15th UN Crime Congress: Plenary meeting 4 – 27 September 2026

Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. I hereby call to order the fourth meeting of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. We will continue with a list of speakers of the high-level segment. In parallel, Committee 1 is resuming Workshop 1 on building resilient societies with a focus on protecting women, children, and youth, fostering engagement, education, and the culture of lawfulness. I would kindly remind all distinguished delegates to stick to the three to maximum five minutes limit in order to allow everyone to address the Congress in this high-level segment. I now have the pleasure to give the floor to His Excellency, Mr. Abbas Sharif, Prosecutor General of Maldives, Sir Froyd Yous, please.

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem. Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, assalamu alaikum, and a very good morning to you all. It is a distinct honor and a privilege to stand before you today representing the Republic of Maldives as its Prosecutor General. The Maldives commends the United Arab Emirates on holding this important Congress and extends its sincere appreciation for the gracious hospitality extended to us. We also express our profound gratitude to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for its thorough and dedicated preparations. The theme of this Congress speaks of a digital age. For the Maldives, that is not just a theme. Half a million people live on more than 180 inhabited islands across 900 kilometers of ocean. Maldives 2.0, the national vision set out by His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu in May 2025, makes one promise to its citizens. that a person on the most distant island will receive the exact same public service as a person in the capital, Malé, through a national digital identity and on infrastructure that the state itself controls. The prosecution service is the first justice institution to deliver on this promise. It is also how crime now reaches them. In the first half of this year, cybercrime reports in the Maldives more than doubled. But only a small fraction has reached my office for prosecution because the evidence, the money, or the suspect is in another jurisdiction. That gap is the measure of what this Congress is designed to address. The Maldives has acted on its side of the obligation. In December 2024, we amended our Penal Code, our Criminal Procedure Code, and our Mutual Legal Assistance Act in line with the Budapest Convention, so that our investigators now hold preservation, production, and disclosure powers over electronic evidence. We signed the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime last October. and are working to ratify it at the earliest date. We call on all states to do the same so that the global 24/7 network the Convention creates can begin to operate. We have also joined the International Alliance Combating Telecom and Cyber Fraud, and next year we will hold the annual plenary of the CJIS Network, its first in the Indian Ocean. Simultaneously, we are working towards accession of the Budapest Convention. Mr. President, this Congress asks how criminal justice stays people-centered in a world of continuous change. The Maldives believes the answer lies in the rules under which technology, and artificial intelligence in particular, is allowed into the work of investigators, prosecutors, and courts. A small state cannot afford to get this wrong. It cannot buy back public trust once an algorithm has been allowed to decide who stands trial. So my office has published its first governance framework for artificial intelligence before deploying a single tool, paid for from the national budget rather than waiting for a partner. The principle is simple, a machine may assist a prosecutor, it will never substitute human judgment. No algorithm will decide who stands trial, and no court will receive evidence or any document without full disclosure of AI involvement. That is the commitment I bring to this Congress in the form of a pledge. With a view to advance crime prevention and criminal justice, I pledge for the Republic of Maldives to adopt and bring into force, financed entirely from our own national budget, a governance framework for the use of artificial intelligence in our prosecution service, under which no decision to charge is automated and any use of artificial intelligence in material placed before the court is disclosed. And to make that framework and its training curriculum available at no cost to other jurisdictions, to be implemented at the end of 2028. Excellencies, we make this pledge as a contributor, not a beneficiary. A state whose institutions are paid for by others holds its sovereignty on terms set elsewhere. This one is ours. and it is offered to any jurisdiction that wants it. I thank you.

I thank Distinguished His Excellency Prosecutor General from the Republic of Maldives for his statement. I now have the pleasure to give the floor to Her Excellency Ms. Marie-Jose Houde, Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada. Madame, the floor is yours, please.

Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, It is an honor to take the floor before this 15th Crime Congress, and Canada welcomes the adoption of the Abu Dhabi Declaration. We are meeting at a difficult time for the world and for Canada. This Congress recalls to us the importance of the SDG number 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies to ensure access to justice and to establish effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. This goal is closely linked to the promise of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. That is to say, to build a world in which all of us can live free of fear and all forms of violence, regardless of our background, faith, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Rule of law is at the heart of this goal. We must continue to eliminate obstacles to equality in the eyes of the law and access to justice. These obstacles can exacerbate inequalities, undermine trust in institutions, and weaken social cohesion. This, in turn, jeopardizes rule of law as well as our common goal of building communities that are safe for all. One of the major threats that our citizens and our national security are facing today comes from criminal networks which are increasingly sophisticated, high-tech, and globalized. They often target the most vulnerable, and the large, criminal profits they generate undermine legitimate economies and compromise global economic stability.

Chair, Canada is taking action to address these criminal threats in three key ways. First, we are strengthening our criminal laws related to serious and organized crime. We are addressing violent crime, intimate partner violence, femicide, and hate crimes. We are also proposing reforms to help law enforcement better disrupt and combat crime in the digital age. On July 16, Canada signed the UN Convention against Cybercrime, reflecting our commitment to combat cyber-enabled criminality through international cooperation. Canada also passed legislation to stem the flow of illegal fentanyl and crackdown on money laundering. And we are working to create a financial crimes agency as well as national anti-fraud strategy. Second, we are giving law enforcement, border services, and community organizations more resources to address serious crimes, including organized crime, to protect the public, support victims, and survivors and strengthened civil society, because strong laws must be matched by strong capacity. Third, Canada is focusing on prevention by addressing the social and economic drivers of crime. This includes investment in areas like affordable and supportive housing, mental health and addictions treatment, and programming targeted at at-risk youth. Consistent with the 2030 Agenda's commitment to leave no one behind, Canada firmly believes that criminal justice efforts are most successful and sustainable when they respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, consider gender and other identity factors, and consider the impact on the most vulnerable. The challenges posed by organized crime require a coordinated, innovative, and forward-looking response. grounded in multilateral cooperation and the international rule of law. Canada looks forward with member states, the UN, and civil society to tackle transnational organized crime, safeguard our societies, defend our economic prosperity, and strengthen global security. So our pledge for justice, to support progress on crime prevention and criminal justice and the implementation of the Abu Dhabi Declaration, Canada commits to advance new criminal reforms to strengthen the investigation and prosecution of complex financial crimes in Canada, enhance national justice data collection and usability to better monitor the health of the criminal justice system and to strengthen evidence-based responses, and continue to invest internationally in effective technical assistance and capacity-building efforts that are grounded in the rule of law and continue to advance intersectional gender considerations and equal access to justice. Thank you.

Thank you. I thank the distinguished delegate from Canada for her statement. I now have the pleasure to give the floor to the distinguished delegate from Ecuador, Ms. Margali Luis, member of the Council of the Judiciary of Ecuador. Madame, the floor is yours, please.

President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, It is an honor to speak before this Plenary, representing the Republic of Ecuador. We would like to express our profound thanks to the United Arab Emirates for its warm hospitality and for the excellent organization of this Congress. The Abu Dhabi Declaration, which we adopted, renews our shared commitment to effective prevention of crime and to responsible criminal justice systems based on the rule of law, in full respect of human rights and human dignity. It also calls on us to provide coordinated, timely and evidence-based responses to criminal threats which are increasingly complex, interconnected and transnational. Faced with the dynamics of transnational organized crime and terrorism, isolated responses are insufficient. Ecuador is responding to this global challenge with a modern, technical criminal architecture driven by innovation and fully respectful of human rights. President, for Ecuador, this is not an abstract discussion. Our country is facing the direct impact of transnational criminal organizations with links to drugs trafficking, which make use of violence, corruption, money laundering, and the recruitment and exploitation of boys, girls, and adolescents. Faced with this reality, we reaffirm the principle of shared and common responsibility and the need for concerted and sustained action. We know that criminal effectiveness requires incorruptible institutions. In this regard, the Judicial Council is implementing a policy to prevent corruption and has co-created the Open Justice policy alongside UNDP. In the digital era, our actions are measured by results. We have created the complementary anti-money laundering unit under the notary sector. Under the FATF standards, we activated an early warning unit, which has already monitored 509 public hearings of high impact. And we have made specialized knowledge more widely available through a judicial academy virtual classroom with 15,365 participants. on organized crime, cybersecurity, digital evidence, and with a gender approach, alongside 10,274 civil servants who have been provided training in ethics, moving towards the international certification anti-bribery ISO 37001. In the same vein, the National Court of Justice has strengthened judicial management through indicators of case backlog and resolution, providing timely responses in cases of corruption and transnational crime, thanks to international cooperation, while moving forwards with the Italian-Equatorian programme, Itajus, in the assessment of high security courtrooms, President. Our justice and security institutions are currently implementing normative strategies which are cutting edge. The State's Attorney General's Office has implemented a technical instrument on criminal policy related to organized crime and terrorism, strengthened with the support of the OAS, to strengthen the investigative capacities faced with the convergence of these threats. In addition, aware of the fact that organized crime in particular impacts the most vulnerable, Alongside UNODC, we have designed a technical instrument for the investigation of the crime of the recruitment of boys, girls and adolescents. The Abu Dhabi Declaration commits us, in particular, to strengthening prevention and reducing risks of victimization, recruitment and exploitation of children and youth by criminal groups and terrorists. In line with this commitment, Ecuador, before this Multilateral Forum, announces a firm pledge for justice, led by the Ministry of the Interior. We commit to implementing a territorial comprehensive policy aimed at the prevention and eradication of the recruitment and exploitation of children, which will be implemented in a priority manner during the period 2026-29, returning dignity and rights to our children and youth. and repairing the social fabric of our nations. Excellencies, Ecuador's experience confirms that no state can face alone criminal organizations that operate across borders, illicit markets, and digital environments. International cooperation is essential. Ecuador reaffirms its will to share these best practices and methodologies. We call for strengthening of cooperation to make judicial cooperation agile and effective, including mutual legal aid, the timely exchange of information and evidence, and the protection of those taking part in justice processes. Impunity cannot find shelter in our borders, nor in the gaps of the digital environment. Let us turn the commitments taken in Abu Dhabi into tangible, measurable results, building independent, effective, resilient, judicial systems which have great integrity and are profoundly human. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished delegate from Ecuador for her statement. Now I give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Kazembe Kazembe, the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage of Zimbabwe. The floor is yours, please.

Mr. President, your excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, let me begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, on your election to preside over the 15th Crime Congress. I also wish to thank the host government for the warm welcome and hospitality that we have received since our arrival. At the outset, Zimbabwe aligned itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the G77 and China and the African Group. The theme of this Congress is both relevant and timely. It provides a unique opportunity to share experiences in advancing crime prevention, strengthening criminal justice systems, and promoting the rule of law, particularly in tackling the linkages between organized crime, terrorism, fraud, and corruption. We welcome the Commission on Crime Prevention and Crime Justice Initiative to ensure appropriate follow-up on the implementation of the Kyoto Declaration. Zimbabwe remains committed to addressing persistent, emerging and evolving crimes and threats through building resilience, implementing relevant national legal frameworks, domesticating the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its protocols. advancing prevention, and strengthening bilateral, regional, and international partnerships. Mr. President, Zimbabwe is advancing innovative, evidence-based crime prevention strategies to support the Sustainable Development Goals. Zimbabwe recognizes corruption as a serious challenge and remains committed to strengthening measures to combat the scourge, which is critical to sustainable economic growth and prosperity. While progress is being made, Capacity constraints remain in areas such as digital forensics, financial intelligence, mutual legal assistance, and asset recovery. Increasingly sophisticated criminal methodologies, together with limited material, technical, and financial resources, underscore the need for sustained international support. We therefore call for enhanced technical assistance and technology transfer to strengthen national capacities. The emergence of the digital economy and artificial intelligence presents tremendous opportunities for sustainable development, but also creates significant challenges for governance, the rule of law, economic stability, and security. Taking advantage of the digital revolution, Zimbabwe has developed smart traffic management systems and digital crime management systems, among others, in an endeavor to use technology to assist the fight against crime. On the flip side, the activities of sophisticated transnational criminal syndicates including those linked to money laundering, trafficking in persons, and cybercrime, threaten development and social cohesion. Zimbabwe therefore welcomes the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime and calls for enhanced multilateral cooperation in combating cybercrime. Mr. President, given the transnational nature of criminal activities, it is essential for Strengthening mutual legal assistance frameworks remain very essential for cross-border investigations, the exchange of evidence, the recovery of illicit assets, and the dismantling of transnational crime networks. Zimbabwe continues to collaborate with regional partners in combating terrorism and urges the international community to support these efforts. Intelligence sharing and cross-border law enforcement cooperation remain essential to addressing terrorism and protecting peace and stability. At the same time, sustainable economic development, job creation, and improved living conditions for youthful populations are important in preventing young people from falling prey to extremist ideologies. Mr. President, Zimbabwe has also prioritized people-centered, inclusive, and responsive criminal justice systems in line with evolving best practices. At the beginning of 2025, Zimbabwe established a fast-track court system which has already produced positive results, reducing the case backlog by approximately 70%. The country has also introduced the electronic case management system in an effort to use technology in improving the criminal justice system. We remain committed to working with member states and other stakeholders to close existing legal and operational gaps while upholding internationally and regionally accepted human rights within the criminal justice systems. We welcome the adoption of the Abu Dhabi Declaration and recognize its important role in advancing criminal justice, strengthening the rule of law, and promoting international cooperation. Zimbabwe is decided to participate in the Pledge for Justice Initiative, as it challenges us to move beyond reaffirming commitments to translating them into practical, coordinated, and sustainable actions. I thank you, Mr. President, and now for Zimbabwe's pledges. With a view to advancing crime prevention and criminal justice, I pledge for the Republic of Zimbabwe to do the following by 2030. First, to fully operationalize and update procedural rules under the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, Chapter 907, concerning electronic evidence admissibility, cybercrime prosecution, and specialized protection measures for vulnerable witnesses. with the aim of strengthening judicial accountability, fair trial guarantees and access to justice. Second, to adopt formal inter-agency collaboration guidelines among the Zimbabwe Republic Police, National Prosecuting Authority, Justice Service Commission and Security Services. while operationalizing the Victims Compensation Fund under the Whistleblowers and Witness Protection Legislation to strengthen coordinated protection and financial support for witnesses and public interest disclosures. Thirdly, to establish a national multi-stakeholder coordination mechanism involving the National Prosecuting Authority, the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, and civil society to strengthen procedural safeguards for detained persons, and to streamline court-ordered victim compensation mechanisms under the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act. Finally, to achieve 90% case backlog clearance, building on the establishment of a fast track or fast track courts, specialized anti-corruption courts, and prison decongestion initiatives. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished delegate from Zimbabwe. I thank the distinguished delegate from Zimbabwe. Thank you, Minister, for your statement. I now give the floor to His Excellency Azadul Saman, Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs from Bangladesh. Mr Minister, the floor is yours, please.

Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, Assalamu alaikum and a very good morning to all of you. It is a great honor to address the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice on behalf of the government and the people of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. at the outset. Please allow me to express our sincere appreciation to the Government of the United Arab Emirates for its warm hospitality and excellent arrangements in hosting this important Congress in Abu Dhabi. We also commend the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for its dedicated efforts in convening this vital global forum. The theme of this Congress, Accelerating Crime Prevention, Criminal Justice and the Rule of Law, Protecting People and Planet and Achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Digital Age, resonates deeply with Bangladesh's national priorities and our shared global responsibilities. Mr. President, under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Tariq Rahman, The government of Bangladesh remains committed to strengthening the rule of law, improving access to justice, enhancing institutional accountability, and building a justice system that serves the people. We firmly believe that effective crime prevention must go beyond enforcement. It must address the underlying social and economic conditions that create vulnerability to crime, while ensuring that justice systems remain accessible, fair, accountable, responsive, and overall leaves no one behind. Therefore, guided by Sustainable Development Goal 16, we have undertaken significant reforms to strengthen our justice institutions, enhance transparency, and restore public trust. We are modernizing legal frameworks, expanding free legal aid, promoting alternative dispute resolution, and reducing case backlogs through legislative and institutional measures. Digital tools, including e-filing, online cause lists, virtual hearings, and electronic service of summons are being progressively introduced to make justice more accessible, efficient, and people-centered. Excellencies, We also recognize that the nature of crime is rapidly changing. Globalization, technological advancement, and digital transformation of our crimes have created unprecedented opportunities, but have also generated new vulnerabilities. Let me address three of them that affect Bangladesh. First, as criminal networks increasingly exploit digital technologies, cyber-enabled crime, financial fraud, and criminal Illicit flows threaten the security of institutions and citizens alike. Bangladesh strongly supports robust international cooperation and welcomes promulgation of UN Convention against Cybercrime and ongoing global fraud summit to tackle cybercrime, facilitate asset recovery, and strengthening digital forensic capabilities. and for that reason we have enacted Cyber Act 2026. Secondly, we must maintain an unwavering global front against human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and money laundering. Protecting victims, especially women and children, remains at the core of our national crime prevention strategy. This year, our government has enacted Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Prevention and Suppression Act 2026, repealing all prior legislations in this field. The updated 2026 statutory framework incorporates comprehensive measures of prevention, investigation, prosecution, victim protection, and international police cooperation in strict alignment with UNTOC and its protocols. Finally, as a climate-vulnerable frontline nation, Bangladesh is deeply concerned by crimes that affect the environment, including illegal wildlife trade, illegal logging, and illicit dumping of hazardous waste. Bangladesh believes that crimes affecting the environment require stronger international attention. Protecting people and protecting the planet must therefore be understood as mutually reinforcing objectives. Distinguished delegates, no nation can effectively fight organized transnational crime in isolation. Effective crime prevention requires genuine global solidarity and concrete technical cooperation. Bangladesh attaches particular importance to strengthening the capacities of developing countries by ensuring their access to advanced technologies, training, and resources to counter digital and cross-border crimes. We further emphasize our strengthening mutual legal assistance with particular focus on accelerating procedures for extradition, information sharing, and transitional investigation. Mr. President, Bangladesh reaffirms its strong support for the work of this Congress and for the collective pursuit of justice that protects people and planet. Together, we can accelerate progress toward the 2030 Agenda and leave no one behind. In this journey, Bangladesh will continue to pursue reforms and international partnership that strengthen public confidence in justice institutions and contribute to a safer, more just and inclusive society. As we stand together at this pivotal moment, Bangladesh reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the principle of Abu Dhabi Declaration, recognizing that borderless criminal threats demand unyielding international solidarity. Let us translate our collective dialogue here into concrete national actions, ensuring that our legal frameworks protect both our people and our shared planet for generations to come. To conclude, in line with the Abu Dhabi Declaration, Bangladesh pledges to undertake necessary reforms to its criminal procedure code with a view to strengthen and expanding the effective use of summary trials to expedite the disposal of cases, reduce case backlogs, and promote timely and equitable access to justice. This reform will part Bangladesh's broader commitment to strengthening the efficiency, accessibility, and effectiveness of its criminal justice system. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished delegate from Bangladesh, the Minister, for his statement. I now give the floor to Her Excellency Ms. Alex Davies-Jones, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Victims, Violence Against Women and Girls and International Justice of the United Kingdom. Madam, the floor is yours, please.

Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, it is a huge honour to be here. Thank you to the United Arab Emirates government for bringing us all together, and to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Executive Director for their leadership. The United Kingdom greatly values its partnership with the UAE, including in our work to tackle illicit finance. That partnership goes right to the heart of this Congress. Crime does not respect borders. It is ever more organized, ever more sophisticated, so our response has to be every bit as connected and relentless. It has to be built on cooperation and a determination to act together. That could not be more important than in tackling violence against women and girls. At home, the United Kingdom has an ambitious goal to halve this violence in a decade. But I do not want that fight to stop at our own borders. We want women and girls to live free from fear wherever they are in the world, and whether they are online or offline. As more of our lives move into a digital space, abuse sadly follows. The technology that connects and empowers also intimidates and harms. On Sunday, the United Kingdom will host a side event on technology-facilitated violence against women and girls, and I hope that you will all join us later today, so that together we can find truly global solutions to protect our women. We need a genuinely global response that applies to fraud, too. The United Kingdom is proudly the main donor of this year's UNODC-Interpol global fraud summit, but now we need to turn commitments made there into actual action. I am looking forward to discussions and commitments made on maintaining momentum this week, so that we strengthen our response even more. The United Kingdom is also committed to the UNODC's global programme on implementing the organised crime convention and promoting the organised crime strategy toolkit, supporting thousands of practitioners in 20 countries worldwide. And this year, we are investing 1.5 million pound more into initiatives to counter organised crime. However, those criminals increasingly operate online, and today almost every serious investigation relies on digital evidence. Our capabilities also have to take pace. Making sure that agencies can access the data that they need to counter serious organised crime, coupled with the right oversight, That is a priority for the UK, and we will also carry on working with our friends across the world to strengthen policing and justice systems and to share our expertise and knowledge. However, we also need to look ahead. AI gives us huge opportunities to deliver swifter, faster and fairer justice for the public that we serve. The UK is pursuing that responsibly through our AI action plan. and while keeping public trust, human rights, and the rule of law at the heart of everything we do. Friends, no country can tackle these challenges alone. It is only by sharing expertise and working together that we can build justice systems that are stronger, more effective, trusted, and safer societies for all. I cannot wait to see what this Congress will achieve. Thank you. So now, with a view to advancing crime prevention and criminal justice, I pledge that between 2026 and 2031, the United Kingdom will: provide financial support to dismantle transnational scam compounds in South East Asia and strengthen our collective response to fraud; We will build capacity across Ukraine's justice system, including prisons, probation and rehabilitation, with continued support for law enforcement and criminal justice reform. We will launch a call for evidence on online misogynistic image-based abuse to identify new harms and how we respond to them. We will introduce effective protections on phones and tablets to stop our children from taking, sharing or viewing nude images, legislating to secure compliance if required. We will continue to support the UNODC's global programme on implementing the Organised Crime Convention, helping states develop evidence-based responses to that transnational organized crime. And we will protect survivors when they cross borders, hosting the first ever Hague Convention Working Group meeting in London later this year to strengthen international cooperation. Thank you.

I thank you very much, Your Excellency, for your strong statement. I now give the floor to distinguished delegate, Ms. Valentina Pavlicic, President of the Supreme Court of Montenegro. Madame, the floor is yours, please.

Honorable Chairman, Excellencies, high representatives of United Nation member states, It's a great honor for me to address this gathering, where we're talking about the future of criminal justice and the rule of law. We live in a time where digital technology is changing the world faster than state and its institutions manage to respond to the changes that these technologies belong. Therefore, the key question is no longer whether we will use artificial intelligence in the judiciary, but how we will use the responsible and safely while preserving the decisive role of humans. On the one hand, the digital age opens new opportunities for the development of society, but also the new opportunities and spaces for the execution, organization, financing, and counselment of highly sophisticated crime. It is clear that crime is increasingly using technology, but we in the national judicial system must also be ready to respond to these challenges at the new times. How to make justice faster, more accessible, and more efficient, and at the same time preserve what no technology can replace: a man, his human rights, his dignity, and independence of the court and the judge. As the Chief of Justice of Montenegro, I want to make a clear statement. Technology must be a powerful tool of the judiciary, but the rule of law must remain the limit of its use. The goal is not to reject technology, but to determine a rightful place to help the judge and never to replace his judgment. This means that any innovation must include privacy protection, the right to fair trial, procedural guarantees, transparency, and clear judicial responsibility for every judicial system. It was on these principles that we started the digital transformation of the judiciary in Montenegro. We recently presented the first system of electronic case law based on AI. Its purpose is not to decide for the judge, but to enable the judge to find relevant case law more quickly, to analyze legal issues more efficiently, and to devote more time to the judge reasoning and responsibility for the decision. Technology that increase the judge ability, not decreases his responsibility. The quality of justice does not depend only on the speed. Equally important is its consistency. That is why we in Montenegro, with the valuable support of UNODC, as the highest court in the country, parallel with the introduction of new technologies, we developed strategic documents. guidelines and analysis of judicial cases law in the most sensitive areas of criminal law, organized crime, high corruption, drug trafficking, as well as the field of illegal firearms. The goal is simple but essential. that the law should be applied equally, that legal certainty should be greater, and that the citizen can have confidence that his case will be decided according to the law and the evidence. Dear participants, our experience confirms that digital transformation can be a powerful instrument of judicial reform, but it confirms something even more important. We cannot digitalize justice. We cannot digitalize trust. We cannot automate justice. And we cannot replace the independence of the judge with the algorithm. That's why the question is not what artificial intelligence can do, but we want to do and how AI can help us. because faster court proceedings are not progress if they are not fair. And this is exactly what technology meets the rule of law. So let me to conclude, we can build a state of art digital justice system, but its real measure will not be how much IT has in it, but how much trust it manages to build among citizens by the distribution of justice. That is why our goal is not only the judiciary that while will be faster and more modern. Our goal is judiciary that, thanks to the responsible application, digital technology will be more efficient and transparent. And that is precisely why, in time, when technology is changing faster than ever, one thing must remain unchanged. Man, human, his rights and his dignity must remain at the center of justice. Thank you for your attention.

Thank you, Madam President, for your statement. Now I give the floor to the next speaker, Her Excellency Ms. Maria Sebastian de Lis, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Spain in Vienna, Austria. Madame, the floor is yours, please.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Spain aligns itself with the declaration made by the European Union and in a national capacity, I would like to add the following comments. Allow me to begin by thanking the government of the United Arab Emirates, and in particular the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, for its hospitality and the excellent organization of this Congress. I'd also like to thank Judge Al-Balushi for his leadership over the last months during negotiations on the declaration. Spain welcomes the adoption by consensus of an ambitious and comprehensive Abu Dhabi Declaration which sets out our shared priorities in terms of prevention of crime and criminal justice for the next five years. Its implementation needs to contribute to achieving the 2030 Agenda and, in particular, Sustainable Development Goal 16 on peace, justice and robust institutions. We face tangible challenges and also require equally tangible responses. Organized crime increasingly operates beyond borders, making use of new technologies and diversifying its activities and sources of financing. Faced with this, we require robust institutions, effective legal frameworks, and above all, international cooperation which is more agile and operational. Spain will continue to work to strengthen our response faced with the organized crime, trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling, drugs trafficking, environmental crimes, hate crimes and new forms of crime facilitated by technology. We need to improve our capacities for investigation, including financial investigation and assets recovery, in order to identify and dismantle economic structures which support criminal organizations. Prevention needs to be part of this response. Spain supports evidence-based policies and an adequate evaluation of risks, particular attention paid to the youth and vulnerable persons, and believes in the participation of civil society, the scientific community and the private sector. Combating corruption is also a priority. In 2025, Spain approved its state plan to combat corruption, which strengthens prevention of risks and control mechanisms, capacities of the Ministry of Finance and the judicial power, and asset recovery and citizen awareness-raising presence. An effective policy for prevention of crime needs to be accompanied by effective and accessible justice systems. Spain is determined to modernize its justice system and bring it closer to its population. The digitization of procedures and public justice systems offers tangible opportunities to improve their accessibility and effectiveness and move towards justice which is more agile, closer to people and based around people. To move towards universal access to justice for all, we also need to eliminate barriers which still prevent many people from exercising their rights equally. We need to strengthen legal aid, reduce delays and ensure protection and support for victims, paying particular attention to vulnerable persons and communities. Spain will continue to drive forward this agenda. Also, as co-chair, alongside Brazil, and chair of the group of chairs on access to justice in Vienna. In addition, gender equality and the full, equal and significant participation of women needs to be mainstreamed in our prevention policies on crime and criminal justice. We also need to strengthen prevention and response faced with gender-based violence and hate crime, which affects the dignity of persons and coexistence in our societies. Excellencies, the Abu Dhabi Declaration provides us with a shared framework for the next five years. Our task now is to implement it and translate its commitments into tangible results. Thank you, President. And with regards to our commitments, Spain pledges to continue promoting the digital transformation of the justice system with the aim of enhancing public services and ensuring accessible justice for all citizens, with special attention to vulnerable groups and a victim-centered approach.

I thank Her Excellency Maria for her statement. Now I give the floor to the distinguished delegate from New Zealand, His Excellency Mr. Richard Kaye, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Arab Emirates.

Please, Mr. Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. New Zealand congratulates the United Arab Emirates on hosting the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. We thank the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and all those involved in preparing this important global forum. We meet at a time when crime is increasingly complex, transnational, and technology-enabled, requiring innovative responses and strengthened international cooperation. The theme of this Congress recognizes a fundamental reality, the rule of law, effective criminal justice institutions, and evidence-based crime prevention are essential to protecting people, supporting sustainable development, and maintaining public trust in an increasingly digital world. A geopolitical trend which sees rules increasingly giving way to power feeds into a deteriorating global environment where transnational organised crime thrives. Criminal groups are exploiting digital platforms. international networks, and global trade to expand activities such as drug trafficking, cybercrime, fraud, and money laundering. While New Zealand is geographically remote, we are not immune to these threats, making international partnerships and strong domestic responses more important than ever. Our response is guided by a commitment to both prevention and partnership. We recognise that effective crime prevention extends beyond law enforcement alone. Strong communities, social inclusion, access to justice, support for victims, and trusted institutions all contribute to safer communities. New Zealand is investing in approaches that strengthen community resilience, address the drivers of offending, and support those most vulnerable to victimisation. We continue to pursue evidence-based interventions that reduce harm and improve outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. We are also working to ensure that our criminal justice system remains responsive to technological change. This includes enhancing capabilities to investigate and disrupt cybercrime, strengthening our ability to identify and recover criminal assets, improving information-sharing arrangements, and supporting the responsible use of emerging technologies within the justice sector. International cooperation remains central to our efforts. New Zealand understands that no country can address transnational crime alone. Criminal groups do not recognise borders, and neither should our resolve to work together against them. We support practical collaboration to combat organised crime, corruption, cybercrime, trafficking in persons, illicit financial flows, and other serious forms of transnational offending. We are also committed to supporting security and justice across the Pacific. Resilient institutions, capable criminal justice systems, and trusted law enforcement agencies are critical to our regional stability and prosperity. New Zealand values its partnerships across the Pacific and remains committed to working alongside Pacific countries to build capability, share expertise, and address common challenges. As technological innovation accelerates, we must ensure that our legal and policy frameworks keep pace while safeguarding human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law. New technology presents enormous opportunities to improve public safety and access to justice, but they also create new avenues for criminal exploitation. Our collective task is to harness innovation responsibly and ensure that criminal justice systems remain effective, fair, and accountable. Mr. President, this Congress provides an opportunity not only to exchange experiences but also to shape a shared vision for the future. New Zealand supports efforts to strengthen international cooperation, promote evidence-based policy, deepen knowledge sharing, and advance practical solutions that protect people and communities. We look forward to engaging constructively in discussions ahead and to contributing to the outcomes of this conference, including the Abu Dhabi Declaration. Together, we can strengthen crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law in support of safer, more secure and more sustainable societies. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished delegate from New Zealand for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegate from the Russian Federation, Mr. Igor Zibov, The State Secretary, Deputy Minister of the Interior of the Russian Federation. Minister, for ICEOs, please.

Distinguished President, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Russian Federation, we welcome the participants and thank the United Arab Emirates for their warm welcome and the excellent organization of this event. We agree with and support the idea of focusing this Congress on building up collective efforts of participating countries to combat crime in strict accordance with the fundamental principles of international law, and with the UN playing a central coordinating role. Unfortunately, in recent times, the world has not become safer. We're still seeing the entire gamut of threats from transnational crime, which has become larger in scale, more ruthless, more high-tech, and more diverse. In Russia, the crime situation is under control. Crime rates are steadily declining. We have long been free of any dangerous violations of the public order. We note the continuing collusion between extremist organizations, terrorists, and organized criminal groups, and attempts by them to recruit -- attempts to recruit them to destabilize certain countries and entire regions. During our special military operation, our troops and special services are increasingly often encountering nationalists and combatants from criminal organizations arriving on mass in combat zones from abroad, including from Latin American drug cartels. Let there be no confusion about them. They will certainly be using the experience they've gained on the battlefield to commit crimes and resist the authorities in their countries of origin. There's a new trend of the large-scale use by criminals of sophisticated methods of remote social engineering to incite individuals with certain profiles to commit acts of terrorism, including attacks on schools, stashing of drugs, and participating in fraud, as well as other dangerous crimes. In certain countries, criminal groups are essentially acting in the open. and the military has to be mobilized to eliminate them, as was the case, for example, with the crackdown on criminal call centers in Myanmar. An equally important and problematic issue is identifying and introducing new approaches to combat financial crime and laundering of the proceeds of crime with the use of cryptocurrency anonymous payment systems, and transactions on popular gaming platforms. An important step toward curtailing this problem is the UN Convention against Cybercrime. We joined the call in the Abu Dhabi Declaration for a speedy ratification of the convention by all countries, and our country has ratified it. We support the decision of the UNODC Secretariat to develop an additional protocol to the Convention. We welcome the initiative of the International Alliance to Combat Telecom and Cyber Fraud to create an international organization that would be specialized in the development of international cooperation to combat ICT crime. We note the continued global threat of illicit drug trafficking. The main challenges here, we believe, are the internationalization and collusion between drug syndicates and special services of certain states, as well as the use by drug traffickers of encrypted communications channels and closed cyber platforms to distribute drugs, as well as the development of technologies for the production of synthetic drugs and highly potent substances, the effective To effectively combat this, we must work together, combining our resources and experience. The UNDC is doing a lot in this regard, but there is still much work left to be done. Once again, we firmly adhere to the concept of zero tolerance for the non-medical use of narcotics and strict controls in this area, and we have no intention of softening our stance. We note the growing interest of organized crime in international migration. In various countries and continents, we are seeing the use of legal and especially irregular migration flows for the movement of saboteurs, terrorist combatants, envoys of extremist organizations, and active members of criminal organizations. Migration crises arising in various regions of the world are often caused by and fueled by transnational criminal groups, which gain significant profits from the smuggling of illegal migrants. Once again, we call upon participants in this Congress not to allow the politicization of international police cooperation. All law enforcement has the same goal, to protect their own countries and the world as a whole from criminal violence. The use of double standards in these issues plays into the hands of international criminals. We are prepared to engage in such a dialogue on all of these areas. The Russian Federation supports the UAE initiative called Pledge for Justice and reaffirms our commitment to combating crime. For many years now, Russia, under the aegis of the UN ODC, has been providing support to interested states on many critical dimensions. Russia's yearly contributions to the ONDC budget go toward implementation of projects to combat the use of ICTs for criminal purposes, to combat illegal drug trafficking, counter corruption, and other forms of transnational crime. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished delegate from the Russian Federation for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegate from Slovakia, Mr. Pavol Panis, Ambassador to the Slovak Republic to the United Arab Emirates. Sir, the floor is yours.

Distinguished President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Colleagues, I have the honour to deliver the statement on behalf of the Slovak Republic. Let me begin by extending my best wishes to you, Mr. President, for a successful 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice here in Abu Dhabi. The Congress comes at a time when crime is increasingly complex, interconnected, and technologically enabled. The Abu Dhabi Declaration provides a pragmatic and action-oriented framework for the coming years, emphasizing effective prevention accessible and accountable justice, stronger international cooperation, digitalization, support for victims, social integration, and evidence-based policies. In this regard, we believe that the exchange of practical experience and good practice among Member States can contribute to the effective follow-up to the Congress and to achieve concrete results. The Slovak Republic reaffirms its commitment to strengthening effective crime prevention and ensuring fair, accessible and accountable criminal justice system in the line with the Abu Dhabi Declaration. The Slovak Republic supports a thought to translate international commitments into concrete measures at the national level. In this context and within the framework of the Pledge for Justice initiative, the Slovak Republic undertakes the following commitments for the period 2026 to 2031. With a view to advance crime prevention and criminal justice, I pledge on behalf of the Slovak Republic to complete the establishment of a network of information offices for victims of crime by 2031, and to amend the Crime Prevention Act with the aim of strengthening a holistic approach to crime prevention. With the aim of promoting effective alternatives to custodial sentences, reducing reoffending and facilitating the social reintegration of offenders, I pledge on behalf of the Slovak Republic to strengthen and develop by 2031 the probation system electronic monitoring, and restorative justice by 2031, including the expansion and improvement of intervention and probation programs, as well as the professional training of specialists working in the field of criminal justice. The Slovak Republic welcomes the Pledge for Justice initiative and remains committed to contributing to its objectives through continued national efforts and international cooperation. These commitments reflect our conviction that effective crime prevention must address both the needs of society and the needs of individuals affected by crime, while criminal justice responses should contribute to rehabilitation and reduce reoffending. We look forward to continuing our cooperation and working together to ensure that the outcomes of the Congress are effectively followed up. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished delegate from the Slovak Republic for his statement. Now, I give the floor to the distinguished delegate from Sweden, Ms. Annika Tornborg, acting Special Envoy for Combating Trafficking in Yes. The next speaker on my list, Acting Special Envoy for Combating Trafficking in Persons, Ms. Annika Thunberg from Sweden. Please proceed, madam.

Thank you very much. Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. First, let me join others in expressing my warmest gratitude to the government of the United Arab Emirates for hosting the Congress. My sincere thank you is also extended to the UNODC Secretariat. Sweden, as an EU Member State, stands behind the statement made by Ambassador Carl Halle Gaud on behalf of the European Union. In addition, I would like to make the following remarks. Mr. President, in the Abu Dhabi Declaration, which we warmly welcome, We commit ourselves to intensify our efforts to prevent, address and eliminate the demand that fosters trafficking in persons, especially of women and children, for all forms of exploitation. Sweden criminalised the purchase of sexual services in 1999. This has been an important measure to promote gender equality reduce gender-based violence, and combat human trafficking. It has reduced the attractiveness of the Swedish market for human traffickers in sexual services and has made it easier for victims to come forward. But criminal groups are always one step ahead. To deal with the new challenges emerging with the digitalized world, The Swedish Criminal Code was amended in July 2025 to also include the remote purchase of sexual acts, for example, through interactive videos or webcams. Mr. President, cybercrime is evolving as we speak. Child sexual abuse has grown dramatically. Fraud has become a scourge and is a volume crime. Our elders are exposed. Ransomware is a pervasive threat. It is clear we must adapt to an ever-changing environment and actively work together across borders to advance legislation, capacity building and awareness raising. and combat the entire chain of criminal activity, including the use of anonymization technologies and illegal financial flows. To protect our children in all their diversity is a top priority. Swedish criminal law contains provisions criminalizing any online exploitation or contact with a child for sexual purposes, so-called grooming. A perpetrator can also be convicted of rape without being in the same room as the child, for example, when threats or blackmail are used to force a child to perform sexual acts on camera. It is also criminalised to possess, distribute or access material depicting the sexual abuse or exploitation of children. Mr. President, It is a top priority for Sweden to prevent children and young people from being drawn into criminal activity. As part of Sweden's digital offensive against criminal gangs, the Act on the Removal of Online Recruitment Content entered into force in July this year. The purpose of the legislation is to counter the online incruitment of children and young people into criminality and to combat the phenomenon of crime as a service, whereby criminal activities are advertised in the online marketplace. The law grants the Swedish police authority the power to order hosting service providers to remove content online aimed at recruiting individuals to commit criminal offences. A hosting service provider that receives such an order must remove the content or disable access to it as soon as possible and no later than one hour after receiving the order. The law empowers the Swedish police to require online platforms to take down criminal recruitment advertisements that are disseminated to the public online, including death lists and assignments to carry out crimes, including shootings and bombings. Since the new law entered into force in July this year, The police have applied it in approximately 35 cases, the majority directed at TikTok and some directed at Meta. And now the pledge. Therefore, with a view to advance crime prevention and criminal justice, I pledge for Sweden to continue to implement the Act on the Removal of Online Recruitment Content. This act aims to stop gangs and criminal networks from recruiting children and young people through social media and other digital platforms where criminal tasks are shared openly. It is a priority for Sweden to take preventive measures to stop children and young people from becoming involved in crime. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished delegate from Sweden for her statement and pledge. Thank you very much. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegate from Lithuania, Mr. Minister Mikus, Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to the United Arab Emirates. Excellency, the floor is yours.

Distinguished Chair, Excellencies, dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor to address you on behalf of Lithuania. I would like to thank the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for a smooth organization of this United Nations Congress. We meet at a time when the international community is facing increasingly complex challenges to peace, security, and justice. Ongoing instability and armed conflicts, including Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, continue to inflict immense human suffering while creating opportunities that enable organized crime, corruption, trafficking, and other forms of serious transnational criminal activity to flourish. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine demonstrates how armed conflict can generate wider and long-lasting security risks. Beyond its devastating human toll, armed conflicts may create conditions that facilitate illicit trafficking in firearms, human beings, and fraudulent identity documents, contribute to irregular migration, and enable other forms of organized crime. They can also weaken public trust in institutions and increase societies' vulnerability to criminal exploitation. The illicit trafficking of firearms deserves particular attention. Weapons diverted from conflict areas can fuel organized crime and violent crime far beyond the region where they originated, posing a serious threat to public safety and security. Preventing and disrupting such trafficking requires effective international cooperation, timely intelligence sharing, strong border management, and close coordination between law enforcement and judicial authorities. At the same time, organized criminal groups are becoming increasingly adaptable and sophisticated. They exploit new technologies, operate across jurisdictions, and take advantage of humanitarian crises, economic vulnerabilities, and instability to expand their activities. We observe these trends clearly in the Baltic region. The instrumentalization of migration, airspace violations, threats to critical infrastructure, GPS interference with GPS signals, false bomb threats, and information manipulation demonstrate how criminal capabilities can be exploited as part of broader hybrid activities. Criminal networks may provide the expertise, infrastructure, and illicit services needed to facilitate such activities. This increasingly resembles a crime-as-a-service model in which criminal capabilities are used to support cyber security and destabilization objectives. This changing environment requires law enforcement and criminal justice institutions to adapt accordingly. Crime prevention can no longer be addressed separately from broader resilience and security efforts. We need to strengthen our capacity to identify and address the links between organized crime, hybrid activities, and ever-emerging threats. Human trafficking remains a particularly grave concern. Women, Children and other vulnerable groups face heightened risk of exploitation, especially in situations of forced displacement and instability. At the same time, the growing threat posed by synthetic drugs demands increased attention. Criminal groups involved in their production, trafficking, and distribution increasingly exploit digital technologies and operate across national borders. These challenges cannot be effectively addressed by any country acting alone. International cooperation, based on the rule of law and full respect of human rights, must therefore remain in the centre of our efforts. The United Nations has a unique role in bringing Member States together, strengthening criminal justice systems and supporting practical cooperation against transnational crime. To respond effectively to evolving criminal threats, we should continue to invest in three key areas. First, we must enhance the exchange, analysis, and use of criminal intelligence to improve our collective ability to detect and disrupt criminal networks. Second, we should strengthen cooperation in tracing illicit firearms, illicit financial flows, and other criminal assets that fuel organized crime and undermine security. Third, we need to build greater capacity to investigate and prosecute cross-border criminal networks, including those operating in the digital sphere. By strengthening these areas of cooperation, we can reinforce the resilience of our institutions, improve our collective security, and ensure that criminal networks are unable to exploit vulnerabilities created by conflict, instability and technological change. In this regard, cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Interpol and regional organizations is particularly valuable. Our experience shows that combining operational cooperation through Interpol channels, effective criminal intelligence sharing, expertise, and capacity-building support provided by UNODC can significantly strengthen our collective ability to prevent, detect, and disrupt organized crime. Lithuania remains firmly committed to supporting Ukraine. We strongly condemn Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, which continues to cause immense human suffering, undermine international security, and create conditions that can be exploited by organized crime and other illicit actors. We reiterate our call on Russia to immediately cease its aggression, withdraw its forces from the territory of Ukraine, and fully respect international law, including the Charter of the United Nations. We stand with Ukraine. We stand for justice. And we stand for strong international cooperation capable of confronting both traditional and emerging forms of crime. By working together, sharing information, and strengthening our institutions and upholding the rule of law, we can make our societies more resilient and ensure that those who exploit conflict, instability, and human suffering for criminal purposes are held accountable. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished delegate from Lithuania for his statement. Now I'll give the floor to the distinguished delegate from Switzerland, Mr. Bernardo Stadelmann, Vice Director, Federal Office of Justice, Head, Criminal Law Division. Prozeus, please.

Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, ministers, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Switzerland wishes to thank the United Arab Emirates and UNODC for their welcome and the organization of this Congress. We also welcome the adoption of the Abu Dhabi Declaration, an important framework for our joint action. Transnational organized crime constitutes a growing threat. Criminal networks exploit borders and differences between our legal systems. They resort to violence, and to corruption. They infiltrate the legitimate economy and sometimes seek to influence public institutions. In doing so, they threaten security, prosperity, and trust in the rule of law. These networks adapt rapidly. Digital technologies, virtual assets, and artificial intelligence facilitate fraud, extortion, and money laundering on an unprecedented scale. How, then, can we provide a comprehensive response to this threat? First, we must fully implement the existing instruments. The United Nations Conventions against Transnational Organized Crime and against Corruption remain the pillars of our joint action. Their effectiveness depends on their implementation by states. In this regard, we emphasize that all efforts to combat crime must respect human dignity, fundamental rights, and the rule of law. Our criminal justice systems must be fair, transparent, and accountable. They must protect and support victims and promote rehabilitation to prevent reoffending. Secondly, our cooperation must become faster, and it must anticipate technological developments. Electronic evidence and assets cross borders within seconds, while our procedures sometimes take months. Neutral legal assistance and police cooperation must adapt to this reality. The authorities must have the necessary means to identify and combat constantly evolving criminal networks. An effective response also requires robust international frameworks to prevent the misuse of these technologies. Switzerland contributes to this objective by promoting international Geneva as a global center of expertise for digital governance. Thirdly, our response must give priority to illicit financial flows. Increased international cooperation and rigorous financial investigations are indispensable to preventing criminal organizations from profiting from their activities. To this end, Switzerland co-organizes with Ethiopia and UNODC, the Addis Ababa Conferences on Asset Recovery. I now have the great pleasure of presenting Switzerland's pledge. With a view to advancing crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law, I pledge for Switzerland to continue its efforts to promote a people-centred, inclusive and evidence-based approach to crime prevention and criminal justice. This approach protects human rights and strengthens societies. To this end, Switzerland supports dialogue and partnerships at the national, regional and international level. In doing so, we involve relevant stakeholders, in particular from civil society. As regards access to justice, Switzerland pledges to further develop restorative approaches within its criminal justice system. In this context, we combine our efforts with the ongoing work at the national parliamentary level. Switzerland pledges to advance justice internationally through the responsible use of artificial intelligence and other new technologies. At the same time, we provide for safeguards ensuring human rights, transparency, accountability and meaningful human oversight. Switzerland will also continue to be a reliable partner in international cooperation in criminal matters and to provide technical assistance to states in the joint fight against transnational organized crime. Switzerland's recently adopted new national strategy against organized crime underscores the importance of international cooperation, of our prevention efforts, and our coordinated work at all levels of government and, in specific cases, with private actors. Switzerland is currently translating this strategy into a national action plan.

I thank you.

I thank the distinguished delegate from Switzerland for his statement and pledge. I now invite the distinguished delegate from the United Republic of Tanzania, Mr. Sylvester Mwakitalu, Director of Public Prosecution. The floor is yours, please.

Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, the United Republic of Tanzania aligns itself with the statement made by G77 and China and African groups, and we would like to make the following remarks in its national capacity. On behalf of the United Republic of Tanzania, we wish to congratulate you on your election to provide over this important Congress and assure you of our full support. Tanzania also wishes to convey its sincere appreciation to the Government of the United Arab Emirates for its hospitality extended to us since our arrival in this country. Mr. President, we are honoured to participate in this important discussion on advancing innovative and evidence-based crime prevention strategies towards social, economic and environmental development. Tanzania reaffirms its commitment to the principles of the United Nations and to strengthening international cooperation in reinforcing crime prevention, criminal justice. And we recognize that effective crime prevention is essential to peace, social stability, economic development, environmental protection, and sustainable development. Tanzania, therefore, supports innovative, evidence-based, inclusive, and people-centered approaches to addressing crime and its root causes. Tanzania, through her comprehensive legal framework, national development experiences, underscore the importance of maintaining peace, stability, good governance, and the rule of law as a foundation for sustainable development. The current development agenda and its vision 2050 further emphasizes inclusive development, a modern knowledge, technology-based economy, environmental protection, and the well-being of all citizens. Crime prevention in Tanzania, therefore, is not viewed solely as a law enforcement responsibility. It is rather a comprehensive development priority requiring coordinated action across government institutions, communities, civil society, academia, and international partners. Capacity building and innovation is enhanced through training, technology, and technical capacity. particularly in cybercrime, digital evidence, financial investigations, and emerging threats, while upholding human rights, due process, and accountability. In regard to international cooperation, Tanzania promotes international, regional, and bilateral cooperation through information sharing, mutual assistance, joint investigations, extradition of fugitive offenders, asset tracing and recovery, and technical assistance. Mr. President, Tanzania firmly believes that the most effective crime prevention strategy is one that combines capable institutions with resilient and empowered communities and inclusive socioeconomic development. However, prevention must be proactive rather than reactive, evidence-driven rather than assumption-driven, and collaborative rather than isolative. It must also recognize that safer societies, strong economies and healthy environment are not separate objectives. They are mutually reinforcing components of sustainable development. As Tanzania advances the implementation of its long-term development agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, it remains committed to strengthen the rule of law, investing in innovation and evidence, empowering communities, protecting natural resources, and enhancing cooperation against emerging and transnational threats, as well as reinforcing the country's commitment to integrated and sustainable development. Tanzania remains committed to working with the United Nations member states, regional organizations, and partners to build self-inclusive and sustainable societies. Pledges for justice. With a view to advance crime prevention and criminal justice, I pledge for the United Republic of Tanzania to integrate financial investigation and asset recovery by 2031. Tanzania commits to strengthen coordination and adopting intelligence-led responses to transnational organized crime. This will include instrumentalizing parallel investigation, on financial matters in all serious crime cases and enhance the law for tracing, freezing, and the confiscation and the management of proceeds of crime. Also, Tanzania has pledged to establish victim-centered action against trafficking in person by 2031. This will be done by establishing and operationalizing safe houses and shelters in the Dodoma and Arusha regions, as well as in Zanzibar. The shelters will provide secure accommodation, rehabilitation and psychosocial support for victims. Furthermore, the shelters will be supported by an information system designed to capture victim profiles, track offender records, analyse demographics and monitor intelligence trends. thereby ensuring comprehensive protection and effective responses. I thank you, Mr. President, for your kind attention.

I thank the distinguished delegate from the United Republic of Tanzania for his statement. I now give the floor to distinguished delegate from Australia, His Excellency Mr. Ridwan Jadwat, Ambassador of Australia to the United Arab Emirates. Sir, for your use.

Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Assalamu alaikum. I'll open by first thanking the host of the 15th Crime Congress, the United Arab Emirates, for their ongoing commitment to the multilateral system and for supporting this important forum. The United Nations and the Crime Congress serve an integral role for international community to come together, to share our experiences, manage our differences, and develop meaningful solutions to shared challenges. Australia reiterates its ongoing commitment to working with international partners to strengthen crime prevention and criminal justice frameworks. We reaffirm our commitment to the multilateral system and the rules and norms that guide our collective efforts, recognising the central role of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals in the theme of this year's Crime Congress. Australia remains steadfast in advocating for universal human rights and gender equality As core pillars of crime prevention and criminal justice, protecting the human rights of all affected by crime is essential to building fair, effective, and sustainable justice outcomes. Australia also recognizes the vital role of non-government participation in global efforts to combat transnational crime and for informing responses through their lived experiences. For example, the involvement of such stakeholders in the implementation of the UN Convention against Cybercrime. We must continue to strengthen our collective responses to all forms of crime impacting our communities. This requires us to remain agile and adaptable in an ever-evolving criminal environment. Criminal service-based markets enabled through online platforms are lowering the barrier for individuals to hire the tools and expertise to commit serious crimes. In particular, we are deeply concerned by the recruitment of vulnerable, often young individuals, increasingly being exploited by organised criminal actors as an expendable workforce to proliferate criminal activity and amplify community harm. This is a challenge that extends beyond borders. We are also seeing rapid growth in online scam operations across Southeast Asia, linked to transnational organized crime, including human trafficking for forced criminality, large-scale fraud, and illicit financing. These operations demonstrate how evolving criminal business models can rapidly scale harm across borders, victimizing international communities. Australia is responding to scam centres through international partnerships. Operation Firestorm, an Australian Federal Police-led initiative, brings together regional partners to disrupt transnational scam syndicates across Southeast Asia. By targeting the convergence of cyber-enabled fraud and organised crime, the operation has delivered several joint outcomes and seeks to further strengthen regional law enforcement cooperation against agile criminal networks and multiple crime threats. The misuse of technologies such as generative artificial intelligence is further amplifying harms, including sextortion, deepfake sexual material, and online child abuse and exploitation. These tools enable the rapid creation of hyper-realistic synthetic content used to coerce or manipulate victims at scale. accelerating the commercialization of abusive material and complicating law enforcement efforts. Australia looks forward to hosting an ancillary meeting to share our whole of society approach under the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021 to 2030. The event will be held on Monday, 28th September 00 AM, Gulf Standard Time, and we welcome your attendance. In the face of converging threats from criminal actors, only strong multilateral cooperation can disrupt these harmful crimes and better protect our communities, national security, and resilience. I will now present Australia's pledge for justice. With a view to advance crime prevention and criminal justice, I pledge Australia's support for the Waka Moana Initiative, a Pacific-led maritime security initiative aimed at enhancing capacities to detect, disrupt, and dismantle transnational organised crime groups. This measure will include a $600 million Australian Government investment, with a view to strengthen maritime surveillance, intelligence sharing, and coordinate law enforcement responses across the Pacific to counter illicit drug trafficking that is fuelling organized crime and community harm throughout the region. Thank you very much. Shukran jazilan.

I thank the distinguished delegate from Australia for his statement and pledge. Now, on my speakers list as the next speaker, Mr. Ali Celik, Deputy Minister of Interior from Turkey. Floor is yours, please, Excellency.

Mr. President, Ms. Executive Director, distinguished delegates. First of all, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the authorities of the United Arab Emirates and the Secretariat of the UNODC for their valuable efforts in organizing this important Congress. Mr. President, an effective and fair criminal justice system is one of the cornerstones of a safe and strong society. As the Republic of Turkey, we attach great importance to preventing crime and ensuring the effective administration of justice by making use of technological capabilities, concluding judicial proceedings within a reasonable time frame, and developing a solution-oriented, predictable and accessible justice system. At the same time, we are expanding restorative and compensatory justice practices and placing people and particularly victims at the heart of our criminal justice system. We continue our determined efforts to combat new generation criminal organizations and terrorist bodies. Combating transnational and organized crimes, including trafficking of persons, migrant smuggling, money laundering, cybercrime, and drug trafficking remains among our priority areas. The transnational nature of these crimes clearly demonstrates that our response must also be based on the cross-border cooperation. We, therefore, make an effective use of all available platforms of international cooperation and aim to leave no safe haven for criminals. Mr. Chair, while we recognize the opportunities offered by the digitalization, we are also fully aware that criminal activities are increasingly moving into cyberspace. In this regard, we make effective use of the latest technologies, including artificial intelligence, in the prevention, detection, and investigation of crime. Turkey is among the countries that have signed United Nations Convention against Cybercrime. However, we use technology not only to combat crime, but also to facilitate access to justice. We promote the resolution of disputes through alternative mechanisms, such as reconciliation, mediation, and arbitration, without the need to go to the courts. Over the last past five years, we have resolved more than one million disputes through reconciliation, providing faster solutions for the parties, while contributing to reducing the workload of the judiciary. We are also developing digital and mobile solutions to facilitate access to justice, particularly for disadvantaged groups and strengthening the integration of artificial intelligence in our justice system. We are also introducing a new vision to our correctional system. While safeguarding public security, we make use of alternative sanctions where appropriate and place greater emphasis on the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders back into society. As crime becomes increasingly complex, transnational and technology driven, strengthening information sharing, coordination and joint operational capacity among relevant institutions has become indispensable. Turkiye makes use of data analytic-based systems to identify crime and criminal networks and is developing proactive approaches aimed at identifying risks before crimes are committed. In this context, the rapid assessment of information and intelligence, their timely sharing with relevant institutions, and the effective use of international cooperation mechanisms are of critical importance. Particularly in combating smuggling and organized crime, we focus not only on the tangible side of the criminal activity, but also on the individuals, groups, structures, and financial networks behind such activities. Identifying sources of criminal financing, proceeds of crime, and money laundering methods, uncovering the hierarchical and financial links within organized criminal networks, and analyzing the entire chain from the production to the distribution of illicit goods are key elements of our approach. In line with this approach, we attach great importance to our cooperation with UNODC. We believe that information and experience sharing, capacity building, and stronger multilateral cooperation mechanisms can make an important contribution to our collective security. In this regard, we are pleased to host the UNODC Regional Office for Southeastern Europe, which aims to support capacity building in these countries in the region. We are pleased to host them in Istanbul. Through the Turkish International Academy Against Drugs and Organized Crime, we also remain a strong supporter of UNODC capacity building projects. In addressing threats such as terrorism, transnational crime, organized crime, cybercrime, and drug trafficking, the key to success lies in combining strong national capacities with effective international cooperation. As Turkey, we will continue to work resolutely with our international partners to build safer, more just, and more resilient societies. Let me once again thank all those who have contributed to the organization of this Congress, and I wish the Congress every success and fruitful outcomes. Mr. Chair, I would like to shortly bring to your attention that the dissolution process of PKK terrorist organization is continuing. The process must be implemented comprehensively, including by all structures, branches, and affiliated networks of the PKK. This issue is not open to negotiation. Within the context, the dissolution of so-called SDF is a promising development. We will continue to closely monitor the integration process in Syria. With the PKK laying down its arms, we are We expect an improved security environment within the region, particularly involving Turkey, Iraq, and Syria, which we have been heavily affected by the PKK-related terrorism for decades. With these remarks, I would like to submit my respects to all of you. Also, we believe that preventing cultural artifacts is a very important issue because Strengthening the protection of cultural heritage, preventing the illicit use of cultural artifacts and transnational organized crime and money laundering activities, and addressing the illicit trafficking of cultural property, I pledge for the Republic of Turkey to provide training, support, and share experience through cooperation between the Directorate General of Cultural Essence and Museums and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime under the project, improving the protection of cultural heritage and preventing exploitation of cultural artifacts in transnational organized crime and money laundering activities in South Eastern Europe towards countries involved in the project to be implemented within the duration of this project. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished delegate from Turkey for his statement and pledge. Now I invite the distinguished delegate from Czechia Mr. Adam Smic, Deputy Minister of Czechia. Please, the floor is yours, please.

Dear Mr. President, Your Excellencies, dear colleagues, it is a true honor for me to address you at this important forum on the occasion of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. The Czech Republic fully aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union and our collective pledge. Allow me to share a few experiences and observations in our national capacity. First and foremost, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the United Arab Emirates and to the UNODC Secretariat for organizing and preparing this Congress, which has not been an easy task in the current geopolitical environment. The Czech Republic welcomes the main theme of this Congress as we attach great importance to crime prevention, strengthening of the rule of law and related programs. For many years, the Czech Republic has pursued a comprehensive approach to crime prevention at all levels, recognizing its crucial role in the long-term development of the state, society and individuals alike. We promote prevention that addresses not only the manifestations of crime, but also its root causes. Prevention that is grounded in data, evidence, and interdisciplinary cooperation among all relevant stakeholders across society. Prevention that comprehensively focuses on high-risk locations, work with offenders, and the empowerment of victims. Prevention ensuring that children and young people are not overlooked. However, when prevention fails, States must ensure the fair and proportionate punishment of offenders. Criminal sanctions also serve an important preventive function. Criminal law must keep pace with evolving forms of crime and enable effective responses to new criminal phenomena while preserving its role as an ultima ratio instrument. The development of modern technologies including artificial intelligence systems, requires increased attention to the criminal law protection of vulnerable persons in the online environment, particularly in relation to sexually explicit material. At the same time, artificial intelligence facilitates the commission of other forms of crime and complicates the assessment of the authenticity of evidence. It is therefore essential to assess its relationships with criminal law in a comprehensive and forward-looking manner. The fight against organized crime also continues to deserve close attention, including environmental crime and trafficking in persons. In addressing organized crime and other serious crime, the principle of follow the money should be consistently applied. Alongside the conviction of offenders, efforts should also focus on depriving terms of the proceeds of crime. Crime must not pay. We also attach great importance to the 2030 Agenda, in particular goal 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions. In the context of preparation for the post-2030 Agenda, we consider it essential to maintain a strong focus on strengthening the rule of law and institutional integrity. At the 14th Crime Congress, the Czech Republic highlighted the rapid evolution of cybercrime and the need to keep pace with those who commit it. We are therefore very pleased that since the previous Congress, not only has the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime been agreed upon, but it has also 82 signatories to date, including the Czech Republic. We regard this as a major achievement and are proud to have actively contributed to its negotiation. In closing, I would like to commend the UNODC Secretariat for its long-standing work in the fields of crime prevention and criminal justice. The recent Global Fraud Summit in Vienna once again demonstrated the importance of international cooperation and provided valuable insights and examples of good practice in preventing and combating this rapidly growing global criminal phenomenon. I wish us all a productive and inspiring Congress with a rich programme and ample opportunities for valuable informal meetings with colleagues and friends from around the world. Such exchanges strengthen mutual trust and help build lasting partnerships. Thank you very much for your attention.

I thank the distinguished delegate from Czechia, the Deputy Minister of Justice, Mr. Adam Smic, for his statement and pledge. Now I give the floor to distinguished delegate, His Excellency Mr. Anh Tuan Le, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam. Excellency, the floor is yours.

Mr. Chair, distinguished heads of delegation, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Vietnam aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of Group 77 and China, and would like to deliver the statement under its own capacity. At the outset, on behalf of the Government of Vietnam, I'd like to express our sincere appreciation to the Government of the United Arab Emirates for hosting this important Congress and for the excellent arrangements made for this occasion. I also highly commend the efforts of the Secretariat of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal.

Justice in preparing the substantive documentation and organizing the Congress.

Our Congress takes place at a time when transnational organized crime continues to grow in complexity, where the rapid advancement.

Of digital technologies.

Artificial intelligence, and new means of connectivity is giving rise to increasingly sophisticated, cross-border, and difficult-to-detect forms of criminal activity. Against this backdrop, the 15th Congress provides an important opportunity for the international community to identify priorities for the next phase. strengthen multilateral cooperation, and reaffirm the central role of the United Nations in our collective efforts to prevent and combat crime and to advance justice and the rule of law. Vietnam supports the objectives and priorities of the Congress and is committed to actively implementing the Abu Dhabi Declaration, translating the commitments made at this Congress.

Into concrete actions at the national, regional, and international levels. For Vietnam, crime prevention and criminal justice reform have always been closely.

Linked to the building of a rule of law state, the protection of the lawful rights and interests of the people, and creation of a safe environment for development with people and business at its center. In recent years, Vietnam has made important progress in strengthening its institutions and legal framework for criminal justice. Vietnam has amended and continues to further improve its penal code, adopted new legislation on extradition and mutual legal assistance, and continue to strengthen the legal.

Framework for international cooperation at the fight against crime.

We are also implementing comprehensive measures to prevent, detect, and combat crime, particularly the transnational organized crime, drug-related crime, trafficking in persons, corruption, money laundering, and high-tech crime and cybercrime. Yet, her experience has made one thing abundantly clear: crime does not stop at national borders, and neither can our efforts to combat it. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, nearly a year ago in Hanoi, Vietnam had the honor of collaborating with UNODC in hosting the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, the Hanoi Convention. This marked an important milestone in the international community's years-long effort to establish a global network for cooperation in addressing cybercrime. For Vietnam, this was not only an honor, but also a commitment and a responsibility. Vietnam has completed the ratification of the convention and is actively putting in place the necessary conditions for its full and effective implementation. One week ago in New York, Vietnam and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes have signed a letter of intent on the establishment of an Asia-Pacific regional hub for combating cybercrime in Vietnam. We believe that the hub will serve as a regional platform for cooperation, supporting training, research, exchange of experience, legal development, and capacity building in this investigation. prosecution and adjudication of cybercrime, as well as in the handling of electronic evidence. Through these efforts, Vietnam seeks to make a practical contribution to ensuring that the 100 Convention is not only an achievement of multilateralism, but becomes a truly effective instrument in the hands of.

States and their law enforcement authorities.

These challenges before us demonstrate that international cooperation is not an option, but an imperative in the fight against transnational crime. Such cooperation must be conducted in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, in full respect for its sovereignty and equality of states, by safeguarding the interests of all countries in a safe and equitable international environment. Vietnam greatly attach importance to the role of UN in promoting international cooperation, supporting legal and institutional development, facilitating the exchange of experience, providing technical assistance and strengthening capacity, in particular in greater resources and appropriate support to developing countries to help narrow gaps in law enforcement.

Vietnam will continue to be an active and responsible member of the international community, working closely with UN and member.

States to promote the effective implementation of international instruments, including the UN Convention, working toward a safer and more just world governed by the rule of law. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished delegate from Vietnam for his statement. Now I give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Jose Antonio Zavala Cossia, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Mexico in Vienna. The floor is yours, please.

President, Vice President Caiffo, Ministers, Heads of Delegation, Representatives of International Organizations and Civil Society, Distinguished Delegates and Friends, The Government of Mexico is here at this Congress with the firm belief that we must address the structural causes of violence and crime through a comprehensive and complementary approach, including policies which take into account prevention of crime and criminal justice, and those which strive to achieve sustainable development in its three aspects: economic, social and environmental. We are convinced that tackling transnational organized crime is a shared responsibility. In line with this vision, the authorities in my country work every day in implementing a national public security strategy to prevent and counteract organized crime, which also includes a social aspect which addresses inequalities and promotes inclusion, in particular for the youth and vulnerable groups. Indeed, a central aspect of our strategy is that We believe that prevention of crime is an essential and irreplaceable component in public safety policies. Preventing means closing the door to recruitment by criminal groups through economic inclusion and promoting employment, universal access to education and healthcare, and comprehensive support for youth. We promote prevention, but we still investigate, prosecute, and punish criminal groups which harm our population. Our results in this area are tangible and measurable. We have achieved historic reductions in the daily average of homicides, intentional homicides, and the rate of high-impact crimes, as well as in incarcerating people who are violent. We have also seized more than 30,000 firearms and more than 400 tons of synthetic drugs, including the dismantling of thousands of clandestine laboratories. In addition, in continuous collaboration with the authorities in other countries, we have conducted operations in order to locate persons of interest, bring them before the competent authorities, and, where appropriate, we have transferred them for purposes of extradition or to comply with orders issued by judicial and administrative authorities. Nevertheless, these national efforts are insufficient without an equivalent global commitment. Each State needs to take on its appropriate responsibility within its own territory, reducing substantially the internal demand for illicit drugs, including synthetic drugs, putting an end to the trafficking of firearms and musicians abroad, and dismantling the financial systems which launder the proceeds of crime. An essential task, the Government of Mexico offers mutually responsible international cooperation, which always respects national sovereignty and international law, to strengthen, secure, information exchange mechanisms, and intelligence exchange mechanisms, with the purpose of designing joint strategies which enable us to dismantle and punish criminal organizations and deprive them of the proceeds of their crimes. President, distinguished delegates, organized crime knows no borders, and therefore, our response cannot know any either and cannot be fragmented. Only through robust, mutually responsible, and coordinated partnerships can we effectively face up to this shared threat. and thereby achieve societies which are fairer, more inclusive and more peaceful. Therefore, Mexico expresses its commitment to strengthen measures against transnational organized crime, and in particular in order to combat the trafficking of firearms.

Thank you. I thank the distinguished delegate from Mexico, His Excellency Ambassador Zavala Goicoechea, for his statement and pledge. Now I give the floor to the distinguished delegate from Israel, the Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of Israel in Vienna, His Excellency Mr. David Reut. Please, Your Excellency.

Thank you, Mr. President. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, it's a privilege for me to be here in Abu Dhabi. Israel extends its sincere appreciation to the United Arab Emirates for hosting this very important Congress and for its leadership throughout the preparation and negotiation leading to the Abu Dhabi Declaration. Before continuing, allow me, please, to express our sincere condolences to the leadership and people of the United Arab Emirates and in particular to the Al Maktoum family on the passing of Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. We thank the UNODC, the Secretariat to the Governing Bodies, and all those who worked over many months to bring this Congress together. The Abu Dhabi Declaration gives us a shared framework for the years ahead, stronger crime prevention, more effective and people-centered criminal justice system, better international cooperation, and a practical response to organized crime, strengthening and working against terrorism, and new forms of crime in the digital age. For Israel, these priorities are not abstract. We face them every day. in confronting terrorism and organized crime, in protecting victims, strengthening international law enforcement cooperation, and in responding to rapidly evolving cyber threats. We therefore approach this Congress with a clear view. We need international cooperation in order to succeed, and international cooperation must produce practical results, not only declarations. Mr. Chair, on October 7, 2023, Hamas-led Palestinian terrorists attacked communities across southern Israel, shot missiles and rockets toward all of Israel. In one day, more Jews were killed than on any day since the Holocaust. Jews were murdered for being Jews. Muslim, Christian, and non-Jews were murdered for being associated with Israel. Civilians were massacred, hostages were taken, and grave acts of violence, including horrifying sexual crimes, were committed. The response of much of the international UN system was not merely hesitation. It was a deafening silence. Silence. Rape is not resistance. It's shocking to me that I have to say it, but some people are saying it. So I repeat, rape is not resistance. Victims of terrorism should never have to fight to be believed. The nationality of a victim should never determine the urgency of our joint response. This same principle must guide us in confronting antisemitism. In recent years, and with alarming intensity, Jews, synagogues, and Jewish institutions have been targeted across continents. In the Middle East, in Europe, in Asia, actually everywhere, hatred has also been fueled from positions of power, from leadership positions. These are not incident -- these are not isolated incidents. They are a manifestation of the same ancient hatred expressed through violence, intimidation, incitement, and denial. Jewish people, and there are Jewish people in most of your countries, should not need extraordinary security simply to pray, study, live, gather. Mr. Chair, Israel does not come to this Congress only to describe the threats we face. We also come to contribute. Israel brings practical experience in counterterrorism, cybercrime, combating trafficking in person, victim protection, forensic work technology, and international law enforcement cooperation. We wish to share that experience, learn from others, and turn lessons from real crisis into tools that can save professionals everywhere. Israel's commitment is also reflected in practical legal institutional measures. We maintain extensive international law enforcement cooperation, including in extradition, mutual legal assistance, and asset recovery. Recent legislative reforms have strengthened Israel's ability to enforce foreign confiscation and restraint orders, supporting more effective cross-border cooperation as well. We have also established a victim rights commission to help ensure that victims can effectively exercise their rights throughout the criminal process, alongside our dedicated national mechanism to combat trafficking in persons. At the same time, Israel continued to integrate digital tools and artificial intelligence into the criminal justice system while emphasizing responsible use and the protection of the right of victims, suspects, and accused persons. A further example is our work, the first work toward first responder toolkits, which we are in progress and in process and proudly will present here in Abu Dhabi together with UNODC, Switzerland, and Germany, a joint effort for future victims. It will take place later today at 4:30 in room 1B, and we urge all of you to join us. It is designated to help professionals document gender-based violence linked to terrorism in the immediate aftermath of an attack. preserving evidence, treating victims with dignity, and strengthening the ability of investigators to prosecute and pursue accountability. This is the multilateralism Israel believes in, cooperation that is professional, practical, and consistent, partnership that strengthen institution, and standards that apply equally to every victim. The Abu Dhabi Declaration gives us the framework. Our responsibility is to implement it without double standards and to ensure that international cooperation translates into safer societies, stronger justice system, and real accountability. Todah rabah. Thank you. Shukran.

I thank the distinguished delegate from Israel, His Excellency, for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished delegate from Poland, Ms. Maria Enchulat, Deputy Minister, Undersecretary of State, Floor is yours, Madam, please.

Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates. The Republic of Poland would like to express its appreciation and gratitude to the United Arab Emirates, the UNODC, and the Secretariat for organizing the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi. We remain a committed member of the United States and fully support UNODC efforts to facilitate crime prevention. We welcome the Abu Dhabi Declaration, with support and grounding in the Charter of the United Nations, respect for territorial integrity, international law, and human rights standards. We agree that transnational crime, organized crime, and cybercrime pose a direct threat, not only to the security of our societies, but also to human rights and the rule of law. We note with concern that these phenomena are often linked to hybrid threats, armed conflicts, and destabilization of societies through external actions. The Abu Dhabi Declaration rightly highlights the need to strengthen the credibility, accessibility, efficiency, and effectiveness of justice systems, and this goal has our full and strong support. Poland's recent legislatures is aimed to achieving this by strengthening the independence of the courts. The calls for the efficient adjudication of cases, reducing case backlogs, strengthening legal aid, protecting professional secrets, providing translation support, and ensuring access to justice for particularly vulnerable individuals are fully in line with the principle of our legal system. We fully agree that victims, witnesses, and reporting persons must receive effective protection. This means access to information, legal assistance, psychological support, and protection against secondary victimization. Particular attention should be paid to children, victims of sexual and gender-based violence, victims of human trafficking, and organized crime. Poland recognizes the importance of preventive mechanisms in protecting minors, including background checks on individuals who work with or interact with children. Poland supports and develops all forms of legal action aimed at enhancing the protection of children at risk of harm. The declaration recognizes that the digital space has become both an arena for social development and an environment in which perpetrators operate. Poland's experience fully confirms this association. Polish society actively participate in the international digital space. However, Poland has recently became a target of hybrid and cyber attacks. Our efforts are underway to strengthen the criminal law response to attacks on information systems and the international creation, sale and distribution of tools used to carry out such attacks. Fortunately, the digital space does not pose only risks. It is a unique platform that can help improve access to justice. including for people with special needs, as well as speed, efficiency and transparency of the justice system. Over the past two years, Poland has implemented a series of laws to digitize court proceedings, including enabling the use of electronic tools for communication with the courts. Poland supports the responsible use of artificial intelligence and the digitalization of the justice system. Technology can facilitate access to the court, speed up the flow of documents, and strengthen the state's ability to analyze complex criminal phenomena. However, it cannot replace human judgment and decisions that affects rights and freedoms. In this spirit, Poland is conducting analytical work aimed at regulating the use of AI in the justice system in a way that strengthens, rather than undermines, the foundations of criminal justice. Poland is ready to cooperate with all states, governments by the rule of law, UNODC, the EU, as well as other organizations, civil society, the academic community, and the private sector. We support the adoption of the declaration as a document for action, a document that strengthens states' capacity to prosecute perpetrators, protects victims, curbs impunity, and at the same time safeguards the fundamental guarantees of the rule of law. Thank you, Chair.

I thank the distinguished delegate from Poland for her statement. Thank you, Deputy Minister. Now I give the floor to the distinguished delegate from Honduras, Mr. Wagner Vallecillo Paredes, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The floor is yours, please. Thank you.

Buenos dias.

Good morning, Excellencies. On behalf of Honduras, we would like to also thank the United Arab Emirates for hosting this event. We'd also like to thank Abu Dhabi for their warm hospitality and welcome presented to all delegations. We'd like to thank UNODC for this 15th Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. Congratulations, and we wish you all every success in this Congress. Presidents, Distinguished members of the Bureau, representatives of States Parties, ladies and gentlemen. For the State of Honduras, the prevention of crime and strengthening the criminal justice system are essential elements for the consolidation of the rule of law and for the effective protection of human rights. Our participation in this Congress represents an opportunity to reaffirm this commitment and, above all, to translate it into tangible, measurable and sustainable measures aimed at modernizing our institutions, strengthening our response to crime, and ensuring the effective protection of victims. Within this context, Honduras would like to present the following renewed commitments. First, continuous modernization of justice. First and foremost, the state of Honduras, through its judicial power, is committed to progressively implementing digital court files. This process will begin in the judicial circuit on organized crime, environment and corruption for the first two years. Following this, it will be expanded gradually to other judicial bodies in the country during the three following years. This initiative strives to make use of technology to ensure greater security, integrity and traceability of judicial court files, reducing risks of the alteration or manipulation of information. In addition, it will enable us to have monitoring and alert mechanisms on compliance with procedural timeframes and terms, helping to prevent judicial delays and to strengthen transparency, timeliness and the efficiency of the administration of justice. Our second commitment is combating human trafficking and smuggling. This second commitment is aimed at strengthening the state's response to the crimes of trafficking in persons and the smuggling of persons. Through the Public Ministry, Honduras commits to promoting within its National Congress and, within a time frame of 12 months, a reform proposal for criminal legislation applicable to these crimes. This purpose is to strengthen and harmonize our legal framework with international obligations and standards taken on by Honduras, in particular those under the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its relevant protocols. But our commitment is not limited to the normative sphere. We also create and strengthen a specialized prosecutor's office with competency at the national level, which will enable us to provide an institutional specialized response which is coordinated and effective to tackle these forms of crime. These measures have an essential goal, strengthening investigation and criminal prosecution. guaranteeing effective access to justice and providing protection, assistance and comprehensive reparation to victims, paying particular attention to women, girls, boys and other vulnerable persons. Honduras appears before this Congress not just to reaffirm principles, but to take on concrete commitments, modernizing our justice, strengthening our institutions, and protecting those who have been victims of crime. These are responsibilities which require sustained action, cooperation, and will. Honduras here today reaffirms its readiness to continue working with the international community for justice which is more modern, transparent, accessible, and effective in the service of human dignity and the rule of law. Thank you very much.

I thank distinguished delegate from Honduras for his statement and pledge. Now I give the floor to next speaker. who is the High Excellency Miss Caroline Conter Lopez, Ambassador of the Republic of Paraguay to the United Arab Emirates. Madame Flores, yours please.

Good morning, President, Excellencies. Distinguished delegates, it's a great honor to represent my country, Paraguay, here in the discussions and exchanges being held in the context of this Congress. In this regard, for the Republic of Paraguay, the prevention of crime, criminal justice, and the rule of law are inseparable pillars for a comprehensive development. In this regard, we are convinced that the fight against crime cannot be limited to a criminal response alone. It requires a pragmatic approach which combines prevention, institutional strengthening, effective access to justice, rehabilitation, social reintegration, and international cooperation. My country believes it's essential that we move away from an approach that is mainly reactive towards a true culture of prevention. This requires addressing social factors, economic and institutional factors which generates situations of vulnerability based on evidence, reliable information and adequate inter-institutional coordination. Within this process, we are progressively incorporating perspectives of youth and childhood in crime prevention policies. Paraguay promotes a justice system which is focused on people, accessible, inclusive, and respectful of human rights. Within this context, the National Program for Justice Houses is a tangible tool Since 2021, we have held more than 150 mobile justice days in indigenous communities, rural areas, vulnerable neighborhoods, and penitentiaries. These days bring closer to the general public legal aid services, services for documentation, healthcare, mediation, and other social services, thereby contributing to reducing the barriers which made it difficult to effectively access justice. Paraguay is also continuing to strengthen its institutional capacities through innovation and the strategic use of information. The CMORE+ programme enables us to monitor international recommendations and commitments. The fourth plan of action for 2024-2028 from the Human Rights Network of the Executive Power deepens inter-institutional and inter-sectoral coordination in terms of human rights. Ladies and gentlemen, a cornerstone of the work of my government is the reform of our penitentiary system through a new penitentiary management model based on human dignity, security, order and social reintegration, with an emphasis on education, work, the adequate classification of persons who go through trials and sentences, and the professionalization of penitentiary staff. This process has already achieved or nearly 6,000 participations in training bodies, and is complemented by the strengthening of alternative measures to imprisonment. Within the context of this process, threshold operations, or operativos umbral, have contributed to a structural transformation of the penitentiary system. Between 2025 and 2026, approximately 3,000 persons who were imprisoned were transferred to reintegration centers in Emboscada and Minga Guasu, moving towards a system which is more orderly, more secure, and focused on reintegration. In addition to these efforts, We had the recent promulgation of Act number 7621/2025. This promotes incentives for social reintegration through research, capacity building and community work. In this manner, we are striving to help prepare persons who are imprisoned for their return to life in society and contributing to reducing reoffending. Ladies and gentlemen, the challenges we face transcend national borders. Faced with transnational organized crime and new threats, my country firmly believes that the response needs to be international cooperation, the exchange of information, financial investigation and judicial cooperation. At the same time, the digital transformation offers important opportunities to strengthen the response to crime. However, it also sets out new challenges and risks. Therefore, it needs to be accompanied by a strengthening of institutional capacities and adequate protection of rights. To conclude, Paraguay particularly attaches value to cooperation with the UNODC and with other international partners. or respecting the realities and priorities of each state. We thereby reaffirm our readiness to actively contribute to this forum, sharing experiences and strengthening alliances. But above all, we hope to transform these international commitments into tangible results for our societies. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, thank you very much.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Caesar Enias Robleso Zavala, Ambassador of Uruguay to the United Arab Emirates.

President, members of the Bureau, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay and its government, allow me to congratulate the United Arab Emirates for hosting the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. I would like to express our recognition to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for their continuous work to support States in this field. Uruguay particularly attaches value to this space, which, during decades, has contributed to guiding international cooperation, strengthening criminal justice systems and promoting shared responses faced with the challenges of criminality and crime in its various forms. President, Uruguay has taken on the responsibility of focusing its public policies on complying with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and reaffirms its commitment to the vision of crime prevention and criminal justice based on the rule of law, human rights, social inclusion and international cooperation. Within this context, We understand that crime prevention and the implementation of criminal justice need to be approached with a multidimensional approach, with spaces for exchange and dialogue, and with the active participation of the public, the business and manufacturing sectors, workers, academia, and civil society organizations. Security, justice, and sustainable development are closely linked. Poverty, the lack of social and economic opportunities, unemployment, gender-based violence, discrimination and marginalisation continue to be factors which increase the vulnerability of persons and communities, in particular women, girls, boys, adolescents and other particularly vulnerable persons. Therefore, Uruguay believes that an effective policy for crime prevention cannot be limited to a criminal response. It needs to include social and preventive policies, strengthen access to justice, promote transparent and responsible institutions, incorporate the perspective of gender, and address the structural causes which promote violence, exclusion, and the recruitment of persons into criminal networks. President, contemporary crime presents increasingly complex characteristics. increasingly transnational and interconnected characteristics. Criminal organizations rapidly adapt, diversify their activities and take advantage of institutional, economic, social and technological vulnerabilities in order to expand their scope. Within this context, Uruguay reaffirms the importance of cooperation between States and coordination with competent international fora and organizations in order to achieve the effective implementation of criminal justice and reduce the negative consequences of crime on the general public. The topic of this Congress also invites us to reflect on the challenges of crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law in the digital era. New technologies offer significant opportunities in order to improve access to justice, modernize judicial management systems, strengthen investigative capacities, and facilitate international cooperation. At the same time, they are also used by criminals to commit crimes, hide illicit proceeds from crime, exploit vulnerable persons, disseminate illegal content, commit online fraud, and make it difficult to identify those responsible. Uruguay, in this regard, recognizes the importance of strengthening national and international capacities to prevent, investigate and prosecute cybercrime and crimes facilitated by ICTs. This includes the timely exchange of electronic evidence, mutual legal aid, strengthening digital forensic capacities, cooperation with the private sector and the protection of victims in particular when we're dealing with girls, boys and adolescents. In October 2025, Uruguay signed the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, reaffirming its commitment to multilateralism, international law and international cooperation to prevent and combat crime in all its forms. At the national level, Uruguay has also made progress in updating its legal framework through the approval of specific norms for the prevention and elimination of cybercrime. This progress reflects our belief that the response to digital crime needs to be effective but also compatible with the fundamental principles of the rule of law. Therefore, Uruguay believes it's essential that the use of new technologies in criminal justice systems, including artificial intelligence, be accompanied by adequate safeguards. Innovation needs to be in the service of justice and persons and needs to be developed with respect to due process, the protection of personal data, privacy, freedom of expression, human supervision, transparency and accountability. The challenge is not only incorporating new technology or more technology, but doing so in a responsible, safe inclusive manner which respects human rights. Present Uruguay reaffirms its commitment to strengthening criminal justice systems to ensure they are accessible, transparent, effective and respectful of human dignity. In addition, we affirm the importance of continuing to promote policies for prevention which are comprehensive, including protective gender, focused on persons and aimed at protecting the most vulnerable. Our country will continue to support the efforts of the United Nations and UNODC in order to promote shared responses to tackle current challenges and emerging challenges in terms of crime, based on international cooperation, respect for international law, the protection of human rights, and strengthening the rule of law. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. I now have the pleasure to give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Bakaba Diabre, Ambassador of Cote d'Ivoire to the United Arab Emirates.

Mr. President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, at the outset, on behalf of the Government of Cote d'Ivoire, I'd like to thank the highest authorities of the United Arab Emirates for their efforts to prepare for and to host this 15th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. I also would like to warmly congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election to preside over this Congress. We also would like to thank the Secretariat of the UNODC, on behalf of the delegation of Cote d'Ivoire, which I have the great honor of leading, for the trust placed in our country in appointing us as Vice President of this 15th Crime Congress on behalf of the African Group. Allow me to assure you of the full support of the delegation of Cote d'Ivoire to the mobilization of the UNODC, its secretariat, and all of the technical institutional partners throughout this Congress, which I trust will be a resounding success. Mr. President, the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire aligns itself with the statements delivered on behalf of G77 and China, as well as that of the African Group. We are pleased to take part in this 15th Congress at a time when our states are facing increasingly complex and transnational forms of crime that are heavily influenced by technological transformations. In light of these challenges, my country has undertaken a number of important reforms that aim to promote an effective, equitable criminal justice that respects fundamental rights. and that are divided into four major pillars. Pillar one is harmonizing our legal institutional framework with our regional international ambitions and commitments. On March 8, 2023, Cote d'Ivoire acceded to the African Union Convention on Cybersecurity and Protection of Personal Data, or the Malabo Convention. On July 29, 2024, we adopted the Convention of Budapest on Cybercrime. And on October 25, 2025, we signed the UN Convention against Cybercrime. Pillar 2 aims at strengthening our legal and institutional arsenal by establishing the Center for the Management of Police Information Databases, our National Agency for Information Systems Security, as well as our Economic and Financial Criminal Justice Center. Pillar 3 aims to modernize the public service of justice through the establishment on January 2025 of the e-justice platform, which aims to transfer proceedings into an electronic format and enhance online access to all legal documents in a secure, rapid and transparent manner throughout our national territory. Mr. President, pillar four is one of our fundamental priorities for reform, and that is the humanization of our penitentiary systems and the fight against prison overcrowding. The security of our societies, of course, requires a firm response to serious crime, but the strength of a state based on rule of law also was measured through its ability to ensure that incarceration or that sanctions are compatible with human dignity and to effectively allow for the reintegration of those that wish to regain their place in society. That is why Cote d'Ivoire, based on the outcomes of the first three pillars, has introduced into its legal framework a number of alternatives to prison including community service, plea bargains, mandatory treatment, judicial supervision, and parole. This approach is in line with the spirit of the Tokyo Rules, which encourages criminal justice systems to make use of a wide range of non-custodial measures in order to avoid an excessive and inefficient use of imprisonment. Mr. President, in this regard, Cote d'Ivoire would like to advocate for the following: strengthening international cooperation with regard to modernization of penitentiary institutions, training of corrections officers, reintegration of prisoners, and the development of alternatives to imprisonment. In this spirit, the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire expresses its full and firm support for the Abu Dhabi Declaration and the commitments contained within it with regard to strengthening crime prevention, international cooperation, and to building effective, inclusive criminal justice systems that are respectful of the rule of law. My country intends to heighten its cooperation with other member states in order to explore opportunities and challenges linked to digital transformation in order to better attain the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Cote d'Ivoire thus reaffirms its willingness to work together with the United Nations, the United Arab Emirates, and all other member states to build societies that are safer, more just, more resilient, and that uphold human dignity. Thank you for your kind attention.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Mr. Noel Sued Canahuete, Vice Minister of Human Rights, Dominican Republic.

President, delegates, members of the Bureau, on behalf of the government of the Dominican Republic, it's a great honor to be here in this notable forum. and in particular, to have the opportunity to speak to your high-level representatives of the international community. I would like to thank the Emirati authorities, our hosts, for the warm welcome and the attention provided to delegations who are visiting your modern country. I would like to thank the President for leading our work to excellence. and the Secretariat of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for the organization of this valuable Congress. When we speak about crime prevention, today more than ever, we need to think about justice focused on people. The Dominican Constitution has an essential function of the state, the effective protection of the rights of persons, respect for their dignity, and the creation of conditions which enables them to live their lives in an equal, equitable and progressive manner within the context of individual freedom and social justice. Protecting the security of persons is also ensuring their human rights. It's no coincidence that the theme of this 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice is "Justice for people and the planet in the digital era. Digital transformation is an additional tool for justice and therefore can't forget the human aspect. And when faced with technologies which are developed and implemented at light speed, the best way we can work is to continue working in line with a strategic planning, which in this case is directly fostered or based in the SDG. With this vision of coordination in terms of justice, the Dominican Republic recently reinstituted the Ministry of Justice, made more robust the principle of separation of powers, and established inter-institutional collaboration mechanisms in an adequate manner to strengthen the capacity of the State and to ensure a joint response to crime, which now guarantees access to justice and protection of human rights. Our country is convinced that adequate organization and coordination of public institutions contributes to effectively safeguarding the general interest and the protection of human rights. As we meet here today, All the above is synonymous with public management, which is committed to also achieving the SDGs and even more tangibly in the justice sector with the Abu Dhabi Declaration and its implementation for the period 2026-2031. Therefore, it determines to directly contribute to achieving international commitments in the sphere of crime prevention and criminal justice, and in particular the Abu Dhabi Declaration and the context of the Pledge for Justice Initiative, the Dominican Republic commits to continuing to revise its normative framework in order to ensure that this effectively responds to the current challenges brought up by crime. In particular, it's relevant during the current and next three ordinary legislatures with the approval of three draft acts on legal representation, attention to and protection of victims, witnesses and subjects at risk, the prosecution and bringing to justice of criminal organizations, the special regulation of cybercrime and certain other crimes, the reorganization of national police, and aligning regulation with the administrative dispute jurisdiction. In addition, the Dominican government is committed to moving forwards in the implementation of coordination mechanisms for the justice system in the next 18 months, setting up priorities and efforts amongst all powers of the state and constitutional bodies which are part of that system. This measure also includes the organization of needs of the country in terms of international cooperation and its work with regional and universal mechanisms based on mutual trust, solidarity and respect for international law. We thereby reaffirm our belief that, in an increasingly interconnected world, no State can face alone the threats set out by crime in its various forms. The Dominican Republic reiterates its readiness to continue working with the international community to move towards the creation of societies which are fairer, more inclusive, more peaceful and democratic. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. I now want to invite Mr. Luca Marabese, Alternate Permanent Observer Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in Vienna.

Madam President, the Holy See delegation would like to express its gratitude to the organizers of this Congress and in particular to the United Arab Emirates for hosting the event. While welcoming the adoption of the Abu Dhabi Declaration, the Holy See calls upon all states to fully respect the God-given dignity of every person and the sanctity of life. It is vital that penalties are proportionate to the crimes committed, that dignified conditions are guaranteed for prisoners, and above all, that the death penalty, which is a measure that destroys all hope of forgiveness and renewal, is abolished. In this regard, the Holy See wishes to draw the.

Attention of this Congress to three emerging trends in criminal activities that require concrete and coordinated actions.

Firstly, the scourge of human trafficking. The current geopolitical instability and armed conflicts provide fertile ground for traffickers to exploit, particularly by targeting displaced persons, migrants, and refugees, with.

Women and children being the most impacted by this heinous trade.

This phenomenon is exacerbated by the rise of cyber slavery, whereby individuals are lured into fraudulent schemes and criminal activities, such as online fraud and drug smuggling. As Pope Leo XIV notes, human trafficking must be recognized as a contemporary form of slavery and a grave violation of human dignity. Therefore, the Holy See calls for concerted action to prevent and combat this crime, including by addressing the root causes that drive people to migrate and that render them more vulnerable to trafficking. Secondly.

The proliferation of deeply harmful content and abuse affecting children online.

Unfortunately, the abuse of children using digital technologies, even across national borders, is growing rapidly, making it increasingly challenging to prevent and combat those crimes.

Nevertheless.

These threats should inspire a renewed sense of responsibility and encourage stronger cooperation between institutions, communities, digital service providers, and users to safeguard the dignity of every child, which is a gift from God. In this regard, Pope Leo calls for an alliance of policymakers, educational institutions, and families. that can provide concrete support to adults in protecting minors in the digital environment. Indeed, such an alliance would be essential to ensuring that children are genuinely protected from online exploitation and violence by adopting appropriate safeguards and ensuring the accountability of digital actors. Thirdly, hate crimes. while welcoming states' commitment to combating all forms of hate crimes. Given the growing violence against individuals and communities on account of their religion or belief, including online, the Holy See appreciates the explicit reference to religion or belief in the Abu Dhabi Declaration. The explicit recognition of hate crimes against believers on religious ground is particularly significant, taking into account that the persecution of Christians remains one of the most widespread human rights crises today, affecting over 380 million believers worldwide. Madam President, the Holy See expresses its earnest hope that this Congress will develop an effective and lasting response to the emerging criminal trends, fostering a shared sense of responsibility.

And encouraging concrete action at every level with the aim of safeguarding the lives and dignity of all those.

Who hunger and thirst for justice.

Thank you.

Thank you very much. And I have the pleasure to give the floor to Mr. Hena Daz. Kazakevich, Major General of Police, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Head of the Criminal Police, Representative Belarus.

Dear participants of the Congress, I am with you on behalf of the delegation of the Republic of Belarus to welcome all of you and express.

Our gratitude to the United Nations Office on.

Drugs and Crime, as well as the government of the United Arab Emirates for organizing this important international forum. The delegation of the Republic of Belarus welcomes all of you and expresses its gratitude to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, as well as a government of the UAE for organizing this very important quinquennial forum. Our Congress is taking place at a time when the challenges facing our fight against transnational crime are growing. We are witnessing a qualitative shift in the threat presented by crime. Transnational organized groups are actively adopting cryptocurrencies and artificial intelligence tools. Criminal schemes are increasingly becoming cross-border, mobile, and less influenced by national borders. The internet has become a key platform not only for cyber fraud, but also for drug trafficking, human trafficking, extremist activities, and other dangerous forms of criminality. This is largely the result of growing interdependence and the rapid development of technology. The world has become much more connected, but this connectivity also creates new vulnerabilities. Criminality quickly adapts to the new conditions, using cross-border activity and the digital environment to evade accountability. An effective response to all of these challenges requires joint action. We are firmly convinced that no single state is able to face these threats on its own. We are, however, witnessing a somewhat paradoxical situation. Faced with common threats, ones which require joint action, opportunities for cooperation are narrowing. And this is happening against a backdrop of growing tension in global politics. We cannot but note that certain Western states are politicizing efforts to combat crime. Instead of joining forces in the face of common transnational challenges, There are attempts to use law enforcement issues to exert political pressure on sovereign states, including the Republic of Belarus. This destroys trust and undermines the very possibility for effective cooperation. Our country has systematically faced this from certain states who in recent years have deliberately politicized the resolution proposed by Belarus in the field of combating human trafficking. The Republic of Belarus has actively championed this very issue on the international agenda since the time our country's President, Alexander Lukashenko, announced a related initiative during the 2005 UN Summit. Since then, the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice has adopted a number of anti-trafficking resolutions initiated by Belarus. The most recent of these, jointly proposed with Kazakhstan, was adopted in June 2026. We intend to continue to pursue a proactive approach to combatting human trafficking and addressing new challenges.

Belarus.

Reaffirms its commitment to the universally recognized principles and norms of international law and advocates for an appropriate, comprehensive response by the international community to the growing threat of transnational crime. We must pool our efforts at all levels. with the United Nations playing a facilitating role. Law enforcement agencies require greater capacities to collect, process and analyze available data in order to anticipate new challenges in the fight against crime and deprive it of its main element, its sources of funding. Distinguished participants of this Congress, I am convinced that rapid cooperation, one based on equality and trust, as well as elimination of unjustified politicization between competent authorities and states, will enable us to jointly and, most importantly, effectively respond to threats and do so in real time. I thank you.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to Ms. Mara Garvita, Goce Reyes, Undersecretary for the Department of Justice, Philippines.

Madam President, His Excellency Abdullah bin Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, Minister of Justice, United Arab Emirates. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, good afternoon. The Philippines expresses its appreciation to the United Arab Emirates for its hospitality and hosting this significant event in Abu Dhabi. We also thank the Secretariat for the preparatory work. Allow me to begin by strongly reaffirming the Philippines' commitment to advancing global efforts in crime prevention and criminal justice. We are all here to rise to the challenge of facing the complex and evolving global crime landscape. Criminal organizations misuse and leverage emerging technologies and operate across multiple illicit markets. The situation is no longer what it was five years ago since the last Congress. In line with this ever-changing landscape, the Philippines continues with its sustained commitment to ensure that its criminal and justice system is responsive to this challenge. We remain committed to advancing to people-centered justice, recognizing that justice must be accessible, understandable, responsive, and meaningful to those who need it most. This is embodied through its regional action centers, justice caravans, and other activities that provide services to the underserved and underrepresented. Our government advocates a whole of nation approach, engaging civil society organizations, the private sector, and the media. As a result of these efforts, the Philippines has been recognized as a global leader in the fight against trafficking in persons. The rise of trafficking in persons for the purpose of forced criminality has affected the Philippines domestically through illegal scam hubs and through Filipinos who are deceived to work in scam centers abroad. Through the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the government continues its crackdown against scam centers in the Philippines. With the cooperation of our international partners, the Philippine government facilitated the rescue and repatriation of thousands of Filipinos trafficked in scam hubs in the Southeast Asia. The Philippines has also been scaling up its response to eliminating violence against children, including online sexual abuse or exploitation and the online recruitment by armed and criminal groups. Battling these crimes against children is a national priority. These online crimes do not recognize borders. As such, we must strengthen international cooperation to address the full chain of these crimes, including online financial platforms abused by perpetrators. For online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, we must identify demand-side perpetrators and the hotspots where demand is concentrated. We must make online spaces safe for children, especially from the many forms of online violence. And that is why the Philippines is hosting the second Global Conference on Eliminating Violence Against Children this coming November. And we hope you will join us in Manila as we continue in our efforts to protect our children. Lastly, The Philippines stands ready to leverage its national experience in justice sector reform, practical leadership in combating trafficking in persons, online scam operations, and protecting children in the online spaces by putting forward our candidacy to the CCPCJ for 2028-2030. We therefore state the following pledge for justice. By 2027, the Philippines, through its Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center, will develop a national cybercrime prevention and suppression plan and strategy. This strategy will expand its anti-scam and child online safety campaigns in multi-sector and international cooperation. Through 2031, the same center will strengthen reporting, scam verification, threat detection, disruption, and information sharing using AI-enabled monitoring, analytics, and digital forensics. In tandem with this, the Philippines will continue to strengthen relevant Philippine laws while ensuring a people-centered and accessible justice for all. Through regional action centers, justice caravans, and partnerships with justice sector institutions and communities, the Philippines will continue to bring the justice system closer to the underserved and underrepresented. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to His Excellency, Mr. Christian Ebner. Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Austria.

Madam President, Excellencies, dear delegates and members of civil society, Austria is fully aligned with the statement.

Delivered by the EU.

We will use this opportunity to add the following in our national capacity.

Let me congratulate you, Madam President, and the other Bureau members upon your election.

I would like to thank our host state, the United Arab Emirates, and the Secretariat.

For the preparation and organization of the 15th Crime Congress. It underlines your dedication to multilateral cooperation in the fight against transnational organized crime.

In 2021, the Kyoto Declaration was adopted at the.

14th United Nations Crime Congress by consensus, showcasing member states' commitment to fight crimes in all its forms.

In a common effort and with the Vienna spirit.

Five years later, the need for action remains.

Under this year's theme, we will work together towards achieving the 2030 Agenda in a digital age.

Congratulations to all of us on the adoption of the Abu Dhabi Declaration.

Two key factors amplify all forms of crime in the 21st century, increasingly sophisticated illicit financial flows.

As well as the rapid development of emerging technologies.

With regards to illicit financial movements, we need to ensure enhanced international cooperation and a dedicated focus on financial investigations, especially in the context of terrorism financing. Emerging technologies, on the other hand, come with risks and opportunities at the same time. Our collective task as responsible states is to ensure a safe environment for our citizens and businesses to profit from these technologies while not allowing these to be abused by criminal actors. It is also important to highlight the promises of employing some of these emerging technologies in the service of criminal.

Justice.

Austria advocates for a multilateral approach that addresses the key.

Challenges in preventing and combating existing crimes, as well as new and emerging forms of crime.

At the same time, we stay committed to a victim-centered approach, focusing on human rights, the rule of law, and crime prevention, including the prevention of trafficking in persons. The United Nations need to respond to crimes on all levels. Some areas of this response are clearly the purview of states. In this context, the United Nations can play a role by providing capacity building and monitoring. Let me commend UNODC for its indispensable work in this area.

However, transnational organized crime has become far more than individual acts.

In some respects, it now threatens societies and the international community as a whole. These grave threats need to be properly addressed in New York as well, including by the United Nations Security Council. Austria will continue the implementation of its criminal investigation service reform through the continuous expansion of cybercrime training centers on state level, in addition to knowledge and competence gathering on federal level, and will further deepen operational cooperation with European and international partners, including through active participation in major pan-European cyber exercises. These measures will strengthen specialized expertise cross-border coordination, information exchange, and preparedness against evolving cyber threats and crime. Furthermore, I pledge for Austria to continue its longstanding financial support in the form of voluntary contributions to a broad range of UNODC programs aimed at crime prevention and criminal justice. These programs focus on prevention of drug abuse, corruption and terrorism, as well as countering human trafficking and supporting victims of human trafficking, among many other issues. In addition, Austria will continue to support junior professional officers working under UNODC's crime prevention and criminal justice mandate. Finally, Austria stands ready to further assist UNODC in its capacity as host country and seat of other international organizations.

That contribute to the fight against transnational organized crime. I thank you.

Thank you very much. I now have the pleasure to give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Nenad Vujicic, Minister of Justice of Serbia.

Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honor to address to the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and present Serbia's efforts to build a criminal justice system that is more effective, more responsive to the new forms of crime, and firmly grounded in the rule of law and protection of human rights. Allow me to also express my sincere appreciation to the United Arab Emirates for their dedicated work and warm hospitality. Over the past period, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Serbia has been working intensively on comprehensive reform of criminal legislation. Our objective is not merely to amend individual legislative provisions, but to establish more efficient, fair and modern criminal justice system, ones that ensure the effective detection of and prosecution of criminal offences, a high level of protection for a victim and full respect for the fundamental human rights for all participants in a criminal proceedings. In this context, significant amendments of a criminal code and the criminal procedure code has been prepared together with a new law on juvenile justice offenders and the protection of minors in a criminal proceedings. After 20 years, we change and we adopt a new law upon the experience what we have, as well as amendment of the law of the prevention of domestic violence. These amendments form from a broader process of harmonization with the international standards, including the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and relevant European instruments. In parallel, we are working on a significant improvement to criminal procedure. The proposed amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code are intended to address the shortcomings identified during the more than decade its implementation and importantly to achieve a better balance between efficiency of proceedings and procedural safeguards. At the same time, the procedural rights of participants in a criminal proceeding are being safeguarded. Ladies and gentlemen, We also attach particular importance to strain the system for a seize and confiscation of a proceed of crime. Our approach, it's straightforward. Crime must not pay. Depriving offense of all illegal acquired assets is one of the most effective tools for rights against organized crime, corruption, and the financing of terrorism. The proposed amendments fully align with our legislation, with the EU acquis, Council of Europe, Warsaw Convention and FATF standards, while at the same time address issues identified through the practical application. The proposed solutions are also aimed at making financial investigation and the confiscation of illegally acquired assets more effective, with the further strengthening of mechanisms for temporary and permanent confiscation. I would particularly like to emphasize that the Republic of Serbia remains firmly committed to the fight against organized crime. Modern organized crime groups operate across national borders, make us new technologies and complex financial flows. No state can effectively confront these challenges alone. For this reason, Serbia attach the particular importance to mutual legal assistance, to exchange information and evidence, the tracing and confiscation of criminal assets, and their effective management as well as other forms of joint action. Our position is clear. Organized crime is a shared challenge, and shared challenges require a collective response. Such a response must be based on mutual trust, effective international cooperation, and full implementation of international standards. The proposed amendments in our legislation reflect this approach. Ultimately, all these reforms persuade to some objective: the criminal justice system that is both effective and people-centered. We are pursuing this reform in a close dialogue with the European Commission, the part of Serbia European Union accession process, with a full alignment with the UNODC and relevant United Nations standards. We regard international dialogue and cooperation as important mechanism for developing legislative solutions and all aligned with the international and European standards. Ladies and gentlemen, crime increasingly transcends the border. Our response must therefore transcend borders as well. Organized crime, trafficking in human beings, cybercrime, and emerging form of violence required not only strong national institution, but effective and sustained international cooperation. Because the true strength of a criminal justice is measured not only by its capacity to punish crime, but also its capacity to protect the people. uphold human dignity and strengthen trust in the rule of law. Now, I'm going to share the pledge. We pledge to continuing our determination effort to build an effective and fair criminal justice system, straight into the protection of victims and fundamental rights. combat organized crime because crime knows no border. Human trafficking, corruption, cybercrime, and the fair in terms of effectiveness and the confiscation of proceeds of crime. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to His Excellency, Mr. Vasco Mosche. Samu Pofu, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Namibia.

Madam President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Namibia, I have the honour and privilege to congratulate you on your election as President of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. I also congratulate the members of the General Committee on their election. We also want to express our profound gratitude to the government and people of the United Arab Emirates for hosting the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which calls for the worldwide strengthening of the criminal justice system. Madam President, Namibia recognizes that the fight against crime Corruption and other forms of serious and organized crime require strong institutions, effective legislation, international cooperation, and above all, access to justice. Over the past few years, Namibia has continued to strengthen its criminal justice framework and institutional capacity. We have advanced reforms aimed at improving the efficiency, integrity, and accessibility of justice, while strengthening our ability to respond to emerging and transnational forms of crime. Madam President, a significant achievement has been Namibia's removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list. This reflects important progress in strengthening our anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework, improving institutional effectiveness, and demonstrating our commitment to international standards. It is also a reminder that sustainable progress against financial crime requires continuous vigilance, cooperation, and implementation. Namibia has also taken important steps to strengthen the protection of victims and witnesses and to improve our response to organized and transnational crime. These reforms are essential because justice cannot be effective if victims are afraid to come forward and witnesses cannot participate safely in criminal proceedings. Madam President, another important development is that Namibia recently convened its first ever State of the Justice Conference, held in September 2026. the historic initiative brought together key stakeholders within the justice sector to reflect collectively on the state of justice in Namibia the challenges facing our institutions and the reforms that are required to strengthen the rule of law and access to Justice Madam President for Namibia Justice is not simply about prosecution or punishment offender it's all about building institutions that are trusted responsive and accessible to all, while ensuring that the rights of victims, accused persons, and communities are respected. We therefore welcome the opportunity provided by this Congress to share experiences, learn from other jurisdictions, and strengthen international partnerships. Crime is a cross-border issue, and responses must be the same. International cooperation is essential in this regard. Namibia remains committed to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the United Nations Convention against Corruption, and other relevant international instruments. We believe that effective international cooperation, mutual legal assistance, information sharing, and capacity building are indispensable in confronting the increasingly complex nature of crime. In conclusion, Madam President, Namibia reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the rule of law, preventing crime, protecting victims, promoting access to justice and ensuring that our criminal justice systems remain capable of responding to the challenges of the future. I thank you, Madam President.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to His Excellency, Mr. Norbert Mao, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Uganda.

Your Excellency, the President of the Congress, Excellencies, Honourable Ministers, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. Madam President, I extend Uganda's sincere congratulations to you and the members of the Bureau on your election to guide the work of this 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. We reaffirm our full cooperation. Uganda is honored to participate in this Congress and conveys deep appreciation to the Government of the United Arab Emirates for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to our delegation. We commend both the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for convening this Congress at a time when crime has become increasingly sophisticated, transnational and technology-driven. Uganda warmly welcomes the appointment of Her Excellency Ms. Monica Juma as Executive Director of UNODC and assures how our steadfast support and collaboration. We only handed over last year as chair of the Group of 77 and China. And as Africans, we align ourselves with the statement of the Africa Group and the G77 and China. we wish to ask the following on behalf of our country. We commend the chairperson of the UAE National Organizing Committee, his team and the secretariat for the exceptional work done on the Abu Dhabi Declaration. We welcome the declaration and we believe that crime prevention and criminal justice are indispensable to sustainable development and the protection of human dignity. Our response, therefore, must go beyond punitive measures to address the social and economic conditions that foster crime and vulnerability to crime. We also believe in mainstreaming gender perspectives into crime prevention and to end impunity for gender-based violence. We also believe in putting victims at the centre of crime prevention measures. Recently, Madam President, I read that in the United States, somebody who had raped a woman was given parole. When this woman learned of this act of clemency on behalf of the government, she hunted down the man who raped her and killed him. She was arrested and charged with murder. When she was asked why she did what she did, she said, "It's not the government that was raped. She was the one who was raped. Therefore, we have to put victims at the center of all the efforts at crime prevention. In Uganda, in 2024, we ratified the trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants protocols. And Uganda also became among the first countries to sign the new UN Convention against Cybercrime in Hanoi in October 2025. We welcome the theme of this Congress and we commit ourselves to fighting threats of organized crime, terrorism, cybercrime, trafficking in persons and money laundering. We believe in pursuing a whole of government approach that prioritizes accessible and efficient justice. We attach importance to international cooperation, and that's why we are here, because we believe that international cooperation is based on building personal friendships. Uganda calls for a criminal justice system which is innovative, inclusive, evidence-based, and firmly anchored in the rule of law. We must harness technology responsibly. We stand ready to work with all Member States and partners to advance the objectives of this Congress. We therefore wish to pledge to finalize and adopt Uganda's first national strategy against organized crime by 2027. This strategy will provide for a comprehensive framework to enhance national resilience, foster regional and international cooperation, and implement effective measures to counter organized crime. In doing so, Uganda reaffirms its commitment to the principles and objectives of the Abu Dhabi Declaration, ensuring that our collective efforts contribute to a safer, more just, and more secure society. For God and my country, I thank you.

Thank you very much. I now have the pleasure to give the floor to H.E. Mr. Patricio Diaz, Ambassador of Chile to the United Arab Emirates.

Thank you so much.

Esteemed authorities and delegates and delegations present. It's good to be closer to represent Chile here for the 15th United Nations Crime Congress. This body reflects not just the relevance of the theme which brings us together, but also the commitment to a gender work aimed at addressing topics of mutual interest. Preventing crime, the central topic of this meeting, is a strategic priority where all countries face problematic shared issues which require coordinated and effective responses. Therefore, designing, implementing and evaluating public policies aimed at preventing crime, rehabilitating criminals and supporting victims is more urgent than ever. In this regard, we have to be aware of the national priorities and context, highlighting the importance of progressive harmonisation of norms, policies and instruments which ensure effective and coordinated responses. We should not forget that any measure for public safety requires a vision which takes into account the differences in our societies. and aims to develop and prioritize prevention. In this regard, it is essential to regularly collect evidence on criminal phenomena and the impact of the policies we need to work on. We hope that the development of these discussions will lead us to moving forward on joint actions, which contribute to consolidating shared work using this mechanism over time. I should refer to the police and security reform in Chile on 1st of April 2025. Chile has a new Ministry for Public Security, which, alongside the National Policy against Organised Crime, which is in force, aims to reduce the capacity of criminal organisations which operate in our countries through planned and coordinated action of the various institutions of states which work in its prevention, control and prosecution. With the creation of that ministry, we also created the Subsecretariat for Public Security, which, amongst its many purposes, has the task of proposing policies, norms, plans and programmes in the field of crime prevention, rehabilitation and social reintegration of criminals, and of creating initiatives and programmes in terms of prevention of the consumption of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and alcohol abuse, and the treatment, rehabilitation and social reintegration of persons affected by these substances. essential to strengthen inter-institutional coordination through the consolidation of a public security system, as shown by the State Action Unit in this topic. The fight against corruption is also a priority in this context, as it disproportionately affects the most vulnerable in society, harms democracy and governance, and often helps organized crime organizations. Amongst the measures, Chile is implementing this field, I should highlight the National Public Integrity Strategy, launched in 2023, which establishes long-term goals to promote principles of integrity and transparency in institutions of the state and coordinating efforts to combat corruption. I should highlight that one of the main basic principles of our foreign policy is the responsibility to cooperate in this regard. We have conducted work which sets out not just to consider our border areas, but also the rest of the region. Therefore, we are working in multiple spheres, and I shall highlight here the Santiago Regional Commitment against Transnational Organized Crime, a body which brings together seven countries of South America with the purpose of providing a joint and sustained response to this phenomenon. On cybersecurity, Chile believes that cyberattacks and malicious activities in cyberspace are a threat to international security. Therefore, we promote and create cyberspace which is free, secure, safe and accessible, where public international law is fully applicable, including international law relating to human rights and international humanitarian law. For this purpose, on 1 January 2025, the framework cybersecurity law incident to force, which enabled Chile to have legislation on cybersecurity and to create a specialized public institution, which is the guiding body for cybersecurity in Chile, the National Cybersecurity Agency. This law sets out a governance model for cybersecurity based on risk management and the implementation of digital security standards for public institutions and private institutions would provide essential services for the normal functioning of the country, including the energy market, telecommunications, fuel, transport, infrastructure, digital services, IT services, ICTSs, healthcare, and social security. Chile promotes and will promote multilateral debate and discussion, bilateral agreements and initiatives which promote cooperation and mutual assistance on cybersecurity. Alongside this, implementation of measures to promote trust and the 11 non-binding norms on the responsible behavior of states in cyberspace. Our country also promotes the creation of capacities and the participation of all interested parties in international and national discussions on topics related to cyberspace. This has been reflected in the two national policies developed by Chile in the field. The first entered into force between 2017 and 2022, and now the current has been in force and will be in force from 2023 to 2030. I conclude by inviting you to participate in the side event, Breaking the Cycle, Preventing the Recruitment of Children by Criminal Groups. co-sponsored by Chile, where we will debate the role of governments, civil society and multilateral bodies in addressing the structural factors involved in the recruitment of children and the creation of protective environments for infancy. It will be held on Monday 28th of September at 11:30 am. I thank you once again for all attending this Congress, which made it possible to hold the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime, and I hope that we will have a fruitful and constructive session. Thank you very much.

2. Mr. Ezeiz Agabiev, Deputy General Prosecutor of Turkmenistan.

Madam Chair, distinguished delegates, your excellencies. Allow me to express my gratitude to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and to the host country, the United Arab Emirates, for organizing the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. The convening of this Congress reaffirms the international community's unwavering commitment to crime prevention, and the strengthening of criminal justice systems in the face of contemporary global challenges. Turkmenistan's national policy in this area is based on the rule of law, the effectiveness of criminal justice measures, and the priority of crime prevention amongst other law enforcement duties. Alongside the conduct of criminal prosecutions, the most important function of the prosecution authorities, the state is consistently stepping up its efforts to address the root causes of crime by raising public legal awareness and implementing targeted social policies. The Prosecutor General's Office of Turkmenistan oversees the enforcement of laws, coordinates the activities of law enforcement agencies, and serves as a central component competent authority in the following priority areas: combating human trafficking, combating corruption, providing and receiving international legal assistance in criminal cases. The President of Turkmenistan has approved the country's national action plans for 2025 through 2029 on combating human trafficking and on combating corruption. These action plans serve as robust national documents, ones that incorporate key elements of the national strategy, prevention, protection, criminal prosecution, and cooperation. Under the leadership of the Prosecutor General's Office, interagency commissions are in place to ensure the implementation of the aforementioned plans. So They serve as central coordinating mechanisms. Regular meetings of the commissions ensure coordinated action by the relevant government agencies and non-governmental organizations. Furthermore, work also continues to improve and modernize Turkmenistan's criminal legislation and on bringing it into line with our state's international obligations. A significant challenge of our time is the rise in crimes committed using digital technologies. Here, the Prosecutor General's Office is undertaking the following: digitizing investigative and procedural activities, providing advanced training for staff in the handling of digital evidence, and the implementation of specialized programs to combat cybercrime. Distinguished participants of this Congress, Effective work by national law enforcement agencies, as well as the efforts of a single state, are both insufficient to combat transnational crime. Turkmenistan strongly supports the role of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and reaffirms our commitment to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, as well as the United Nations Convention against Corruption. We work closely with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and partners from the global law enforcement community, the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Authorities and Assets Recovery Networks, and regularly organize capacity-building seminars for prosecutors. Turkmenistan also actively participates in the work of the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism.

A.

Regional group modeled after the FATF, one that sets standards for effectively combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Your Excellencies, we are convinced that the 15th United Nations Congress will serve as an important platform, a platform for advancing our common goals and strengthening practical cooperation in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice. I thank you for your attention.

Thank you.

I now have the pleasure to give the floor to Ms. Judith Nayer Ramata Parino Principal Secretary, State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs, Kenya.

The President of the Congress, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, good afternoon. Kenya associates itself with a statement delivered by the African Group and the Group of 77 and China and in our national capacity, wish to make the following observations. At the outset, Kenya congratulates you, Chair, on your election as President of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, and extends its congratulations to the other members of the General Committee. Kenya assures the Committee of its full support and cooperation for the successful conduct of the Congress. Kenya expresses its appreciation to the Government of the United Arab Emirates for its warm welcome, hospitality and for the remarkable efforts undertaken in preparing and hosting this important Congress, particularly at a time when the international community continues to confront complex and evolving challenges. Kenya is honored to participate in this important Congress and recognizes its critical role as a global platform for strengthening international cooperation, advancing crime prevention and criminal justice, promoting the rule of law, and supporting the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Kenya's approach to crime prevention and criminal justice is anchored in the Constitution of Kenya, the rule of law, human rights, access to justice, and sustainable development goals, particularly SDG 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions. Kenya has continued to strengthen its legislative, institutional, and policy framework to prevent and combat organized crime, terrorism, trafficking in persons, corruption, money laundering, cybercrime, drug trafficking, environmental crime, and other emerging forms of criminality. Kenya has also invested in evidence-based and technology-enabled approaches across the justice and security chain including digital crime reporting, case management, biometric identification, forensic capacity, virtual court proceedings, and digital correction management. correctional management. In advancing people-centered justice, Kenya has strengthened legal aid, alternative justice systems, victim and witness protection, rehabilitation and reintegration program, as well as coordination across the justice sector through the National Council on Administrative Justice. Kenya recognizes that effective crime prevention must also address the underlying social and economic vulnerabilities that expose individuals and communities to crime. We therefore continue to support youth empowerment, education, livelihoods, rehabilitation, social protection, and community-based approaches to crime prevention. Kenya attaches particular importance to international and regional cooperation, including mutual legal assistance, extradition, information and intelligence sharing, joint investigations, asset tracing and recovery, capacity building and technical assistance. Kenya appreciates the continued support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and other international development partners in strengthening national capacities in policing, prosecution, corrections, forensic science, witness protection, maritime security, counter-trafficking, and other areas of crime prevention and criminal justice. As the host country of the United Nations Office at Nairobi, and an active participant in regional and international justice and security mechanisms, Kenya remains committed to sharing its experiences, learning from other member states, and contributing constructively to collective efforts to prevent and combat crime. Kenya therefore calls for strengthening international cooperation, enhanced technical and material assistance, greater investment in innovation and digital solutions, and continued protection of human rights in all crime prevention and criminal justice responses. With a view to advancing crime prevention and criminal justice, Kenya pledges to adopt a revised national strategy on criminal prevention and criminal justice within the cycle of 2026-2031. The strategy will seek to strengthen the effectiveness, accountability and inclusiveness of Kenya's criminal justice system, including measures to enhance victim support systems, and services, improve access to legal aid, and strengthen international institutional coordination among relevant authorities. In conclusion, Kenya reaffirms its commitment to the purpose and principles of the United Nations Charter and stands ready to work with Member States, the United Nations, and other partners towards a safer, more inclusive, resilient, and just society. Thank you.

Thank you very much, distinguished delegates. I would now like to adjourn. 00 p.m., we will reconvene the plenary of the Congress in order to continue with the high-level segment. Thank you very much. The meeting is adjourned.