must drive the agenda. UNODC's documents should offer concrete, actionable strategies, not aspirational rhetoric about social inclusion or a sense of belonging. Chair, if we are serious about crime prevention, we must act seriously. That means focusing on the right priorities and strengthening criminal justice systems so they can investigate, prosecute, and incarcerate dangerous offenders. The Congress must stop pretending that crime prevention means addressing every social challenge, or that organized crime can be defeated through dialogue alone. It cannot. Criminals must face consequences. Justice systems must function. The current broad and unfocused approach serves no one, least of all the people we are charged with protecting. Thank you.

Thank you. And the next speaker is the delegation of Australia. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. I have the honor of speaking on behalf of Canada, New Zealand, and my own country, Australia. We express our appreciation to the United Arab Emirates for hosting the 15th Crime Congress, as well as the UNODC for its important support in the preparation for this meeting. The Crime Congress and its declaration represent an invaluable opportunity to identify persistent and emerging trends in crime prevention and criminal justice. Consensus and to signal a strong commitment to a collective course of action to address these issues. As we are approaching the end of negotiations of the Abu Dhabi Declaration, our three countries remain committed to the work— to working constructively with all member states, as well as with the UAE chair, to ensure that the declaration reflects the broad mandate of the Commission as the principal policymaking body of the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice. This comprehensive mandate underscores the need for a balanced and forward-looking approach to preventing and addressing crime. Strengthening the rule of law, protecting people in vulnerable situations, and ultimately preventing crime by addressing its underlying drivers are central to the Congress and to the UNODC's mandate. Gender equality, human rights, and ensuring equal access to justice for all are also essential for a balanced and effective approaches to crime. Without these elements, criminal justice systems risk reinforcing harm and exclusion rather than building truth and resilience. We expect that a strong final declaration will also incorporate references to the core elements of this year's agreed Congress theme, Protecting People and the Planet and Achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable, Sustainable Development in the Digital Age. Our countries look forward to a successful Congress and a Declaration that will reflect our resolute commitment to address crime in all its forms in a balanced and inclusive manner that leaves no one behind. Thank you.

Thank you very much. And next speaker is the delegation of Thailand. Thailand, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Thailand would like to express our appreciation to the UNODC and all stakeholders working together to advance the global implementation of the Kyoto Declaration since the 14th UN Crime Congress. We also would like to reaffirm our commitment to supporting preparations for the 15th UN Crime Congress, which will be held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, this September. Thailand has continued to promote the application of the Kyoto Declaration to advance crime prevention, strengthen criminal justice, and elevate the rule of law and international cooperation through through a variety of actions. We are, in addition, ready to push forward the Abu Dhabi Declaration as the outcome document of the upcoming Congress. Mr. Chair, as the 15th Crime Congress is approaching, we welcome the updates and progress made on the process of preparation for the Congress. Last year, Thailand was the host country of the Asia and Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting in Bangkok from the 21st to the 23rd of January, 2022. 2025, the first regional meeting in which I had the opportunity to chair. The meeting brought about successful outcomes, uniting and urging all participants in the region to formulate action-oriented recommendations, which served as a foundation for the draft Abu Dhabi Declaration. Thailand has actively engaged in the negotiation of the draft Abu Dhabi Declaration. We prioritized three areas within the scope of the Commission: implementation of the Bangkok Rules and other related standards and norms in penal reform and reducing reoffending, suppression of the online scams and cyber-related fraud, and promotion of early prosecutorial involvement in complex criminal cases. Furthermore, the Thai delegation has registered to host a number of auxiliary meetings and exhibitions during the upcoming Congress, including ones under the theme of integrating digital innovation in the treatment of prisoners. In this regard, Thailand welcomes the launch of the UNODC Handbook on the Use of Technology in Prison Settings, which provides guidance for responsible and rights-based use of technology in correctional settings. In fact, one of our correctional services experts also contributed to the formulation process. Thailand will continue to support relevant activities in preparing for the Congress. We look forward to working closely with United Arab Emirates and all Member States and UNODC to this end. I thank you.

Thank you. And the next speaker is the delegation of Colombia. You have the floor.

Gracias, señor presidente.

Thank you, Chair. I would like to begin by extending our sincere appreciation to the United Arab Emirates for its generosity in deciding to host the 15th Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. This— its role as host country will be key in providing a conducive space for constructive dialogue, cooperation, and the strengthening of partnerships in this field. Ladies and gentlemen, Colombia has engaged actively and worked to develop the Congress Declaration for its participation in the regional meeting in Costa Rica and throughout all negotiation sessions held to date. Under the leadership of His Excellency Judge Ablushi. We hope that these negotiations will conclude successfully. The declaration should show the need to have a comprehensive approach to preventing crime as well as combating, reducing vulnerabilities.

And we—

by doing this, we reduce the opportunities for criminal organizations. The continued commitment to to the 2030 Agenda, which is comprehensive, is essential for the Declaration. Moreover, we would also like to highlight the fundamental value of the Crime Congress as an open and inclusive forum in which not only states but also academia, the private sector, and civil society organizations come together. It is precisely in this diversity of voices that one of its greatest strengths Lies. For Colombia, it is very important to ensure meaningful participation of non-governmental stakeholders, since effectively addressing complex criminal dynamics requires a broader, more inclusive approach. Civil society, academia, and the private sector provide critical perspectives, independent analysis, and contribute to strengthening accountability. Their active and inclusive participation remains essential to achieving more effective outcomes. Also allow me to underscore the importance of maintaining multilingualism, not only in CCPCJ meetings but across all segments of the Crime Congress, including workshops. We're concerned about the availability of simultaneous interpretation in the 6 official United Nations languages in official meetings, activities, committees and specialized forums. Multilingualism is a core principle of the United Nations, as it ensures mutual understanding and the equitable participation of states, particularly that of developing countries. It also contributes to making the organization be more— to making the organization more efficient, effective, representative, inclusive, and transparent, and it enables a stronger connection to the people it serves. Therefore, we believe it is essential to uphold this principle and prevent it from being undermined by measures adopted in response to the current— to the liquidity situation. Finally, we trust that the outcomes of this progress will contribute significantly to strengthening our collective efforts into promoting safer, more just, and more resilient societies. Thank you very much.

Thank you. And next speaker is the delegation of Japan. You have the floor.

Japan expresses its sincere appreciation to all member states, UNODC, and fellow organizations for their continued efforts to strengthen international cooperation in crime prevention and criminal justice. Japan hopes that today's discussion on the preparations for the Abu Dhabi Congress will contribute to ensuring the continuity and effectiveness of the Crime Congress process. Japan expresses its gratitude to the United Arab Emirates for its strong leadership as the host country of the 15th Crime Congress, which will take place in Abu Dhabi from September 26th to October 1st. We also appreciate the dedicated support of UNODC, and Japan will extend its full cooperation to ensure the success of the Congress. Japan Japan also welcomes Uzbekistan's offer to host the 16th Prime Congress. Japan reaffirms its commitment to close cooperation with Uzbekistan, the next host country following Abu Dhabi, and advancing international dialogue and cooperation throughout the preparation process. Japan has long contributed to the Prime Congress process, having hosted the first Congress in Kyoto in 1970. and the 14th in 2021. Building on the legacy and experiences from the Kyoto Congress, Japan remains committed to building safe, secure, and prosperous societies based on the rule of law. Today, the international community faces the increasingly complex and transnational crime, rapid digital transformation, and emergence of new forms of crime. To address these challenges, it is essential not only to develop appropriate legal frameworks but also, as reflected in the agenda of the coming Congress, to advance a human-centered approach to criminal justice. From this perspective, Japan continues to enhance measures to reduce reoffending through policies and practices that promote rehabilitation, education, vocational training, and community-based support with the aim of building an inclusive society. Japan also works closely with UNAFE and UNODC to strengthen capacity building and human resource development. In conclusion, we will continue to cooperate with all member states and UNODC OCC to advance our shared objectives in crime prevention and criminal justice and to carry forward the legacy of the Kyoto Congress towards the Abu Dhabi Congress and beyond to the 16th Congress. Thank you very much.

Thank you. And next speaker is the delegation of Sudan. You have the floor.

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Shukran sayyid al-Rais.

In the name of God, compassionate. Ladies and gentlemen, honorable delegates, first and foremost, I'd like to express my sincere appreciation to all those involved in achieving a consensus declaration to be adopted at 15th Crime Congress in Abu Dhabi. Chair, I'd like to focus on certain points, certain elements that have been shared since our previous meeting and that will will affect the proceedings of our coming Congress. And I'd like to focus on the following reports, and I'm switching to English.

26, entitled Ethiopia Builds Secret Training Camp to Train Sudan RSF. The report confirmed that the host country of our next Crime Congress has provided financial and logistical support for the establishment of this training camp. Secondly, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a report in March entitled Hallmarks of Genocide. The report documents some of the support provided by the host of the Crime Congress to the RSF rebels until they took over the city of al-Fajr in North Darfur State in October 2025. Thirdly, on the 18th of March 2026, the Telegraph newspaper published a report entitled 'Is Khayyam used to cut ties with the the UAE channel, the broadcaster accused of propaganda and whitewashing atrocities by Sudanese militia. Fourthly, on the 22nd of March 2026, the French Le Monde published a report entitled 'The UAE Reorganizes Its Support Network to Sudan paramilitary. Fifth, on the 7th of April 2026, the BBC published an article entitled UAE-backed Colombian mercenaries provided support to Sudan paramilitary. Sixth, on the 7th of May 2026, the New York Times issued a report entitled Investigations Called to Investigate Potential Sanctions Against the Owner of Manchester City, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, over Sudan conflict. Seventh, in May 2026, the German Institute for International Security Studies, WPS, published a report entitled 'The UAE's destabilizing role in Africa.' The title itself is more than convincing and more than enough. Yet on the 13th of May 2026, The Guardian published an opinion article entitled 'The UAE tries hard to keep its reputation spotlight. But the war in Sudan— can it? 9. On the 17th of May, 2026, The Guardian published a report entitled 'The UAE must be held accountable for its role in Sudan crisis.' 10. On the 25th of May, 2026, Human Rights Watch issued an 83-page report entitled "From Bogotá to al-Tulfaşir: The UAE's Role in the Deployment of Colombian Mercenaries, Fighters, and Other Backing to RSF in Sudan." Sayyid al-Rais Sayyidat al-Sada. Akkadat kullu hadhi taghāri wal-maghālā.

Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, these are just a few examples from the four corners of the world that leave no doubt this country, the host country of the next Crime Congress— Crime Congress— should be dealing with crime prevention. It's up to its elbows in war War crimes. crimes, genocide, the RSF— crimes committed by the RSF in Sudan. Our country would therefore like to reaffirm its position, recalling that this country is not worthy of hosting this Conference to prevent crime and to support criminal justice. This threatens to damage the reputation of the organization itself, the organization we are all members of. We face a choice, and we must stand on the right side of history on this point. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I ask you to include this statement in the meeting report.

Thank you. And I repeat my request to observe the speaking time limit. We now turn to the next speaker, which is the delegation of the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders, UNEAFE. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

UNEAFE highly values the work of the United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in highlighting key issues and priorities for the United Nations crime program and guiding national and international policies and professional practices. UNOPE has been and remains fully committed to the follow-up on the outcomes of the congresses and the preparation Congratulations for the 15th Congress in Abu Dhabi. Mr. Chair, UNAFE welcomes the adoption of the new UN Model Strategies on Reducing Reoffending, or the Kyoto Model Strategies. UNAFE is proud that Workshop 2 of the Kyoto Congress, entitled Reducing Reoffending: Identifying Risks and Developing Solutions, which was organized by UNIFE, helped to generate the momentum that led to the development of this important instrument. Through these training programs, UNIFE has already begun supporting member states in strengthening measures to reduce re-hopping while making the best use of the Kyoto Model strategies. UNIFE strongly encourages member states to fully utilize this valuable instrument UNAFE, and stands ready to work with member states by bridging policy and practice on the ground through knowledge sharing and capacity building programs. With regard to the 15th Congress, UNAFE is honored to be tasked with facilitating Workshop 1, entitled Building Resilient Societies with a Focus on Protecting Women, Children, and Youth: Monitoring Engagement, Education, and a Culture of Lawfulness. Preparations are underway, and as a part of this process, UNIFAE hosted a side event on Wednesday of this week on the topic of Building Resilient Communities: Collective Advocacy and a Culture of Lawfulness for Women, Children, and Youth. Furthermore, we are pleased to announce that distinguished speakers from various fields including member states, academia, NGOs, and P&Is, have agreed to contribute to our workshop. We are in close contact with the speakers to ensure that preparations proceed smoothly. UNIFES spares no effort to set the stage for this important event in close cooperation with UNODC. Mr. Chair, as I conclude, UNAFE remains fully committed to supporting the successful preparation of the Abu Dhabi Congress. Furthermore, looking ahead to the 16th UN Congress, UNAFE will continue to play an active role in following up efforts related to the outcomes of the Kyoto and Abu Dhabi Congresses. Thank you very much.

Thank you. And there is a request for a right of reply. We will immediately deal with this right of reply as we are at the end of our consideration of Agenda Item 9. I'd like to repeat that according to a decision of the Extended Bureau, two right of replies are— the exercise of two right of replies is possible, and I'd like to ask the delegations to keep it short. First right of reply, 2 minutes, second rather for 1 minute, and I give the floor now to the delegation of the UAE.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The United Arab Emirates categorically rejects the distorted facts presented. Our attention should be focused on civilian protection and on putting an end to the violations committed and supporting all efforts towards peace. These must be our primary considerations above anything else. The authorities at Port Sudan should focus on efforts in support of peace. They should move in the direction of peace, contributing to peace, instead of attempting to distract attention from our work and stepping aside from our priorities, priorities which should be building peace in their own country. We would like to recall that the United Arab Emirates and our willingness to host the next Congress was backed internationally with a broad and extensive support according to Resolution 78/223, which endorsed this— the decision that that the United Arab Emirates should host the Crime Congress in Abu Dhabi. This was also confirmed by Resolution 79/126, which confirmed that the resolution would be held in Abu Dhabi from 26 September to 1 October 2026. The UAE will be honored to host the Congress, and we would like to set aside these doubts that a certain delegation is trying to instill. The goal of our work and the fact that we must focus our work on the main important issues.

For right of reply, I give the floor to the delegation of Sudan.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, for giving me the floor to exercise our right of reply to the statement we just heard from the representative of the authorities of Abu Dhabi, Sheikhdom. I would like to say that all the reports that we have spoken about are not coming from a Sudanese source. All of them are coming from very reputable international sources. Secondly, if the chief— the authorities of the chiefdom, sheikhdom of Abu Dhabi, is concerned with the life of the Sudanese people and with the suffering of our people, it should have stopped its support to the RSF terrorist militia, which have committed and is still committing horrendous atrocities, war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, with the full military, diplomatic, financial, and logistical support of the host of our crime congress. What we have said, what we have spoken about, is very relevant to the work of the CCPJ because the image of this very important international instrument is far more than the attempt to whitewash the destabilizing role of the host country in Sudan and other African countries. I thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. I see a second request for the floor by The UAE, you have the floor.

Thank you.

Continues to leave the lives of the civilians and destroying the Sudanese people. They are— they continue to export the responsibility to others. The Sudanese— the Port Sudan authorities killed 8 children in Port Sudan. This is a stark reminder that these Sudanese civilians continue to pay the price, the high price, every day. They have also launched attacks against the humanitarian trucks in Darfur, which stymied the access of humanitarian deliveries to the civilian— the Sudanese civilians. Despite all these insecurities, the question that have to be asked to the Port Sudan authorities, who rejects the humanitarian calls for unhindered humanitarian access. They need to take brave decisions to put a stop to this war and to halt the humanitarian sufferings. Once again, we emphasize that the main purpose of this session must be observed. We need to observe the main focus of our agenda, uh, rather than distracting from it. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. Uh-huh. I see the delegation of Sudan requesting the second right of reply. The floor is yours.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I will be very brief. We are not repeating what we have said. Secondly, what we have said is from international reputable international sources. Thirdly, if the UAE is genuine in its concern regarding the Sudanese people, it should stop its support to the RSF terrorist militia. And when that support stops, for sure, peace will prevail in Sudan and in the region. I thank you very much.

Thank you. I see no more requests for the floor. This brings us to the end of Agenda Item 9 and the item is closed. And we move on to Agenda Item 10, which is Contributions by the Commission to the work of the Economic and Social Council, including follow-up to and review and implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The General Assembly in its Resolution 75/290A on the strengthening of the Economic Social Council established a coordination segment to provide guidance to the subsidiary bodies, ensuring a clearer division of labor among them and coordinated preparations for the High-Level Political Forum. This year's coordination segment was held on the 28th and 29th of January 2026, with a panel discussion entitled Keeping Pace with the Changing World and Translating Commitments into Coordinated Action. The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development will be convened under the auspices of ECOSOC in New York from the 6th to the 16th of July 2026. The thematic focus will be transformative, equitable, innovative, and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future for all. The SDGs under Special of you are SDG 6, which is ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. SDG 7, ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. SDG 9, build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation. SDG 11, Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. And SDG 17, strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. In line with best— best past practice, as Chair of the Commission, I provided written Chair's input to the High-Level Political Forum. Now turning to introductory remarks With these remarks, I have the pleasure to give the floor to Irina Krivtseva of the Secretariat to the Governing Bodies of UNODC. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, I have the pleasure of giving you an update on the contributions by the Commission to the work of ECOSOC over the past months and on the plans on the months ahead. The ECOSOC coordination segment was held on 28th and 29th January under the theme Transformative, Equitable, Innovative and Coordinated Actions for the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals for a Sustainable Future for All. As per established practice, the Chair of the Commission has submitted a written contribution to the ECOSOC High High-Level Political Forum, which will be held from 7th to 15th of July under the same overarching ECOSOC theme. This written contribution to the 2026 High-Level Political Forum by the chair of the CCP CJ was mainly based on the Kyoto Declaration and resolutions which the CCP CJ had adopted on the following matters: advancing crime prevention at all levels, strengthening international efforts to prevent and combat the smuggling of migrants, countering the trafficking in persons, tackling various forms of crimes that affect the environment, the United Nations model strategies on reducing reoffending, and celebrating the Bangkok Rules and the Nelson Mandela Rules. The chair also highlighted the ongoing preparations for the 15th United Nations Crime Congress to be held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Summaries in September 2026, as well as the ongoing negotiations for the draft Abu Dhabi Declaration. The next events through which the Commission contributes to the work of ECOSOC will be the High-Level Political Forum to be held from 7th to 15th of July 2026, the ECOSOC Management Segment to be held for CCPCJ matters on 21st and 22nd of July, and the 15th United UN Nations Crime Congress to be held from 26 September to 1 October 2026. I thank you.

Thank you. And I now invite Fedor Klimtschuk, Chief Affairs and Policy Support Branch, Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs, who will make further introductory remarks. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, with criminal and terrorist groups seizing opportunities afforded by rising levels of violence, instability, conflict, and technological advancements, the CCPCJ's role in fostering cooperation, strengthening respect for the rule of law, and advancing shared commitments has never been more critical. Central to these efforts is the availability of high-quality, timely, and actionable data and research to guide evidence-based policymaking. As custodian of 16 SDG indicators across 5 targets, UNODC leads the development of measurement methodologies, supports states in strengthening national statistical capacity and increasing country data coverage, Also, it compiles data for the Global SDG Database. Progress is visible. Data availability for SDG 16 indicators on peace, justice and strong institutions has improved significantly since the Agenda's adoption in 2015. Together with UNDP and OHCHR, UNODC has been working closely with with national institutions to expand the availability of national relevant and globally comparable data. As noted in, in the 2025 Global Progress Report on SDG 16, 56% of countries reported data on at least one Goal 16 target since 20— since 2015, up from 40% in 2023 and just 23% in 2019. Yet major data gaps persist, leaving countries without a clear compass to guide policy, design targeted solutions, and measure progress. The latest evidence is concerning. The 2025 Global Progress Report on SDG 16 underscores that none of the targets are on track. With a third of the global prison population being held in pretrial detention in 2024, one woman killed every 10 minutes by an intimate partner or other family member in 2024, and based on the latest available data from 2022, 30% of all detected victims of human trafficking being children,— the vision of peaceful, just and inclusive societies appears out of reach. Still, there are some important gains to recognize. Globally, three-quarters of seized firearms are now potentially traceable, which is an important step in curbing illicit arms flows. And the most recent estimates indicate that the global intentional homicide rate has declined from 5.9 per 100,000 people in 2015 to 5.1 in 2024. Addressing increasingly complex and transnational threats requires strengthened joint action at the regional and global levels, leveraging strategic partnerships and its extensive network of field offices, UNODC will continue to build law enforcement capacity, strengthen cross-border cooperation, translate evidence into action-oriented guidance and tools, and help countries implement international conventions and standards, including the UN Convention Against Cybercrime, which is now open for signature. UNODC stands ready to continue supporting Member States in their efforts to prevent crime and advance justice. I thank you.

Thank you. And I now open the floor for statements by delegations. First on the speakers list is the delegation of France. You have the floor.

Merci, Monsieur le Président.

Thank you, Chair. The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice is a subsidiary body of ECOSOC and therefore plays a key role in contributing to the Council's debates, providing perspectives on criminal justice and crime prevention. From this angle, it contributes to our analysis of the level to which we are meeting the Sustainable Development Goals and provide orientations on how to further fulfill them. This approach based on indicators and goals and results is precisely what we need in this time of budgetary restraint. These— the development goals are all connected and this interconnection is perfectly justified. It's certainly a proven fact that preserving the environment contributes to reducing criminality and that criminality in turn, increased criminality can damage the environment. We last year, we therefore discussed at the international, at the CND, our contribution to ECOSOC in this, with regards to drugs and the environment. The Commission, the CCPCJ, is the place to assess the the level to which we are meeting SDG 16, Promoting Peaceful and Inclusive Societies for Sustainable Development, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. And for example, Target 16.2, Ending Abuse, Exploitation, Trafficking, and All Forms of Violence Against and Torture of Children. We find it very, very interesting and valuable to raise these issues to ECOSOC and to contribute in the way we can to meeting these targets. The Horizon 2030 is around the corner, Mr. President, Mr. Chair, and France considers it necessary to redouble our efforts in this sense. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Next speaker is the delegation of the United States of America. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. As we noted under Agenda Item 2, the United States has a principled objection to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. These frameworks advance a program of soft global governance that is inconsistent with the CCP CJ's mandate and that infringes on state sovereignty. They also distract from the CCP CJ's core mandate, fighting national and transnational crime, and are irrelevant to our obligations under the Convention. This agenda item should instead focus on the follow-up, review, and implementation of the issues the CCPCJ was created to address: preventing and countering crime. Thank you.

Thank you for this statement. Next speaker is the delegation of Canada. You have the floor.

Merci. Thank you, Chair. 11 years ago, Canada joined all member states of the UN to adopt 17 ambitious Sustainable Development Goals set forth in Transforming Our World, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Canada shares this vision: a world based on the universal respect for human rights and dignity, the rule of law, justice and equality, as well as the central principle of leaving no one behind. While the report of July 2025 on the goals shows some progress on Goal 16, peaceful, just and inclusive societies, significant gaps remain in building effective, responsible and inclusive institutions. Urgent measures are required to re-establish confidence when it— thanks to peacebuilding, consolidation of peace, and judicial reforms.

At the national level, Canada is taking concrete action to advance the goals by supporting partners including civil society organizations, municipalities, academia, Indigenous peoples, and the private sector through grants and contributions. The Sustainable Development Goals Funding Program, for example, raises awareness, supports new and existing partnerships, and funds innovative initiatives to drive progress towards achieving the SDGs. Canada also supports SDGs internationally through its anti-crime capacity building to security and justice institutions with the UNODC and other partners. This funding is also aligned with commitments under Canada's third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security. Mr. Chair, Canada measures its progress through the Canadian Indicator Framework, which includes 76 indicators reflecting national priorities across the 17 goals, available publicly through an online data hub. Statistics Canada collects data on various SDG indicators, such as the annual proportion of the population subjected to violence, including sexual violence, the proportion of unsentenced detainees within the total prison population, and the incarceration rate per 100,000 adults. Concerning the latter indicator, we are pleased to note that Canada's data for 2023-2024 demonstrates a decline since 2015-2016, showing progress on SDG indicators 16.6.1. Canada will continue to advance the Sustainable Development Goals at home and abroad to build just and inclusive societies for all. Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you for the statement. Next speaker is the delegation of Thailand. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

With only 4 years remaining into the 2030 deadline, The work of the CCBCJ has never carried greater urgency. The Commission has consistently provided vital contributions to SDG 16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, a goal that is simultaneously a target and an enabling condition for all other SDGs. Without rule of law, crime prevention and fair access to justice, no development gains are sustainable. There is no doubt that crime is a direct impediment to human rights and socioeconomic development. The interconnection between crime prevention, rule of law, and sustainable development is not just rhetoric. We see real evidence in our region whereby scam compound networks threaten human life, synthetic drugs stunt rural development, and trafficking in persons severs families from productive life. Therefore, crime prevention must be seen as part and parcel of sustainable development., and the CCPCCJ and this Commission's work must reflect this reality. Mr. Chair, later this year, the international community will gather for the 15th Crime Congress in Abu Dhabi. The Congress' overarching theme, Accelerating Crime Prevention, Criminal Justice, and the Rule of Law: Protecting People and the Planet, Achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Digital Age, speaks directly to the SDG agenda before this Commission today. Thailand wishes to call on this Commission to ensure that the Abu Dhabi Declaration contains concrete SDG-linked commitments that translate into UNODC programming and measurable outcomes. In this regard, Thailand views that the achievement of SDGs must be carried out through technical cooperation, capacity building, and sharing of best practices at all levels. In July 2025, Vietnam presented its third Voluntary National Review at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, showcasing our progress, good practices, and challenges. The VNR also includes our efforts in achieving SDG Goal 16, such as our progress in combating trafficking in persons through our national referral mechanism. We would like to encourage all member states to include crime prevention elements in their Voluntary National worldview and contribute to the realization of the 2030 Agenda. Mr. Chair, in this spirit, we would like to reaffirm our commitment to the work of the CCP CJ and to advance cooperation in building just, peaceful, and inclusive societies. To this end, Thailand has presented our candidacy to the CCP CJ for the term 2028-2030 and would highly appreciate the support of ECOSOC Member States. Thailand will continue to work with our partners to strengthen global efforts in crime prevention and criminal justice as part of our collective commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you for the statement. Next delegation is Colombia. You have the floor.

Gracias, señor Presidente.

Thank you, Chair. Columbo reaffirms that Sustainable Development Goal 16 constitutes a cross-cutting pillar for the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda, as peace, justice, strong institutions, and the rule of law are indispensable conditions for achieving sustainable, inclusive, and resilient development. In this context, it is essential to strengthen synergies between the work of the CCPCJ, ECOSOC, the High-Level Political Forum, and other multilateral processes linked to the 2030 Agenda in order to promote comprehensive and coordinated responses to the challenges posed by transnational organized crime. Phenomena such as organized crime, corruption, illicit financial flows, cybercrime, and crimes that affect the environment constitute direct obstacles to the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to reducing inequalities, climate action, biodiversity protection, and the strengthening of effective institutions. In particular, Colombia highlights the need to strengthen multilateral responses to environmental crimes, including illegal mining. Recognizing their links to transnational organized crime structures, money laundering, corruption, violence, and environmental degradation. These phenomena severely affect territorial governance, the rights of communities, and the protection of strategic ecosystems. In the face of these threats, it is a priority to strengthen international cooperation, information exchange, financial investigation and asset recovery mechanisms to combat illicit economies associated with these crimes, as well as the smuggling of commercial goods and other emerging forms of organized crime. The fight against illicit financial flows is likewise an essential component of accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, as these resources reduce the capacity of states to finance public policies, close social gaps, and make progress on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Colombia underscores the importance of promoting human-centered security and justice approaches that incorporate crime prevention, effective access to justice, social inclusion, and the strengthening of public trust in institutions. We also reaffirm our commitment to promoting evidence-based crime prevention and criminal justice policies incorporating differentiated approaches and respect for human rights, while recognizing the importance of strengthening institutional capacities and international cooperation to address increasingly complex criminal threats. In particular, Colombia emphasizes the importance of integrating a gender perspective into crime prevention and criminal justice policies, recognizing that women and girls in all their diversity face differentiated risks in context of organized crime, as well as specific barriers to accessing justice. In this regard, it reaffirms its commitment to designing and implementing responses that address these gaps, that promote equality and that ensure the protection of rights, including the development of alternatives to deprivation of liberty and measures aimed at social reintegration. It is also important to strengthen equitable access to justice, especially for vulnerable populations, through innovative tools, digitalization processes, and restorative justice and social reintegration mechanisms. Finally, Colombia emphasizes that strengthening institutions, transparency, accountability, and the fight against corruption are essential elements for building a peace— for building peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. I thank you.

Thank you for the statement. And the next speaker is the delegation of Argentina. You have the floor.

Thank you very much, Chair. As my delegation has said on another opportunities, our preference would be for this agenda item to refer specifically to the contributions by the Commission to ECOSOC in compliance with its principal mandate. In this regard, the Republic of Argentina would like to reaffirm its commitment to the protection of individual rights of all human beings without distinction. In accordance with the obligations expressly set forth in international treaties to which it is a party. We'd like to recall that the 2030 Agenda, which was, um, committed to in good faith, comprises legally non-binding aspirations which each state in the exercise of sovereignty has the right to interpret and pursue freely. I thank you.

Thank you. Next speaker is the delegation of Mexico. You have the floor.

Muchas gracias. Thank you very much, Chair. The government of Mexico is certain that multilateralism and international cooperation are the most appropriate tools to provide a comprehensive response and a long-term one to the challenges raised by transnational organized crime on the basis of the principles of common and shared responsibility between states and with strict compliance with international law. In an international context characterized by growing interstate tension, the international community cannot allow confrontation impacting dialogue. Rather, it should recognize that the United Nations is the only space in which all nations can come together to collectively deliberate on the best way to address common problems and to find solutions to benefit all humanity. Indeed, a problem which is common to all states and which knows no borders is transnational organized crime. This continues to diversify and it also continues to intensify in scope and scale, promoting violence and insecurity and harming people and their livelihoods. It is only through solid and coordinated partnerships that we'll be able to effectively effectively address this common threat and through this achieve safer, more inclusive, and peaceful societies. Given this situation, Mexico welcomes and appreciates the recent adoption at the end of 2025 of the UN System Common Approach to Prevent and Address Transnational Organized Crime. As a governing body of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, a functional commission of the Economic and Social Council, will have an important role to play in supervising the due implementation of the Common Approach, which has the aim of guiding entities entities in the United Nations system to ensure that they align and coordinate better when it comes to the support they provide to states to prevent and counteract transnational organized crime. Thank you very much, Chair.

Thank you. And next delegation is the, uh, delegation of Uruguay. You have the floor.

Thank you very much, Chair. This delegation would like to begin its statement by aligning itself with, with what was expressed by the Group of Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in its initial statement. Insofar as reaffirming its commitment to multilateralism, the rule of law, and the respect for human rights, recognizing the essential role of UNODC in supporting member states in strengthening systems to prevent crime, ensure criminal justice in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals. Having said that, in our national capacity, with our historic commitment as Uruguay to a position to defend the principles of international law and the 2030 Agenda in particular, in this intervention to SDG 16. We would like to reaffirm the crucial fundamental role to be played in the synergies between CCPJ, ECOSOC, and the High-Level Political Forum, as well as other multilateral processes to do with the 2030 Agenda. The aim of this being to promote cooperation coordinated comprehensive responses to the challenges connected to transnational organized crime, as was very well highlighted by the distinguished delegate of Colombia. Finally, we would like to express our deep concern with regards to the negative impact caused by criminal organizations on our societies through crimes committed, including smuggling of migrants, trafficking in persons, the recruitment of boys, girls, and adolescents. These are victims who need their human rights fully respected, no matter their migratory situation, nationality, sex, ethnicity, ethnicity, religion, or age. Thank you very much, Chair.

Thank you.

And the next and last speaker under this agenda item is the delegation of the International Criminal Police, Interpol. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Interpol welcomes the opportunity to address the Commission on how we can collectively accelerate the implementation of the 23rd security agenda, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions. As we navigate an increasingly complex global security landscape, Interpol offers 3 strategic insights to maximize the Commission's input. First, we need to confront the reality of polycriminality and its direct threat to sustainable development. Transnational organized crime groups no longer operate in silos. Today, a single criminal enterprise might simultaneously traffic drugs, exploit vulnerable populations, and engage in crimes that affect the environment. These overlapping criminal activities devastate ecosystems, exacerbate climate vulnerability, and rob developing economies of crucial revenue. Second, we need to prioritize the digital and financial enablers of modern crime. Cybercrime and online financial fraud have scaled exponentially, frequently supercharged by artificial intelligence and synthetic media. To safeguard the 2030 Agenda, international frameworks should proactively target the illicit financial flows that sustain these networks. Interpol remains committed to driving operational successes in asset recovery and cyber defense, ensuring that Crime does not pay. Third, maximizing our impact requires deep operational synergy and avoidance of duplicated efforts. UN-led political frameworks achieve their greatest success when seamlessly linked to global law enforcement infrastructure. To this end, Interpol stands ready to contribute to the upcoming 15th United Nations Crime Congress. The Crime Congress represents a critical milestone— milestone to align political commitments with operational realities on the ground. Mr. Chair, the tools to achieve these goals already exist. Interpol's secure global communication channels and data systems are at the immediate disposal of our 196 member countries. Guided by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on Interpol-UN Cooperation, Interpol provides real real-time access to global criminal databases containing millions of records on wanted persons, stolen property, and imminent threats. To conclude, Interpol remains committed to building a safer world together through integrating global law enforcement insights into the work of the CCPCJ and looking forward to robust outcomes at the 15th Crime Congress. Thank you.

Thank you very much. This concludes the list of speakers for Agenda Item 10, and I close this item, and we now move to the next agenda item. Okay, we need a minute here to rearrange the podium. So we will now turn to agenda item 11, which is the provisional agenda for the 36th session of the Commission. The draft provisional agenda for the 36th session was considered by the Extended Bureau during its meeting on the 13th of May, 28th of May, and 3rd of June 2026, and the chairs of the regional groups were requested to to hold consultations with their membership. During the meeting of the 4th of June, the Extended Bureau agreed to put forward the draft agenda as contained in the document with the symbol E/CN.15/2026/L5 for consideration in the plenary. Can I ask whether all members of the are ready to adopt the draft proposed as contained in E/CN15/2026/L5? I see that the United States is asking for the floor. Do you have the floor?

Thank you, Chair. The United States objects to the title of Item 10 in in the provisional agenda of the 36th session of the CCPCJ because it references the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The United States has longstanding and principled objections to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Instead of the 2030 Agenda, the United States supports focus, follow-up, and review of the core mandates of the CCPCJ to ensure it is delivering on its mission to combat rapidly evolving, complex, and global crime-related threats to the security of our countries, communities, and citizens. We therefore propose amending the title to this agenda item to delete the phrase, quote, "Including follow-up to and review and implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," end quote. This This amendment reaffirms the CCPCJ's core mandate and priorities. We ask that our statement and position on this agenda item be reflected in the official records of this meeting. Thank you.

Thank you for this statement. That means that the representative of the United States has made an amendment to the draft agenda for the 36th session contained in L.5. 5. I kindly ask the Secretary— no, it's already on the screen, thank you very much. In accordance with Rule 64 of the Rules of Procedure of the Functional Commissions of the Economic and Social Council, the Commission will now first take a decision on this amendment. May I ask, or may I take, that the Commission Wishes to adopt the oral amendment submitted by the representative of the United States? I see request for the floor by the delegation of Germany. You have the floor.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I'm taking the floor on behalf of Germany and all 5 of other EU member states which are current members of the CCPPI. CCPJ Commission. We do not approve of the deletion of the 2030 Agenda from the agenda and the work of the CCPJ. As members of the Commission, we believe that the Commission should remain committed to working with all partners to accelerate progress towards the SDGs through an encompassing and human rights-based approach to crime prevention and criminal justice. This is a consistent important position for my country and the European Union. We stress that efforts to achieve the SDGs and efforts to effectively prevent crime and ensure criminal justice are complementary and mutually reinforcing. We reiterate our strong commitment to the full, effective, and accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda, guided by its universality, indivisibility, sustainability and the integrated nature of the Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, we would request the retention of the agenda as originally presented.

Thank you. And I see that the delegation of Colombia asked for the floor. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chairperson. As was expressed by the distinguished delegate of Germany, Colombia does not believe it is possible to adopt the amendment proposed by the delegation of the United States due to the reasons that we have expressed throughout our interventions throughout this session. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Next delegation asking for the floor is Brazil. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Brazil also cannot go along with the proposal made by the United States delegation. While we recognize that the SDGs are non-binding, we highlight that it is a keystone document which has been guiding our work since 2015, and I think its benefits have been stressed enough by EU member states and other delegations. Thank you.

Thank you. I also see a request for the floor by South Africa. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair.

I just would like to take the the floor just to also support the delegation from Germany speaking on behalf of the EU members of the CCPCJ, as well as the other two speakers who have spoken to not support the amendment to the CCPCJ agenda. Thank you.

Thank you. I see no more requests. United States, please.

Thank you, Chair. The United States calls for a vote on our proposed amendment to the title of Agenda Item 10. Thank you.

Thank you. A vote has been requested to the oral amendment. The Commission will now commence with the process of voting on the oral amendment to the draft agenda as contained in L5. In accordance with the rule of— rule 2061 of the Rules of Procedure of the Commission, no representative may interrupt the voting except on a point of order in connection with the actual process of voting. Let me remind the Commission that in accordance with rule 58 of the Rules of Procedure of the Functional Commission of ECOSOC, a simple majority of the Commission members Present and voting is required according to the rules of procedure. Present and voting means members casting an affirmative or negative vote. Members which abstain from voting are considered as not voting. I now call only the members of the Commission, only the members of the Commission in favor of the amendment to raise their country signs and keep them raised till their country Every name is called out.

Argentina, United States.

Thank you.

I now call only on the members of the Commission not in favour of the amendment by raising their signs.

Albania, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czechia, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Indonesia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Zimbabwe. Thank you.

Thank you. And I now request the members of the Commission abstaining to indicate their abstention by raising their country signs.

El Salvador, Japan, and United Arab Emirates. Thank you.

Thank you. We now need a minute to summarize the results. Ja, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, the result of the vote is that there is a total of 2 votes in favour 28 votes against and 3 abstentions. Therefore, I declare the Commission has decided to adopt— to reject the amendment. Does a member of the Commission wish to make a statement, an explanation of vote, or any delegation wish to make a general statement? This is not the case. So since the oral amendment submitted by the representative of the United States has not been adopted, we shall proceed to take a decision on the provisional agenda as contained in L.5 as a whole. Can the Commission now adopt the provisional agenda as contained in L.5? Thank you. The provisional agenda is now adopted. I thank you. So this was also the end of Agenda Item 11. We move on to Agenda Item 12, which is other business.

There is here a request—

yeah, no other—

yeah.

No other business has been brought to the attention of the extended bureau of the Secretariat. Does any delegation want to bring other matters to the attention of the Commission? I see Italy. You have the floor.

Mr. Chair, Italy wishes to draw the Commission's attention to an issue which we believe will become increasingly significant for the future of criminal justice at the global level, namely the capacity of states to perform their investigative and judicial function effectively within the digital environment. New technology is deeply changing our societies, creating great opportunities in terms of economic and social growth. However, it also changes how criminals work due to the fact that criminal organizations now use digital networks and hidden encrypted messages to plan and hide their crimes across borders. In this session, we have talked about online fraud, scam centers, human trafficking, terrorism, and organized crime. These problems are all different, but they share a common feature in terms of the growing importance of the digital world. When it comes to solving these crimes, electronic data and communications are often the main a key factor to find criminals, protect victims, and deliver justice. Yet competent authorities face growing difficulties in lawfully accessing data and in implementing investigative measures provided for under national law, including the interception of communications. Italy is strongly committed to this issue at the international level as well. Within the G7 Roma-Leone Group and the European Union High-Level expert group on access to data for effective law enforcement, our country is helping to find shared solutions since we must ensure that new technologies do not stop states when it comes to preventing, investigating, and punishing serious crimes. We believe that better international cooperation must go together with more responsibilities from tech companies due to the fact that these digital service providers are essential players today in terms of the global communication system. Just a traditional telecommunication operator are required to comply with legitimate requests from the competent authorities in accordance with the safeguard provided for by law. We must consider how to ensure that digital service and new communication platform can also continue to facilitate the effective use of the investigative tools provided for by democratic legal systems. We are convinced that the protection of privacy, the protection of personal data, and the security of communication are essential pillars of our democracies. At the same time, we reckon that these values must coexist with the need to ensure that the digital world does not become a space beyond the reach of law. Helping our institutions adapt to new technology will be a major test for modern justice due to the fact that Effective justice is impossible when it comes to situations where we cannot access the information needed to find the truth.

Thank you.

Thank you very much for this statement. I see no more requests for the floor on this agenda item, so the agenda item 12 is closed. And I suspend now the meeting for 5 minutes because we have to rearrange the podium for the next agenda item, which is agenda item 13. And I'd like to remind colleagues that we started late this morning, 11 o'clock, and the morning session will last until 2 o'clock. Thank you. Excellencies, dear delegates, we now proceed with Agenda Item 13, which is adoption of the report of the Commission on its 35th session, and I propose that we first turn to the draft proposals that have been considered by the Committee of the Whole. I want to remind you that, as explained beforehand in the organizational arrangements, the extended bureau meetings as well as the pre-session consultations, the adoption of the resolutions and report will be conducted conducted fully paperless. The in-session draft reports and resolutions are available on the Commission website. The QR code linking to the webpage is available in the meeting room, and the webpage with documents will be displayed on the screen at adoption. We start with the consideration of draft resolutions as approved in the committee. Committee of the Whole, and I would like to thank Ambassador Atsushi Kaifu for his work as Chair of the CAO, the Commission, and I personally am grateful to you for leading the Committee of the Whole, and I'd like to give the floor to Ambassador Kaifu.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Excellencies, distinguished representatives, Dear colleagues and dear friends, I would like to briefly present the results of the work undertaken in the Committee of the Whole, which I have been proud to chair this week. As you know, 3 draft resolutions were tabled, namely ESTRAS CN 15/2026, originally L2, entitled Preventing and Combating Transnational Extortion of Children, tabled by the United States of America. L3, entitled Countering Trafficking in Persons for the Purpose of Forced Criminality, tabled by Belarus and Kazakhstan. And L4, entitled Strengthening Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Responses to Combat Proud, tabled by Japan, United Kingdom, and United States of America. I would first like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to all delegates for their professionalism, commitment, and dedication. They have strived to reach common ground, to find creative solutions, and have worked very, very hard. Indeed, many of them worked late into the night, or perhaps I should say into early, very early hours of this morning. After all these joint efforts, I am very pleased to announce that all three submitted resolutions, namely Resolution L.2, Resolution L.3, Resolution L.4, have reached consensus in the Committee of the Whole and are ready for considerations in plenary. In the current time, this is an achievement we can all be proud of. Mr. Chair, allow me to conclude by noting that the work of the Committee of the Whole once again demonstrated the value of multilateral dialogue Even where views differed, delegations remained engaged, solution-oriented, and committed to the objectives of the Commission. It has been an honor to serve as the Chair of the Committee of the Whole, and I would like to thank all delegations for the confidence they placed in me throughout this process. This helped me a lot throughout the process. I cannot find any words to bring my heartfelt gratitude to all of you. I appreciate your dedication, friendship, and tolerance, including the warm smiles that generously accompany my occasional poor attempts at humor during our meetings. Thank you, Mr.

Chair. Thank you, Ambassador Kaifu. Indeed, I think the work in the CAU was a great achievement and so far it looks like that this week is again a good week for multilateralism and that the Vienna spirit seems still to be alive. Thank you very much. So we will now start with the adoption of the draft resolutions. I would like— kindly request the delegations to abstain from taking the floor if their comments relate to editorial or translation matters and to provide those comments in writing to the Secretariat. Let me recall the process for the co-sponsorship of draft resolutions. Member States can co-sponsor draft resolutions only on the eDelegate at the very latest by Monday, the 8th of June, 2026, at noon. In addition, Member States can raise their country plates here after the adoption of the respective resolution. I will specifically open the floor for that purpose. I would also like to recall that the representative of the Financial Resources Management Services of UNODC explained at the pre-session consultations that statements of financial implications are only issued if there are implications on the regular budget. As the resolutions contained in documents L.2 through L.4 are subject to to the availability of extra budgetary resources, no oral statements on financial implications are needed. Hence, the adoption would not entail any additional budgetary implications on the regular budget. We will start with the resolutions approved by the Committee of the Whole in alphabetical order, and I call now on the Secretary to introduce the First Resolution.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, for giving me the floor. And as we just heard from Ambassador Kaifu, the Commission has for its consideration and adoption a total of 3 draft proposals, namely the unedited revised versions of L2, L3, and L4 that were considered and approved by the Committee of the Whole that met from Monday afternoon, the 1st of June, till this morning, the 5th of June. Following the sequencing of approval in the Committee of the Whole, the first resolution is the document— is contained in document L.4 and is entitled Strengthening Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Responses to Prevent and Combat Fraud, and is sponsored by Japan, United Kingdom, and United States of America, as well as Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, and Kazakhstan. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. May I now invite the Commission to adopt the resolution? Thank you. The resolution is adopted. Does any delegation want to make a statement? I see Japan, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. For the past week, I have spoken only through the impartial voice of a chair. It is therefore a particular pleasure to take the floor today for the first time in my national capacity. Faced with a threat that grows more cunning by the days and leaves victims across every region, Japan, together with the United States and the United Kingdom, brought forward this resolution. The road was demanding. We wrestled with questions of public-private cooperation, asset recovery, emerging technologies, and technical assistance. Yet those exchanges revealed something stronger than our differences: a shared resolve to combat fraud, confront fraud. Japan appreciates the consensus adoption of this resolution. Fraud respects no border. No system, and no policy orientation. This is precisely why a concerted approach is needed. I trust that today's achievement will strengthen action, deepen cooperation, and sharpen our collective ability to protect those at risk. Before concluding, I wish to express my deep appreciation to all delegations for their enthusiasm, professionalism, above all, friendship. Consensus is never the work of one delegation. It is built through patience, trust, and a willingness to listen. Today's outcome bears the mark of that collective effort. I also extend my sincere thanks to the UNODC Secretariat, the Conference Officers, Security Officers, interpreters, and all those whose dedication, often unseen, made our work possible. Finally, I am grateful to the United States and the United Kingdom for their partnership throughout this process. For Japan, the adoption of this resolution by consensus is both an honor and a source of genuine pleasure. Thank you, Mr.

Chair. Thank you, Ambassador Kaifu. Next on our list is the delegation of Brazil. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Dear colleagues, Brazil would like to congratulate Japan, United Kingdom, and United States of America on the adoption of this resolution on fraud. We commend Japan for the able and constructive manner in which it conducted the negotiations. Transnational fraud is a serious and growing challenge with significant impacts on individuals, societies, and public institutions. Brazil welcomes the Commission's attention to this important issue and reiterates its commitment to strengthening international cooperation to prevent and combat transnational organized crime in all its forms. Still, my delegation regrets that this resolution is gender-blind and that it lacks any reference to sustainable development or to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which, as mentioned before by my delegation, is a milestone commitment of the United Nations. Thank you.

Thank you. Next speaker is the delegation of the European Union.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have the honor to take the floor on behalf of the European Union and its member states to make a general statement. Let me begin by congratulating Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America on the adoption of the resolution entitled Strengthening Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Responses to Prevent and Combat Fraud by the Commission today. I am pleased to announce that the European Union and its 27 member states are co-sponsoring this resolution. Combating fraud, including cyber-enabled and all forms of digital fraud, remains a priority for the European Union and its member states. The European Union has endorsed both the Call to Action on Combating Fraud and the Global Public-Private Partnership framework against fraud adopted at the Global Fraud Summit here in Vienna. In this context, UNODC plays an important role in the prevention and combating of fraud as the leading UN entity in the fight against transnational organized crime in the UN system. We have observed a significant expansion in the digital dimension of organized crime, with criminal networks exploiting online platforms and artificial intelligence to target potential victims, particularly young people, spread disinformation, coordinate illicit activities, transfer funds, and conceal profits. The scale of this phenomenon is unprecedented. Online fraud and scams inflict not only financial harm but also profound beyond personal suffering. Scam centres have become a disturbing global reality, demanding that we intensify our efforts, operational support, and international partnerships. At the EU level, online fraud is now the fastest-growing segment of organized crime. According to the 2025 survey by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, nearly 1 in 4 people in the EU—24%— has fallen victim to online fraud. Yet only 15% report these crimes to the police, and fewer than half, 44%, report them at all, meaning official statistics vastly underestimate the true extent of the problem. Mr. Chair, no one is immune to digital fraud. Victims, regardless of gender, age, or background, suffer not only financial losses but also severe psychological harm with tragic consequences. The European Union is now finalizing a new action plan that adopts a whole-of-society approach. The action plan will put victims in the center and will focus on recovery of funds by the victims, but also on supporting authorities in the challenges they face in prosecuting criminals. The resolution adopted today provides concrete tools and measures to to prevent and combat fraud, setting high standards for a comprehensive and wide cross-sectoral approach, one that includes victim assistance and the restitution of funds. The resolution also recognizes the relevance of the UN Convention Against Cybercrime, which the EU and 14 of its member states have signed, as a critical instrument in preventing and combating fraud. The EU firmly believes that the new convention will help us make meaningful progress, particularly in addressing digital fraud, child sexual abuse, and exploitation. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and to strengthening our partnership with UNODC in implementing this resolution. I thank you.

Thank you. Next on the list is the delegation of the United States.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair, and thank you to Ambassador Kaifu and our Japanese colleagues for their exceptional leadership, patience, and hard work on this very important resolution. For too long, Americans have been victimized by scam operations directed by transnational criminal organizations. Americans are losing tens of billions of dollars a year from transnational fraud. These are not statistics. These are real people, families devastated, savings wiped out, lives upended by criminal networks that operated with impunity across borders. Today, we take a decisive step in answering that threat. The United States is proud to have co-sponsored this resolution alongside Japan and the United Kingdom to strengthen crime prevention and criminal Justice responses to combat transnational fraud. This resolution enshrines our shared commitment to addressing one of the fastest-growing and most devastating forms of transnational organized crime affecting our citizens and communities worldwide. This resolution demands meaningful action to be taken consistent with states' respective domestic laws and international obligations. We have committed to protecting and supporting victims of fraud, to establishing procedures for compensation, and to ensuring that criminals are denied the ability to retain the profits of their crimes. This resolution also recognizes the industrialization of fraud in scam centers and through other criminal organizations, and recognizing this fact, The resolution reaffirms the need to dismantle the very structures of fraud networks, the scam centers, the deceptive recruitment practices, the financial networks and supply chains that made criminal activity possible. Notably, it tasks the Commission with collecting information on emerging crime trends, typologies, good practices, and challenges. And making that information available annually so that we can continue to learn, adapt, and respond together. Today's passage of this resolution is proof that when member states stand together, we can meet the moment. We are grateful to all who joined us in supporting this resolution, and we call on every nation to carry its commitments forward into concrete action. Our citizens demand resolve. Today we delivered it. Thank you.

Thank you for the statement. I see the United Kingdom is asking for the floor. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair.

We warmly welcome the adoption of the resolution to strengthen crime prevention and criminal justice responses to prevent and combat fraud, which we were proud to have sponsored. We extend our sincere thanks to Japan for its leadership in driving this important outcome. This milestone reflects the shared recognition of the growing threat fraud poses to our economies, security, and citizens.

The real test now lies in delivery.

It is essential that we translate this resolution into concrete action, including by fully implementing its commitments and sustaining momentum from the Global Fraud Summit.

We stand ready to work with partners to ensure these outcomes lead to stronger international cooperation, enhanced capabilities, and meaningful impact in the fight against fraud. Thank you.

Thank you. I see no, no more requests for the floor. Then I'd like to ask, does any other delegation want to co-sponsor the resolution? If so, please raise your country plate and lower it when your country name has been read out by the Secretary.

Canada, Thailand, Australia, Egypt, Chile, Morocco, and here I will need to— Kazakhstan, Albania, Philippines. Ukraine. And is it Norway? Norway. And Vietnam. I really apologize. You are so far in the room that from the podium it's very difficult to see. Apologies for that. Thank you. Thank you very much.

And we now turn to the next resolution. I call again the Secretary to introduce the next resolution.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and the second proposal is contained in document L. 2 and is entitled Preventing and Combating Transnational Sexual Extortion and then in quotation marks, sextortion of children and is sponsored by the United States and Egypt and Kazakhstan. Thank you.

Thank you. May I now invite the Commission to adopt the resolution? So, thank you, the resolution is adopted. Is there any delegation that wants to make a statement. Yeah, see, request by the floor by the US. The floor is yours.

Thank you, Chair. 137. That's how many reports of sextortion are received by the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on average every single day. And behind each report is a child. Chair, we were here for 5 days. This means that 685 reports of children targeted for sextortion occurred during this year's CCP CJ. And that's just what was reported. Look around. This is more than the number of delegates in this room. While we sat behind microphones and computer screens, So did children, and so did criminals. These 685 reports reflected children that were trapped in a terrible situation, coerced and manipulated by profit-driven evil. Furthermore, while here this week, we know of at least 2 sextortion reports that required immediate law enforcement intervention due to the suicidal ideation flagged in the in chats of the victims. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received these reports, wasted no time, and reached out to the appropriate law enforcement authorities to take action. The United States, too, will not rest until justice is served. We will use every available tool in our arsenal to pursue these sick criminal networks and take them down. The United States welcomes the adoption by consensus of this resolution entitled Preventing and Combating the Transnational Sexual Extortion— Sextortion— of Children, not because it solves the problem, but because it delivers a necessary and critical step. Countries agreed in this— agreed that this is an urgent priority, and they agreed on the need to take action. They promised They promised to prevent, investigate, prosecute, and combat transnational sextortion of children. They promised to hold offenders accountable. They promised to criminalize these offenses. They promised to increase public awareness to prevent these crimes. They promised to work together to identify victims. They promised to strengthen cooperation with the private sector. We extend our sincere appreciation to all delegations for their constructive engagement throughout this process and for Ambassador Kaifu's effective management of the Committee of the Whole. We also thank the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for its expertise and participating in the U.S. side event this week. This resolution reflects our shared recognition that the transnational sextortion of children is a growing phenomenon that transcends borders, devastates children and their families, and demands a coordinated international response. This resolution calls for meaningful action to be taken consistent with our respective domestic laws and international obligations. Most importantly, today's consensus sends a clear message The international community is united in its determination to prevent these crimes, support victims, and hold offenders accountable. The other message we send for the grieving families all over the world: We see you. We hear you. And we commit nothing but our best. The United States thanks all member states for their support and looks forward to working together to advance the implementation of this resolution. We encourage all member states to join us in co-sponsoring this important resolution and understand the opportunity to do so runs until noon on Monday, June 8th. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you. Next speaker is the delegation of Mexico. You have the floor.

Gracias, Señor Presidente. Thank you, Chair. My delegation supports the adoption of this resolution. Given its central objective of promoting international cooperation through the exchange of information and digital evidence in order to prevent, investigate, and punish criminals involved in the financing, distribution, transmission, possession, and acquisition of material which shows the abuse or sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. International cooperation and technical assistance in terms of prevention and combating this crime and mutual legal assistance require minimum understanding between states, and therefore I would like to share with the co-sponsors our concern with regard to the difficulties to do with the use of the word sextortion in this resolution, given that it is a term which is not has not yet been universally agreed and which is not covered in national jurisdictions. During the negotiations on the draft, we proposed the use of terms which are universally accepted, such as online child sexual abuse or child sexual exploitation material. Chairperson, we're able to join the consensus on this resolution. In putting the better— the highest interest of children above political issues. Therefore, we are continuing with our national efforts to prevent and combat this crime and to cooperate with other countries and international organizations which are competent in this regard, remarking that the use of the word sextortion in the title and in the preamble paragraph of this resolution does not have any legal legal implication for our country. We congratulate the co-sponsors on the adoption of the resolution. We would like to request that this statement be recorded as an explanation of vote subsequent to the adoption of the resolution. I thank you.

Thank you. And I see the delegation of Brazil is asking for the floor.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Brazil congratulates the sponsors of— on the adoption of this important resolution on the sexual extortion and abuse of children online. We appreciate the constructive spirit shown by the sponsors as well as the flexibility to take into account concerns raised by delegations, including by Brazil. Brazil attached great importance to the strengthening to strengthen international cooperation to protect children from sexual extortion and from any kind of sexual violence, exploitation, and abuse, including when such crimes are committed or facilitated by digital means. Still, we regret that this resolution is also gender-blind and that it lacks any reference to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is a milestone of the United Nations and has been guiding the works of this organization since 2015. Thank you. Thank you.

Next speaker is the delegation of Colombia. You have the floor.

Muchas gracias. Thank you very much, Chair. While we share the concern with regard to extortion of minors using digital media, Like the delegation of Mexico, and as we said throughout negotiations, we believe that the term included in this resolution does not— it's not equivalent to a legally recognized behavior as recognized under our jurisdiction, and therefore we will continue to work to combat and prevent sexual exploitation and the abuse of minors, but this will not set a precedent for the recognition of this term in our legislation. I thank you.

Thank you for this statement. I see no further requests for the floor, and again, I'd like to ask delegations who want to co-sponsor the resolutions to raise their country plate and lower it when your country name has been read out by the Secretary.

Canada, Japan, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Thailand, Australia, United Kingdom, Ghana, Thank you.

Thank you. And with this, we turn to the third and last resolution, and I'd like the Secretary to introduce the last resolution.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And the third proposal is contained in document L.3 and is entitled Countering Trafficking trafficking in persons for the purpose of forced criminality, sponsored by Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Egypt. Thank you.

May I now invite the Commission to adopt the resolution? The resolution is adopted. Thank you. Does any delegation want to make a statement? Kazakhstan, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Distinguished delegates, I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all delegations for the time, energy, expertise, and patience they devoted to our common negotiating process. The long hours, difficult conversations, and efforts to bridge differences between— differences reflect our shared commitment to addressing the most serious crimes of our time. We are especially grateful to the Chair of the Committee of the Whole, His Excellency Ambassador Kaifu, who stood with us throughout these 5 days and guided our work until the early hours of this morning. His dedication, leadership, and determination to find common ground were instrumental in bringing us to this outcome. We also extend our sincere appreciation to the UNODC Secretariat for its professionalism, support, and tireless efforts throughout the negotiations. Distinguished delegates, last night was a powerful example of the Vienna spirit. Delegations stayed at the table, listened to one another, and worked through difficult issues in good faith. That commitment made today's consensus possible. Before I conclude, allow me to— allow me one final reflection. What brought us