15th UN Crime Congress: Plenary meeting 1 – 26 September 2026

Please, so that we can really start. Distinguished delegates, Distinguished delegates, good morning. May I kindly ask you to take your seats, please, because we really would like to start at 9:30 sharp. Kindly take your seats. Thank you.

Distinguished delegates, good morning. Can I kindly ask you now to take your seats? We will start immediately. Thank you very much.

I kindly ask the organizers to leave the room, please. Please, anyone from the protocol to leave the hall right now.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, as the Secretary General of this Congress, it is my great pleasure to declare open the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and to call to order its first meeting. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I would like to invite the Congress to proceed with the election of its president. In accordance with the recommendations of the pre-Congress consultations contained in its report, A/CONF.241/L.2, may I take it that the Congress wishes to elect by acclamation His Excellency Mr. Abdoulaye on a May Minister of Justice of the United Arab Emirates as president of the Congress I see no objection it is so decided on behalf of the Congress I would like to congratulate his Excellency Mr. Al nua on his election and wish to express our confidence in his leadership as president of the 15th crime Congress may I request protocol to escort the president to the podium thank you president I am very pleased to now hand over the chairing of the meeting to his Excellency Mr. ablai Al Nouaime, President of the 15th Congress. Welcome, Mr. President.

I'd like to thank you for the trust you have placed in me by electing me as the President of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. I'd like to thank his Excellency Ambassador born permanent representative of the of German to the United Nation in Vienna and chair of the Commission on crime prevention and criminal justice which has been acting as the preparatory body to this Congress for all the work done during the last month Excellency, distinguished delegates, as we begin the work for this 15th United Nations Crime Congress, I look forward to working with all delegations in a spirit of consensus, cooperation, and mutual respect. The challenges facing the criminal justice system today increasingly transited national borders. They require us to strengthen international cooperation, make effective use of technology, and ensure that our institutions remain capable of responding to both existing and emerging forms of crime. Over the coming days, we have an important opportunity to move beyond identifying common challenges and focus on a practical solution that can strengthen crime prevention, criminal justice, and rule of law. As the president of this Congress, I will do my utmost to support constructive dialogue among all delegations and to help ensure a productive and successful Congress. I look forward to work together. Thank you. We will now move to agenda two, organizational matter, consideration of the report of the pre-Congress consultations. I now invite the Congress to consider the report, the pre-Congress consultation on procedural and organization matters, which is contained in a document 241L.2, and which reflects the agreements reached at the consultation yesterday afternoon. This document should be read in conjunction with the provisional agenda and proposed organization of work for the Congress contained in a document 241/1/Rev.1 and the provisional rules of procedure contained in the document 241/2. I would like also to draw the attention of delegates to document 241 INF 1 Rev.1 entitled Information for Participation, as well as the conference room paper 241 CRP.4 containing the organizational arrangements. I kindly invite delegates to read this documentation carefully. to familiarize themselves with the information contained there and relating to the organization matters of the Congress. I wish to note that the Abu Dhabi Declaration of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice will be adopted this afternoon, sorry, later this morning. at the beginning of the high-level segments. As we agreed yesterday, if delegations wish to make a substantive statement to the position with regard to the Abu Dhabi Declaration, they may have an opportunity to do so at the end of this procedural opening. before the first suspension to facilitate a smooth adoption later in the morning. Alternatively, they may indicate that they will submit a statement of position in writing and ask the Secretariat to make the statement available to the Congress participants. This report will adopt in a session in accordance with the past practices Those part of the report that reflects the last day of the Congress will be finalized post-Congress under the guidance of the Rabbinator General. Number two, election of other members of the General Committee. Let us now proceed with the election of the officer other than the President. Rule number 6 and 12 of the Rules of Procedure of the Congress set out the composition and function of the General Committee of the Congress. As reflected in the report of the pre-Congress consultations, I understand that there is a general agreement among all delegations to elect the following person to the respective position. First Vice President, Her Excellency, Ms. Surbhi Galyan, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia. Rapporteur General, Her Excellency, Ms. Matilda Al-Matua, Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations in Vienna. Chair of the Committee, His Excellency Mr. Rodeger Bohn, Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations in Vienna. Chair of the Committee, His Excellency Jose Antonio, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations in Vienna. I also understand that there is a general agreement among all delegation to elect the following members to the General Committee based on geographical distribution. From the group of Africa state, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, and South Africa. From the group of Asia Pacific states, India, Japan, Jordan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Philippines. From the group of Eastern European States, no nominations were received. From the group of Latin America and Caribbean States, Dominican Republic and Peru. From the group of Western European and other States, The Secretariat has been informed by the WEOG Championship that there will be no nomination. May I take that the Congress wishes to elect the nominated members by acclamation to the respective post of the General Committee? I see no objection, so it is so decided. On behalf of the Congress, I congratulate the officer on their election. Item number 3, adoption of the rule of procedure. I now invite delegation to take up the provisional rules of procedure of the Congress. May I take it that the Congress wishes to adopt its rule of procedures? as contained in document 241/2 as recommended by the pre-congress consultations. I see no objection. It is so decided. Number four, adaptation of the agenda and organizational of work. I now would like to invite the Congress to consider its provision agenda and organization of works. May I take that the Congress wishes to adopt its provisional agenda and organization of work as contained in document 241/1/Rev.1, as well as the organizational arrangements as recommended during the pre-Congress consultations. I see no objection. It is so decided. Number five, arrangement for ceremonial opening and the high-level segments. We will, after this procedural part, have a short suspension before we start with the ceremonial opening. The ceremonial opening is scheduled to start at 10:25. We will continue -- we will contain the handover by His Excellency, Mr. Takashi Yamashita, Minister of Justice of Japan, which held the presidency of the 14th UN Crime Congress, as well as opening statement by the host country, which I will deliver in my capacity as a Minister of Justice of the United Arab Emirates. and by the United Nation delivered by Ms. Monica Juma, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime. Ms. Juma's statement will be preceded by the video message by His Excellency, Ms. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nation. I will subsequently open the high level segment And member states will be invited to adopt the Abu Dhabi Declaration, which I expect to happen per acclamation. The high-level segment will then be suspended briefly to allow high-level guests attending the ceremonial opening to leave the room. The high-level segment will resume with a video message from His Excellency Mr. Amr Ben Djama, Permanent Representative of Algeria to the United Nations in New York and President of the Economic and Social Council. The representative of the Youth Forum will thereafter present the outcome of their forum, held on the 24th and the 25th of September. I will then launch the Pledge for Justice initiatives and make the first pledge on behalf of the United Arab Emirates. This will be followed by a statement by the establishing regional groups and national statements. This list of speakers for the high-level segment was established by a drawing of lots of an inter-sessional meeting of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice held on the September 2nd 2026. Allow me to say some additional words on the pledge for justice initiatives. Addressing the current challenges require timely, coordinated and evidence-based responses at the national, regional and international level, backed by the stronger international cooperation and shared commitment to a practical action and a measurable result. The 15th Congress offers a unique opportunity not only to reaffirm our common commitments, but also to translate them into a concrete action. It is precisely for this reason that the Pledge for Justice initiative was launched. The initiative aims to mobilize commitment from the member states for concrete time-bounded action to advance crime prevention and criminal justice and to support the implementation of the Abu Dhabi Declaration during the period 2026-2031. It is intended to provide a platform for turning political commitment into a practical implementation. I now give the floor to the Secretary to provide some additional information.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President, for providing me with the floor. Allow me to briefly explain how this initiative will work as was already done during the pre-congress consultations yesterday. When a delegation reaches the pledge in the statement, the speaker is kindly asked to look towards the photographer and touch the activation device next to the lectern. Immediately after the speaker has touched the activation device, a tick will appear on the device screen to confirm that the pledge has been registered. The name of the country will then be shown in the dedicated hexagon on the main screen. And the hexagon will then join the growing Pledge for Justice Mosaic alongside the hexagons of the United Arab Emirates and other member states. In this way, the audience will be able to see the collective commitment growing pledge by pledge, starting with the host country, while each participating member state will have a distinct moment during its national statement to mark its contribution. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

Thank you so much for your explanation, Madam Secretary. This initiative does not end with the Congress. Following the Congress, all pledges will be consolidated and made publicly available through a dedicated digital platform. To keep the momentum and support implementation, Member States will be invited to provide a voluntary update through the Commission on Crime Prevention and criminal justice throughout 2026-2031 period. As the follow-up body to the Crime Congress, the Commission will facilitate this process in the lead up to the next Crime Congress. These updates will offer an opportunity to share experience, identify challenges and good practices, and learn from one another. I look forward to seeing ambitious and meaningful pledges and to working together to translate our shared commitments into concrete action. Is this agreeable? I see no objection, so it is so decided. Sorry, that was a hard one. appointment of the member of the credential committee distinguished delegates I now invite a delegation to take up consideration of the appointment of member of the credentials committee following the pre-congress consultations we have been informed by the championship of the African group that the United Republic of Tanzania is willing to serve in lieu of Senegal. In accordance with the recommendation of the pre-Congress consultations, may I take that the Congress wishes to appoint a Credentials Committee composed of China, Dominican Republic, Malaysia, Namibia, serving as a lieu of Botswana, Peru serving in lieu of Trinidad and Tobago, Russian Federation, Switzerland serving in lieu of Andorra, the United Republic of Tanzania serving in lieu of Senegal, and the United States. His Excellency Ambassador Angela Miller Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations in Vienna is nominated for the position of the Chair of the Credentials Committee. I see no objection. It is so decided. The Credentials Committee is kindly requested to present its report to the Congress as soon as the report is available. Number 7, participation of a non-government organization on the Congress. As far as the participation on a non-government organization and in the Congress is concerned, I would like to refer to the report of the pre-Congress consultation, 241/L.2. Number 8, report of the Congress. Turning now to the recommendation of the pre-Congress consultation regarding the arrangements of the preparation of the report of the Congress, I understand that we are in agreement to the proceeds with the proposed course of action. I see no objection. It is so decided. Distinguished delegates, we have thus concluded our consideration of the report. of the pre-congress consultation. Number 9, the statement of position on the Abu Dhabi Declaration. Before we conclude the procedural part and suspend the meeting, we shall now turn to the Abu Dhabi Declaration of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, contained in document 241/L.1. As agreed during the pre-Congress consultations, I will invite the Congress to adopt the Abu Dhabi Declaration later this morning at the opening of the high-level segments. We heard yesterday that there are a few States which would like to make a substantive statement of position, namely Japan, Argentina, and the Islamic Republic of Iran. as agreed during the pre-congress consultation, I will give that the opportunity now to facilitate a smooth adaptation without additional statement later this morning. I would strongly encourage other statement wanted to make a statement of position with regard to the Abu Dhabi Declaration to submit their statement in a written to the Secretariat which can then make it available to the Congress participants. I first give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan. You have the floor.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. At the outset, as we are about to adopt the Abu Dhabi Declaration today, Japan would like to warmly congratulate all delegations on this important achievement and express our sincere appreciation to the United Arab Emirates for its leadership in guiding the development of this important outcome as well as to the Chair of the CCPCJ and its secretariat for their valuable support and efforts throughout the progress. Before we proceed with this adoption, I would like to briefly place on record Japan's position. Culture of lawfulness is a well-established concept recognized in the past political declarations and United Nations standards and norms. It supports the promotion of the rule of law and is an essential concept for building resilient societies. In 2021, the Kyoto Congress identified the importance of cultivating a culture of lawfulness and of youth empowerment in the critical criminal justice field as a key theme, and the Kyoto Declaration, its outcome document, also affirmed their importance. To put the outcomes of the Kyoto Congress into practice, Japan, in cooperation with UNODC, has convened the Global Youth Forum for a culture of lawfulness on four occasions with the aim of promoting youth empowerment, which is an essential element in fostering a culture of lawfulness. The forum has brought together many young people from around the world for diverse discussions on criminal justice. In this context, Japan has engaged in the negotiations on the Abu Dhabi Declaration to ensure that the importance of cultivating a culture of lawfulness continue to be recognized and respected in the Abu Dhabi Congress. For the record, we would certainly have preferred that the Abu Dhabi Declaration retain an explicit reference to the culture of lawfulness. At the same time, Notwithstanding its omission, Japan attaches continued importance to advancing this critical concept. In this regard, we note that paragraph 11B affirms the importance of promoting respect for the rule of law, which, in our view, Japan understands to include fostering a culture of lawfulness, a long-standing priority for Japan. We strongly hope that this Abu Dhabi Congress will once again provide an opportunity for Member States to recognize and respect the importance of the culture of lawfulness. Japan hereby reaffirms its commitment to continue its efforts to cultivate a culture of lawfulness. I thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Argentina. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. First and foremost, allow me, on behalf of my country, to congratulate you on your election as president of this Congress and wish you every success. Rest assured of the full support and collaboration of my delegation. In addition, I would like to express our sincere thanks to the United Arab Emirates, the host country for this Congress, for the excellent organization and warm hospitality which has been shown. President, the Argentine Republic would like to recognize the efforts made throughout the intense and arduous negotiations which enabled us to achieve the draft declaration which we will adopt today. We believe that the text fully reflects our concerns and sets out the approach which the States here present have agreed upon as priorities. A shared commitment to the effective prevention of crime and with reliable, effective justice systems which are adapted to new forms of crime. In addition, the draft declaration highlights the need to strengthen international cooperation, faced with the phenomena of crime which are increasingly complex and transnational in nature. In this regard, its content is compatible with Argentina's priorities in terms of combating crime. Therefore, my country will go along with consensus with regards to its adoption. Nevertheless, my country would like to refer to certain mentions which, although they were suggested during negotiations, have been kept within the text. In particular, Argentina would like to dissociate itself from paragraph 7 and 11, sub-paras F of the draft declaration, due to its references to the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, and in particular, SDG 16, and the supposed adoption of a gender perspective. With regards to references to the 2030 agenda, Argentina would like to recall that this is an aspirational framework and not a legally binding one. Its implementation is up to each state in line with their national priorities and in exercise of their sovereignty. With regards to references to gender, Argentina would like to express that this is an ambiguous term which can be interpreted in an ideological manner which our country does not agree with. This does not mean that we do not need policies, programs, laws and other measures which are aimed at preventing all forms and expressions of violence, crime and victimization of women. And with regards to other vulnerabilities, such as those affecting children, girls and adolescents, elderly persons or persons with disabilities. My delegation would ask that our national position be recorded in the report of the meeting. Thank you very much, Chair.

Since we are approaching to the ceremonial and segments of the Congress, which will start shortly, the third speaker will be given the floor later on this morning, because we have to step out to receive the high-level guest. Thank you very much. Thank you. As I mentioned, I will invite the Congress to adopt the Abu Dhabi Declaration later this morning at the opening of the high-level segments. Distinguished delegates, we will now suspend the meeting and proceed with the ceremonial segments of the Congress at 10:25. The meeting is suspended. Thank you. Thank you very much for your help. So I keep my documents.

But not ever.

Play all songs of 'Naach Maari Saathe'.

Play all songs of the Kapil Sharma Show.

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Play all songs of the Kapil Sharma Show.

We will now be welcoming Lieutenant...

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, is now entering the conference hall. Kindly rise.

Alfariq, Samu, Sheikh, Saif, Ben Zaid, Al Nayan.

Lieutenant General, His Highness Sheikh Saif, Ben Zaid, Al Nayan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, may the peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you.

Al-Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al-Hayyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, salaam alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

At the outset, it gives me great pleasure to introduce myself. I am a counselor from the Ministry of Justice.

My name is Shehla Mohammed Al-Ghadeeb, counselor at the Ministry of Justice of the United Arab Emirates.

Distinguished guests, from the UAE, the land of peace and love, the land of justice and safety, and from Abu Dhabi, the world meets today with one objective, to work together to prevent crime and strengthen justice to protect people and the planet. honorable gathering, when justice is the goal, borders become bridges, differences turn into a cooperation, and the world speaks as one. Here in Abu Dhabi, visions come together for a more fair justice and for safer societies and a future that is more secure and safe. Welcome in the United Arab Emirates. and welcome to the opening of the 15th UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

The land of justice and security and from Abu Dhabi, where the world comes together and our shared determination is united to work together to prevent crime and strengthen criminal justice while protecting people and the planet. Distinguished guests, when justice is our common purpose, Bridges become borders become bridges. Differences give way to cooperation. The world stands united, speaking one language. Here in Abu Dhabi, shared visions unite in pursuit of a fairer justice, safer societies, and a more stable and peaceful future. Welcome to the United Arab Emirates and welcome to the opening ceremony of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

An.

It is my honor to announce the commencement of the ceremonial opening of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. I now invite the President of the Congress, the Secretary General of the Congress, and the Executive Secretary and Secretary of the Congress to kindly take their seats on the podium.

Now we invite you to watch a short video that shows the preparations for this crime from Kyoto to Abu Dhabi to launch. a new phase from the UAE for a cooperation. Let's watch it together.

We now invite you to watch a short film titled "The Road from Kyoto to Abu Dhabi." The film documents the journey leading to this Congress and the passing of its legacy from Kyoto to Abu Dhabi, marking a new chapter in international cooperation.

Around the world, justice systems are under pressure to respond to complex challenges. Safer societies do not happen by chance. They are built through prevention, justice, and the rule of law. Following Doha, Japan generously hosted the 2021 Crime Congress. While the pandemic forced the world apart, thousands of stakeholders from a record number of Member States united in Kyoto to advance crime prevention and criminal justice. That shared vision brought to life the Kyoto Declaration, which also called for enhanced efforts to reduce reoffending. Under Japan's leadership, this commitment informed the development of the Kyoto Model Strategies, adopted by the General Assembly in 2025. Japan has also helped forge new partnerships across regions and institutions. Through the Global Youth Forums, young people have contributed to global discussions. Similarly, the CRIM-AP strengthened cooperation amongst practitioners in tackling shared criminal justice challenges. Through these achievements, the momentum of Kyoto is strengthening criminal justice around the world. Today, we unite again. building on what began in Doha, blossomed in Kyoto, and gains momentum in Abu Dhabi, carrying forward our shared vision of advancing criminal justice, crime prevention, and the rule of law, and renewing that commitment for the digital age, as we move forward together.

It is my pleasure now to give the floor to His Excellency, Mr. Takashi Yamashita.

Takashi Yamashita, the Minister of Justice of Japan, to deliver his remarks.

Mr. Chair, Excellencies, and distinguished delegates, at the outset, I wish to express my deepest respect and sincere appreciation to the government of the United Arab Emirates for their outstanding leadership in hosting this 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. I would also like to extend my profound gratitude to the Secretariat of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for its tireless efforts in preparing and organizing this Congress. As a Minister of Justice of Japan from 2018 to 2019, I was engaged in fostering international momentum and advancing preparations for the successful convening of the 14th Crime Congress, the Kyoto Congress. The Congress is the largest United Nations conference in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, serving as a vital platform through which the international community reaffirms its commitment to the rule of law and advances collective efforts to strengthen the criminal justice system worldwide. Having been part of that journey, I am honored to participate in this 15th Congress as Minister of Justice building upon the achievement and legacy of the Kyoto Congress, serving as a bridge from Kyoto to Abu Dhabi. Japan hosted the Congress in Kyoto in 1970, some 50 years before the 14th Congress in 2021. Even before that, And for more than six years, Japan has contributed to capacity building efforts around the world through UNAFE by accepting over 6,800 practitioners from more than 140 countries and regions. In addition, Japan has been engaged in legal technical assistance with more than 3,900 participants having taken part in training programs and other initiatives. At the Kyoto Congress, the international community adopted the Kyoto Declaration, providing common principle for our collective efforts. The Kyoto Declaration serves as a compass, guiding us toward a common future that we aspire to build together, and as a beacon illuminating the path towards society, firmly grounded in the rule of law. Since the Kyoto Congress, member states have drawn inspiration from the Kyoto Declaration in advancing the rule of law and striving to realize sustainable, diverse, and inclusive society in which no one is left behind. As the host country of the Kyoto Congress, Japan pays tribute to and sincerely appreciates the steadfast efforts undertaken by member states and stakeholders towards these shared objectives. Today, I am both proud and honored to be here for the adoption of Abu Dhabi Declaration, which certainly carries forward and build upon the enduring legacy of the Kyoto Congress. As part of its commitment to translating the achievement of Kyoto Congress into concrete action, Japan has worked closely with UNODC and international partners to convene the Criminal Justice Forum for Asia and the Pacific, as well as the series of youth forums. Japan has also taken the lead in the formulation of the newest United Nations standards and norms on reducing reoffending, known as the Kyoto Model Strategies. Furthermore, Japan remains committed to strengthening the capacity of criminal justice practitioners. Through these efforts, Japan has contributed to the promotion of the rule of law throughout the international community. From Doha to Kyoto, from Kyoto to Abu Dhabi, the ideals we have upheld are to be carried forward through our wisdom and efforts put into practice. in the best way suited to the changing times. Combating crime, promoting the rule of law, and building safe and just societies are common goals that no country or region can achieve alone. Now is the time for us to strengthen our cooperation and solidarity and to advance together toward our common goals. Let us join our wisdom and efforts together to build a better future. Let us walk this path together and build safe and secure society for future generation. Thank you very much.

I thank His Excellency for this statement. We will now announce the exchange of presents between His Excellency Minister Yamashita, representing the presidency of the 14th UN Crime Congress, and His Excellency Minister Al-Nuaimi, Minister of Justice at the UAE and President of the 15th UN Crime Congress.

For your remarks. I would like now to announce the exchange of gifts between His Excellency Takashi Yamashita, the Minister of Justice of Japan, and the representative of the 14th Crime Congress presidency, and His Excellency Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al-Naemi, the Minister of Justice of the UAE and the President of the 15th Crime Congress.

In this gift, we see the Emirati dagger carried by his highness which is which shows the pride and tolerance and this carries the tradition of the UAE.

In this image the founding father the late Sheikh Zaid Sheikh Zaid bin Sultan al-hayan may he rest in peace is seen wearing the imati khanar an enduring symbol of the UAE's cultural heritage it represents strength pride, and tolerance, reflecting the deeply rooted values embodied.

In the Emirati society.

Distinguished guests, it is now my pleasure to present a short film prepared by the United Arab Emirates as the host country.

Welcome to Abu Dhabi and to the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi is known for its safety, but safety is never accidental. It is built through what we teach, what we notice, and how early we choose to act. This Congress asks how we can prevent crime, strengthen justice, and protect people and planet in a changing digital age. Let me show you how that global responsibility can begin with one ordinary moment and the two realities it could contain. Sometimes, that responsibility begins with one ordinary moment. This is the moment. One choice, two realities. In one, I share it. In the other, prevention reaches me in time. I did not create it, but when I shared it, I became part of the harm. By the time I understood, it had traveled beyond the table and beyond my control. Maya needed safety, privacy, and the confidence that she would be heard. I needed to answer for my part. Evidence helped establish what happened. who was responsible for each part of it, and how justice should respond. Justice had to protect Maya's rights, hear every voice, and respond fairly. Accountability mattered. So did the chance to learn, repair, and move forward. I could not undo my choice. The future I had imagined was interrupted. But accountability, education, and rehabilitation gave me a way forward. What I learned became something I could use to help others. But there is another reality. Before that lunch table, we had learned to question what we saw, understand our responsibilities, and know where to turn. Friends, Families, educators, law and trusted institutions had each placed something within reach. Together, they created the conditions for a different choice. Wait. You're right. Whether it's real or manipulated, it's not ours to share. My friend created the pause. What I had learned helped me use it. The decision was still mine, but this time I was ready to make it. The futures are different. But justice has a responsibility in both to protect rights, establish truth, respond fairly, and preserve the potential each of us can still carry forward. When young people are protected, educated, and included, we become part of the solution. What begins with one person can extend across borders. Justice confronts crimes that exploit people, endanger communities, and damage the natural world we share. Progress depends on cooperation, trust, and the rule of law. Here in Abu Dhabi, the world comes together around a shared purpose, accelerating crime prevention, criminal justice, and the rule of law, protecting people and planet in the digital age. Welcome to the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. The future is shaped before harm.

Some ways, some of the Sheikh, as habul Mahali, I have a Sida to was sada. You said, you know, I'm in the door, Mahali.

Abdullah, Sultan, Ben, Ewald, Naimi, was your Al Adli, Fijola, the Emirate, the Arabi, the Mutahida.

The Al Qa, the Kalmat, the Fatah, the Niyaba, and the Dola, the Mufi.

Your Highnesses, excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, it is now my honor to invite His Excellency Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al-Nehyan, Minister of Justice of the United Arab Emirates, to deliver the opening remarks on behalf of the host country.

In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate, Lieutenant General His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Your Excellencies, distinguished guests of the United Arab Emirates, may the peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the United Arab Emirates at the opening of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. For more than seven decades, since its first session in Geneva in 1955. This Congress has served as a leading global platform for advancing crime prevention policies, strengthening criminal justice, promoting the rule of law, and facilitating the exchange of views and experiences among States, governmental and non-governmental organizations and experts. Building on a proud legacy established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, and kept alive through the vision and guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the state, may God protect him, Abu Dhabi hosts today the 15th session of this Congress, 71 years after its inception. We have built a comprehensive legislative and judicial framework developed by the UAE over the past five decades. And today, together with the international community, we carry forward the outcomes of the 2021 Kyoto Congress as we continue to play a pioneering role as an active partner in shaping a more just and secure global future for humanity. Distinguished guests, this session takes place at a critical moment as the world undergoes unprecedented and rapid transformations Artificial intelligence, related technologies, and multi-agent intelligence systems are now capable of performing highly sophisticated and complex tasks, bringing profound changes to all aspects of life. In addition to these challenges, or in addition, rather, to these transformations, the world faces rising levels of crime and violence, the emergence of new forms of criminality, the expansion of transnational organized crime, cyber crime, and financial crime, human trafficking, terrorism, and terrorism financing, and money laundering. This requires a careful balance to be struck between society's need for security and stability a victim's right to protection and access to justice, and the obligation to hold offenders accountable while ensuring their rehabilitation and social reintegration, thereby strengthening the rule of law and delivering effective justice. Driven by the UAE's belief that justice depends on international cooperation in addressing contemporary legal challenges, the state has sought to establish strategic partnerships based on integrated legal and institutional frameworks. These efforts have allowed us to build advanced judicial partnerships through a broad network of comprehensive agreements and judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters and crime prevention. These partnerships are not merely legal frameworks. They are diplomatic instruments to promote trust, support international stability, protect rights, and facilitate investments and the movement of people. The theme of our Congress today reflects the transformation we seek, from responding to crime to anticipating and preventing it, from isolated action to international partnerships, and from traditional solutions to innovative policies grounded in knowledge, data, and sound evidence. Distinguished guests, we look forward to this Congress culminating in the adoption of the Abu Dhabi Declaration as an ambitious strategic framework that will guide joint international action in the fields of crime prevention, criminal justice, and the rule of law over the next five years. In closing, the United Arab Emirates reaffirms its steadfast commitment to supporting the outcomes of this Congress and the Abu Dhabi Declaration, and to strengthening international cooperation against transnational crime and closing legislative gaps to achieve security, stability, justice, and sustainable development for humanity as a whole. We wish all participants every success in achieving the goals and objectives of this Congress. May the peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you.

Thank you, Your Excellency, Abdallah.

Sultan bin Awad Al-Naimi, for your remarks.

Thank you, Your Excellency, Abdallah Sultan bin Awad Al-Naemi, for your remarks.

It is now my pleasure to introduce a video message from Her Excellency Ms. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure to address the 15th United Nations Crime Congress. Let me begin by thanking the government and the people of the United Arab Emirates for bringing us together in Abu Dhabi. I congratulate His Excellency, Abdulla bin Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, Minister of Justice for the United Arab Emirates, and being elected as the President of the 15th Congress. I also thank Japan for its leadership in hosting the 14th Congress as it passes on the torch. And my sister, Dr. Monica Juma, the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and her dedicated team for their leadership and tireless work in making this Congress possible. Excellencies, we meet at a time of profound change. Rapid technological advances, expanding digital spaces, widening inequalities, and the climate crisis are reshaping our world. Criminal networks are adapting quickly, exploiting new technologies, gaps in governance, and the vulnerabilities that are created by conflict, poverty, and exclusion. And when crime and corruption take root, it is people who pay the price. Resources needed for schools, hospitals, and essential services are lost. Trust in institutions is eroded. Communities become less secure. And women and girls, young people, and those already facing discrimination and exclusion are pushed even further behind. This is why justice and the rule of law are central to sustainable development. The promise of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 16, is clear. There can be no lasting development without peace. access to justice, and effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. With only four years remaining to achieve the goals, we need institutions that are transparent, responsive, and answerable to the people that they serve. We need justice systems that work for everyone, including women and girls seeking protection and redress from violence and exploitation. We also need the meaningful participation of civil society and communities in decisions that affect their lives. Justice cannot be a privilege. It must protect every person, uphold every person's rights and leave no one behind. This also means confronting the realities of the digital age. Technology can accelerate development, expand access to services and strengthen the administration of justice. but it is also being used to enable fraud, trafficking, exploitation and organized crime across the borders. Women and girls face growing levels of technological facilitated violence and abuse. Our responses must reflect their experiences, protect their rights and ensure their full participation in shaping the digital future. We need digital governance rooted in human rights, stronger international cooperation, and institutions that are equipped to prevent and respond to emerging threats. The Global Digital Compact provides an important framework for this work. As the Secretary-General has reminded us, the technology that will shape the future of humanity must be shaped by all of humanity. That means every country needs a seat at the table, and every generation must have a voice. Young people must be empowered not only as users of technology, but as leaders and architects of its future. I therefore welcome the ambition for this Congress to be the most youth inclusive to date. Excellencies, friends, this Congress is an opportunity to renew our shared commitment to justice and the rule of law, and to translate that commitment into action. Let us work together to end impunity, to deliver justice for all, and build safer, fairer, and more inclusive societies. Thank you, and I wish you all a successful Congress.

Now, we are honored to have with us His Excellency Ms. Mona Chohmy, the Director.

General of the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime, and the Secretary General of the International.

Conference on the Prevention and Control of Crime.

We now invite Her Excellency Monica Juma, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Secretary General of the Crime Congress to deliver her remarks.

Your Royal Highness and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Your Excellency, Abdalla Al-Naimi, Minister of Justice of the United Arab Emirates. Your Excellency Takashi Yamashita, Minister of Justice of Japan, Excellencies, Ministers and Heads of Delegations, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. I am delighted to welcome you all to the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. Today, the world convenes in Abu Dhabi to reaffirm that the rule of law and criminal justice are essential to safety and security of people and the planet. The breadth of this gathering reflects the determination to make this a moment for action. Today, over 110 countries gathered in this room, represented by more than 5,100 participants and delegations led by more than 50 ministers to speak at more than 200 events alongside experts, the private sector, civil society, youth, and academia from every region of the world. These numbers speak for themselves. In fact, this is the largest Congress to date. Such a remarkable turnout is an affirmation of your commitment to the rule of law and criminal justice. So I want to thank all of you for being here and for showing up, especially during a busy week when the world was also gathering in New York, which means you had to make the choice of being between these two cities. I also want to take this opportunity to thank our hosts, the United Arab Emirates, for staying the course in the past year and for the extraordinary determination and preparations that have brought us to this moment. I congratulate the incoming President of the Congress as he takes up his important role and wish him every success in the days ahead. I also convey my gratitude to Japan, our hosts in Kyoto five years ago, for the legacy they have entrusted on us. And I thank all the staff of UNOV and UNODC for their quiet yet persistent hard work behind the scenes I am deeply grateful for their dedication in making this week possible. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, today we are passing the baton from Kyoto to Abu Dhabi. And as we do so, we carry forward the spirit of multilateralism that inspired this Congress five years ago. They believe that even on the most vexing questions, we can find common ground shared around shared challenges and shared responsibilities. That spirit matters more than ever today because the 15th Crime Congress takes place at a critical time. I have just returned from the high level week of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where there was a clear consensus around the need for multilateral action against transnational organized crime. Yet that message comes against a challenging backdrop. Just as the challenges we face demand more international cooperation, faith in that cooperation is being tested in some quarters. But we cannot afford to retreat into our corners at a time when threats are converging across borders, across regions, and globally. This Congress gives us an opportunity to demonstrate that multilateralism can still bring countries together around the problems that affect people's daily lives. Abu Dhabi must rebuild confidence in international cooperation. Excellencies, historically, the Crime Congress has always met at moments of global shift. This has made this convening a critical platform to redefine the crime prevention and criminal justice agenda. In 1955, when the first Congress was held, the United Nations itself was still very much in its infancy, and the idea of international cooperation on crime was only beginning to take shape. More recently, five years ago in Kyoto, we met in the midst of a global pandemic that disrupted every aspect of our lives. Today, we find ourselves at another inflection point. The ground beneath us is shifting once more, and our responses must shift with it. Technology and artificial intelligence are advancing at extraordinary speed. The same platforms that connect billions of people around the world, offering them services, are also connecting criminals operating in shadows. The same digital currencies that move legitimate money are also being appropriated by criminals to conceal their profits. And the same digital tools that bring people together can also be turned against them to deceive, manipulate, and to exploit. Beyond simply accelerating criminal activities, technology is changing the character of crime itself and even transforming the way familiar crimes are being committed. Organized crime today no longer fits neatly into isolated categories, and it reaches across the entire criminal justice value chain. Criminal networks are exploiting and infiltrating weaknesses at every stage, threatening the systems on which our economies and societies depend. They are also taking advantage of conflict and instability, and in some places, they are themselves adding and fueling the conflict. Meanwhile, corruption and financial crime are draining public resources and undermining trust in institutions. And the pressures on our justice systems, especially prisons, are only getting worse. Excellencies, this may look like separate challenges, but they are increasingly converging and complicating the threat landscape with significant negative consequences for people. And this brings us to the heart of our conference, of our Congress, protecting people. Because those most exposed to this complex web of challenges are often those with least ability to protect themselves. A child recruited by a criminal gang. A woman facing violence in her home or through her cell phone. Someone unable to access legal aid. A young person lured into a scam network after being promised a better future. Protecting these people must be the measure against which we judge our efforts over the coming week. It must be our North Star. Excellencies, for seven decades, The Crime Congress has helped countries take their bearings together, shaping international standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice, and giving direction to the work that followed. It has laid the foundation for a growing body of evidence and research that helps us to better understand what crime looks like and how crime is evolving. Our task this week is to make sure that our laws, our institutions, and responses can move at the speed of the threats we face. What does this mean in practice? It means identifying vulnerabilities that crimes are exploiting to cause harm. It means creating responsive policy, legal, and operational frameworks that anchor the right responses. It means sustaining investment in institutions, legal aid, and reform that make justice more accessible, particularly to women, children, and those facing the greatest barriers. It means making technology part of the solution so that it does not become an accelerator of harm, but a force for good and a bridge towards making more effective and efficient justice. And it means working together and connecting the dots across borders, across sectors, and across institutions. These are the essential building blocks for justice systems that people can reach, trust, use, and feel protected. Excellencies, we have not come to Abu Dhabi simply to describe how the world has changed. We have come to decide how we must respond. The Abu Dhabi Declaration gives us a good standing point. However, a declaration is only good as its implementation. That is why the Pledge for Justice initiative can make a difference. It can help turn political commitment into practical action and help and keep us focused on what justice means to the lives of people and communities. I am particularly pleased to learn that we already have over 40 pledges, and I encourage all of you to make strong, concrete commitments of your own. A pledge made today is a promise about the world we leave behind tomorrow. To guarantee a just future, we must therefore also listen to those who will inherit it. So I'm equally pleased that later today, Our young delegates will have their say through our Generation Justice initiatives. Their voices must help shape the road ahead, and that road must also go beyond Abu Dhabi. In the weeks to come, we will carry the momentum of this conference back to Vienna, to the Conference of Parties of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. and later to the reconvened session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in December. Each of these moments offers an opportunity to turn the commitments made here into concrete progress and to keep the momentum going. At the same time, we must continue to strengthen the international normative framework itself, including signing and accelerating an entry into force of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime. Because if crime can cross borders at the click of a button, our cooperation must be agile and able to move just as quickly to prevent, manage, resolve, and protect people. Ladies and gentlemen, The world will not stop changing. Technology will continue to innovate and proliferate. Criminal networks will continue to adapt and test our borders, our institutions and responses. Our task is to build systems that are resilient enough to respond when tested. To keep our bearings on the landscape shifts, to adapt without losing sight of our principles. Above all, to remember what lies at the heart of this work is protecting people, protecting communities, and protecting our planet and the future. At a time when confidence in multilateralism is faltering, let Abu Dhabi be a testament to international cooperation. Let it be the Congress where we adjust our sails and where we renew our confidence in working together and delivering together for a better, more secure, more just world for all. I wish you a productive and successful 15th Crime Congress, and I thank you for your kind attention.

Your Highnesses, Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, this concludes the ceremonial opening of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. Thank you for your presence and participation. We wish you a successful conference, and once again, welcome to Abu Dhabi.

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Iran.

Play all songs of the Kapil Sharma Show.

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35.

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Could we just ask you to take your seats? We're resuming the session.

We will now start with the high-level segment. We will move to the adoption of Abu Dhabi Declaration. As the third speaker who wanted to make a statement at the end of the procedural part could not do so due to time constraints, I invite him to do so now. and after we will proceed immediately to the adoption of the Abu Dhabi Declaration. You may take the floor now.

Mr. President, I want to thank you and the Secretariat for making necessary arrangements and allocation of time for our delegation to deliver explanation of vote before the adoption of Abu Dhabi Declaration. Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegations, at the outset, I regret to inform you that, in light of the host's failure to issue a visa for members of our delegation from capital, particularly the head of our delegation, we were prevented from fully and properly participating in the consideration of this document. This constitutes a major failure on the part of the host. Our delegation therefore formally protests the situation. With respect to the adoption of the declaration, the position of the Islamic Republic of Iran is that the document is not balanced. Nevertheless, our delegation wishes to state that we will accept this document with following explanatory remarks, solely for the purpose of not obstructing consensus. In this regard, we wish to place on record the following observations. First, we find it deeply puzzling and indeed a matter of grave concern that the consensus language drawn from paragraph 67 of the Kiro Declaration, which has been reaffirmed on numerous occasions across various resolutions, has been omitted from the text. Mr. President, as a case in point, unilateral coercive measures that infringe the fundamental principle of international law and principle set forth within the Charter of the United Nations has impaired allocation of required resources to the fight against corruption in the international arena and has further hampered cooperation of Member States in this scourge, in particular in returning and recovering of assets and proceeds of crimes. Every effort should be made to ensure that international cooperation in the fight against corruption would not be jeopardized by the international wrongful act. The negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on international cooperation has already been expressed by United Nations in the resolution 71/193, and in line with that, the Islamic Republic of Iran deems UCMs detrimental to a collective response to transnational crime and express its grave concern on the effect of such unlawful measures on the rule of law at regional and international level. Therefore, the negative impact of UCMs on prevention and combating of all forms of crime should be appropriately reflected in Abu Dhabi declaration. Mr. President, while this paragraph has been reaffirmed on numerous occasion across various resolution, it was surprisingly omitted from the text. This omission constitute a genuine and significant gap. We believe it's undermined the very foundation upon which our collective work is built. Second, and equally concerning, we note that certain element, despite being contagious and lacking strong merit have nonetheless been introduced into this document for the first time without the support of a number of the State Parties, namely the inclusion of security in the first paragraph at the very last minute, as well as the use of the term scam, which has no legal definition in the relevant documents, whereas the relevant conventions employ only the term fraud for such criminal behavior. These elements carry no strong merit whatsoever and deserve no place in this document. Third and last, we are of the firm view that the general and ambiguous reference to human rights in paragraph 4 is an inappropriate approach, given that not all provisions of the instrument bear relevance to this Congress, and the lack of clarity in this regard only complicates our discussions. This reflects our serious positions at this juncture. We firmly believe that the views of all the States, especially those views supported by previously agreed language and rational justification, deserve weight and attention. Mr. President, these are the points that we place on record. We wish to underscore that the Islamic Republic of Iran will continue to consider itself bound to recall these matters in future documents and deliberation. And we call upon all delegations to give them the attention they merit. I thank you, Mr. President.

It is now my great pleasure to ask the Congress to adopt the Abu Dhabi Declaration of the 15th United Nations Congress on crime prevention and criminal justice contained in the document 241/L.1 by acclamation. I see no objection. It is so decided. Thank you. In accordance with the General Assembly resolution 78/223, The Abu Dhabi Declaration will be submitted to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice at its reconvened 35th session in early December for its consideration. I now have the pleasure to announce the video message by His Excellency Mr. Amr Ben De Jama, Permanent Representative of Algeria to the United Nations. and President of the 2026 session of the Economic and Social Council.

Mr. Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, it is my honor, it is my pleasure to address you at the opening of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and criminal justice. In this beautiful city of Abu Dhabi, this Congress convenes at a critical moment. Around the world, our societies face a rapidly shifting landscape of threats, organized crime, corruption, cyber crime, human trafficking, and again and again, terrorism. These are not isolated challenges. They are complex. They are more and more interconnected. Tackling them requires strong and resilient institutions. It requires international cooperation. And above all, it requires a firm commitment to the rule of law. The ECOSOC views these issues through a clear lens. Crime prevention and criminal justice are not just matters of security. They are essential enablers of human dignity, of social inclusion, and of sustainable development. Peaceful, Just and inclusive societies lie at the very heart of the 2030 agenda, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 16. Without justice, development stalls. Without security, progress cannot last. As the principal United Nation body responsible for advancing economic and social development. ECOSOC has long championed the rule of law and evidence-based policy making. Through its oversight, role and mandate, and its close engagement with the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, ECOSOC remains committed to a clear objective, ensuring our collective responses are effective, are inclusive, and are really, really people-centered. This Congress offers a unique opportunity. It is a time to share experiences, to identify concrete solutions and to build lasting partnerships for implementation, for action. Your discussions over the coming days can shape stronger justice systems and reinforce prevention efforts worldwide. The mandate of ECOSOC is clear. The task of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice is clear. Strengthen justice, prevent crime, and advance sustainable development for all. I wish you every success in your deliberations. I thank you.

I'd

like now to invite the representative of the Youth Forum to lectern to present the outcome of the forum and recommendations to the Generation Justice initiatives launched by, sorry, was held on the 24th and the 25th of September in a follow-up to the Generation Justice initiatives launched by the UNODC in May 2024, with the aim of ensuring meaningful youth engagement in the lead up to and during the 15th Crime Congress. At the Youth Forum, participants developed recommendations on how to implement the commitment contained in the Abu Dhabi Declaration. I kindly invite Ms. Rebecca Kibige from Uganda and Mr. Majid bin Zawabi, United Arab Emirates, to come to the lectern and also ask conference management to play a short video of the youth forum in the meantime. You have the floor now.

Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,. Young people are often described as the future, yet we are also the citizens of the present, experiencing firsthand the challenges that shape our societies, including, but not limited to, growing inequality, rapid technological change, misinformation, conflict, and declining trust institutions. As participants of the youth forum, we believe that effective crime prevention begins long before criminal justice systems are engaged. It starts with partnerships, education, inclusion, meaningful participation, economic stability, healthy environments, and opportunities for young people to contribute to their communities. Resilient societies are built when young people feel heard, seen, valued, and empowered to shape the decisions that affect their lives. Accordingly, we put forward a list of key recommendations that highlight our main concerns regarding crime prevention and criminal justice. We call on Member States, international organizations, and relevant stakeholders to, first, Enhance transparency and accountability within law enforcement institutions by building trust with youth and ensuring fair, efficient, equitable, gender-responsive, and inclusive justice systems. Second, establish inclusive community and youth-led policy development that empowers young people to play a proactive role in sustained community crime prevention. Third, Allocate increased and tailored financial and human resources to evidence-based crime prevention programs, including in rural and underserved areas. And fourth, strengthen and expand psychological, medical, legal, and social support services for persons affected by crime.

Fifth, promote youth-centered, multi-sectoral approaches to crime prevention through strategic investments in areas including education, economic opportunities, digital literacy, and cyber security infrastructure. Sixth, strengthen national, regional, and global legal frameworks to safeguard freedom of speech and the press. including through protections against the misuse of strategic lawsuits against public participation that may be used to censor and discriminate against journalists, whistleblowers, and activists exposing corruption or wrongdoing. Seventh, develop legal and institutional frameworks and national policies to govern the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies within the criminal justice system, informed by evidence-based and inclusive stakeholder input and guided by human rights principles. And eighth, develop and deliver public education campaigns to enhance online safety and build digital skills, including privacy protection, media literacy, critical thinking, fact-checking, and self-reporting mechanisms. For broader recommendations, we encourage all stakeholders to engage with the Change Just Blueprint and the outcomes of the Youth Forum. Above all, we reaffirm that youth must be recognized not merely as stakeholders, but as meaningful partners in building safer, more just, and more resilient societies for all. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the government of the United Arab Emirates and UNODC for their invaluable support over the past two years. And we add our voice to the pledges for justice. Individually and collectively, we pledge to build upon our shared foundation and our global solidarity and guide future iterations of GenJust to ensure lasting impact and continuity. Now, I would like to officially hand over the outcomes of the Youth Forum to His Excellency, the President of the Congress.

Thank you.

Just to go back a little bit, I pronounced Majid's name incorrectly, Majid Ben Zouba. So I had to clarify it. Thank you very much. We'll now move to the launch of the Pledge for Justice initiatives. Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, the challenges we face today, including increasingly sophisticated and transnational form of crime require a stronger cooperation and a practical action at all level. As the 15th Crime Congress provides an opportunity to turn commitment into a result, the Blood for Justice initiative has been established to encourage member states to make a concrete a time-bound pledges in support of crime prevention and criminal justice, and support the implementation of the Abu Dhabi Declaration during the period 2026-2031. With this objective in mind, and on behalf of the United Arab Emirates, I now have the honour to launch the Pledge for Justice Initiative and to invite member state to contribute to this success through ambitious and meaningful pledges. Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, the challenges we face today, excellencies, distinguished guests, the United Arab Emirates strongly support the objective of the pledge for justice initiatives to ensure that commitment made at the Congress are translated into a practical and measurable action. As a host country, we believe that the legacy of Abu Dhabi Congress should extend well beyond the discussion taking place here this week. It should be reflected in a concrete initiatives. stronger partnership and a meaningful progress during the period leading to the 16th United Nation Crime Congress. It is therefore my pleasure and on behalf of the United Arab Emirates to make the first pledge under the pledge for justice initiatives. With a view to advancing crime prevention and criminal justice, the United Arab Emirates pledges to provide a total financial contribution of up to a $5 million over the five period through an annual contribution of up to a million dollar on yearly basis. Through this financial contribution, the United Arab Emirates will continue to exercise a leadership at the international level and a driving forward through the Commission on a Crime Prevention and a Criminal Justice, a strong, sustainable, global, intergovernmental follow up to the Abu Dhabi Declaration. Helping to ensure that the commitment are translated into a tangible action and progress over the next five years, during the period 2026 and 2031, thereby strengthening international cooperation and supporting effective criminal justice institutions. We encourage member states and our international partner to join this initiative with an ambitious, practical, and measurable commitment of their own. Together, we can ensure that the outcome of this Congress are translated into a lasting action. Thank you. We will now continue with the statement of the representative of the established regional groups. I would like to remind all distinguished delegates that the time allocated for a statement by regional group is a five to a max of seven minutes. I have the pleasure first to call the representative of the Group of 77 and China, His Excellency Kumran, permanent representative of India to the United Nations in Vienna, to take the floor. Excellency, you have the floor.

Mr. President, I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. The group is pleased to see you, His Excellency Abdullah bin Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, Minister of Justice of the UAE. presiding over the 15th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, and expresses to you and all members of the Bureau its full support. The Group thanks the Government of the United Arab Emirates for its hospitality and remarkable efforts in hosting this important event. Special mention goes to His Excellency Judge Abdulrahman Murad Al-Blooshi, chairperson of the UAE National Organizing Committee and his team for their exemplary work on the Abu Dhabi Declaration. We also extend our appreciation to the Secretariat for its tireless work. This Congress remains a unique opportunity for bringing together representatives from governments, international organizations, NGOs and individual experts to address various topics in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice. Mr. President, the Group welcomes the theme for this Congress and is of the view that sustainable development, crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law at all levels are strongly interrelated and mutually reinforcing. And in this regard, reaffirms its commitment to the comprehensive and balanced implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The Group reaffirms that the evidence-based approach to crime prevention, should be rigorously promoted, and calls upon States to strengthen the collection, analysis and evaluation of crime-related data, refine crime prevention policies on the basis of empirical research, while respecting national priorities and legal frameworks. The Group welcomes the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime and encourages States to consider signing and ratifying the Convention. The group underscores the need for all States Parties to effectively implement UNTOC and UNCAC, and acknowledges the role played by the respective review mechanisms in improving the implementation of such conventions, which are intergovernmental in nature, non-intrusive, non-punitive and non-ranking. The group emphasizes the need to enhance international cooperation to prevent and combat crimes defined by the conventions and the protocols, and underscores the need to enhance tailored capacity building and technical assistance initiatives, particularly for developing countries. Mr. President, the Group views the Crime Congress not only as a forum for debating issues relating to crime prevention and criminal justice, but also as an opportunity for Member States to provide strategic orientation to other policy-making bodies in this area, particularly the CCPCJ. on new developments and evolving crime trends and tools for its prevention, investigation, prosecution and punishment. The Group highlights and expresses its particular concern over the illicit trafficking of cultural property and related offences, including the increasing involvement of organised criminal groups and terrorist groups, which continues to inflict increasing damage to the cultural heritages of our nations. and in the process contributes to the erosion of our identities. The group underscores the need to better understand and enhance our efforts in accordance with each member's national law against the smuggling of commercial goods. The group acknowledges any existing, increasing, or potential links, in some cases, between transnational organized crime and illicit activities, in particular drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, and smuggling of migrants, fraud, including online scams, illegal mining, money laundering, illicit financial flows, terrorism and its financing, among others, while reaffirming the need for enhanced international cooperation. The Group emphasizes that greater attention should be paid to the research, monitoring and response to new, emerging and evolving forms of crime, with particular focus on growing threats such as transnational organized crime, cybercrime, crimes that affect the environment, offences involving virtual assets, telecom and online fraud and scams. The Group strongly condemns trafficking in persons, especially women and children. The Group also recognises that trafficking in persons for the purpose of forced criminality is a form of trafficking that has risen in numbers. The group urges member states to criminalize child sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, including child sexual exploitation and online sexual abuse. On the particular issue of prevention of terrorism and in order to face this challenge, the group calls for the strengthening of international responses in accordance with national legislation through more effective implementation of the UNTOC and all applicable regional and international counterterrorism legal instruments. as well as the comprehensive, balanced and effective implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. We strongly reaffirm that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, civilization, nationality or ethnicity, and reiterate that all efforts to counter it should be in line with international law. We express serious concerns over the steady rise in hate crimes targeting individuals and communities. based on their religion or belief, xenophobia and racism, and call for intensifying our collective efforts to prevent and counter it. The group underscores the need to address crimes that affect the environment, falling within the scope of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. The group reiterates the importance of the use and application of the UN standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice, in support of effective, fair, humane and accountable criminal justice systems, especially for women and children. The group recognizes that preventing and reducing reoffending constitutes a major practical challenge in criminal justice and welcomes the adoption of the UN Model Strategies on Reducing Reoffending. The group strongly condemns all forms of violence against women, including gender-related killing of women and girls, which is the most extreme form of violence against women, and calls upon the international community to prevent, prosecute and penalize such crimes and punish its perpetrators according to their domestic legislation. The group also strongly condemns all forms of violence against and exploitation of migrants, migrant workers and their families. The group encourages countries to enhance cooperation in a comprehensive manner to develop effective measures to prevent the smuggling of migrants, while ensuring the protection of their rights and access to justice. Mr. President, the group deeply regrets that despite the very explicit articles of the UNCAC, there appears to be an increase in the barriers and challenges in the asset recovery process and their return to countries of origin. including in cases that make use of settlements. And in this regard, reminds this concern over any form of ranking of member states for the purposes of international cooperation in criminal matters, and remains strongly convinced that upholding multilateralism, including by shaping, by supporting an effective UN development system, is essential to strengthen solidarity enhance international cooperation and reinforce States' capacities to address and effectively counter transnational organized crime. The Group recognizes that crime has multiple and interrelated causes, which are exacerbated by socio-economic conditions, and requires strengthened comprehensive crime prevention approaches that take into consideration local, cultural and social contexts, ensuring equality before the law and non-discrimination based on the respect of the rule of law. The group reiterates that the UNODC needs adequate and sustainable resources to allow it to effectively implement an increasingly complex mandate. Therefore, the group urges all states to increase their unconditional contributions, specifically to the General Purpose Fund of UNODC. The Group of 77 and China places great emphasis on the importance great emphasis on the outcome of this Congress. This is an abbreviated version of my statement, and the full version will be available on the G77 website. I thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to the representative of the African Group, Her Excellency Mathilda Alomato, Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nation and Vienna. The floor is yours, your excellency.

I thank you, Mr. President. The African group associates itself with the statements of the group of 77 and China. On behalf of the African group, allow me to congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election as the president of the Congress. The African Group also extends its congratulations to the other members of the Bureau and assures of its full support. The Group also congratulates the Executive Director of the UNODC, Excellency Monica Azumah, as the Secretary-General of this session. The African Group thanks the Government of the United Arab Emirates for its hospitality and remarkable efforts in preparing and hosting this important event in these difficult times. Special mention goes to His Excellency Judge Ablushi, Chairperson of the UAE National Organizing Committee and his team for their exemplary work on the Abu Dhabi Declaration. We also extend our appreciation to the Secretariat for its tireless work. Mr. President, The group welcomes the theme for this Congress and is of the view that sustainable development and the rule of law at all levels are strongly interrelated and mutually reinforcing, and reaffirms its commitment to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Mr. President, the African Group remains convinced that crime is a major obstacle to the economic and social development of the African continent and to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. The African Group has recognized organized crime, drug trafficking and illicit financial flows as obstacles to the achievement of the AU 2030 Agenda and urges all states to develop and implement strategies to prevent and combat them, as well as reiterate its unequivocal condemnation and serious concern about the rise in terrorism and terrorist acts. The African group highlights and expresses its particular concern over the illicit trafficking in cultural property and related offenses, including the increasing involvement of organized criminal groups and terrorist groups, which continues to inflict increasing damage to the cultural heritage of our nations and in the process, contributes to the erosion of our identities and cultural heritage. the group underscores the importance of strengthening international cooperation to prevent, prosecute and penalize illicit trafficking in cultural property, punish its perpetrators and facilitate the recovery and repatriation of cultural property. Additionally, the increasing links between terrorist activities and transnational organized crime, in particular corruption, drug trafficking, Trafficking in firearms, as well as money laundering, remains a serious concern. The Group believes that all Member States have the responsibility to work collectively to prevent and combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. In this regard, the group strongly advocates for a global ban on ransom payments and the strict criminalization of illicit funding networks that exploit arms and drug trafficking. Furthermore, the African group calls on the necessity to take urgent measures to prevent, prosecute, and hold perpetrators accountable for corruption, including the transfer abroad and laundering of assets derived from corruption and to cooperate and assist in the identification, freezing and seizures, as well as to speed up the recovery and return in accordance with chapter 5 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. Mr. President, the protection of children and youth, which constitute the vast majority of the population of Africa, remains one of the highest priorities within the region and simultaneously encourages countries to enhance cooperation and to develop effective measures to prevent the smuggling of migrants, while ensuring the protection of their rights, including access to justice without any discrimination and non-criminalization in accordance with the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its protocol against the smuggling of migrants. Mr. President, the African Group is of the view that the effective application of the UN standards and norms in crime prevention and criminal justice is fundamental in support of fair, humane, and accountable criminal justice systems. The African Group welcomes the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, strengthening international cooperation for combating certain crimes committed by means of information and communications technology systems, and for the sharing of evidence in electronic form in serious crimes and urges or encourages States to consider signing and ratifying the Convention. In addition, the African Group expresses concerns over the continuous challenge posed by crimes that have an impact on the environment, such as wildlife crime, illicit trafficking in precious metals and illegal mining, and illicit trafficking in waste, and commends ongoing efforts to improve effective measures to prevent and counter these crimes. The African Group reiterates that the UNODC needs adequate and sustainable resources to allow it to effectively implement an increasingly complex mandate, including through enhancing the provision of technical assistance and capacity building programs to African countries upon request to enable them to implement their relevant commitments. Therefore, the group urges all states The Group urges all States to increase their unconditional contributions, specifically to the General Purpose Fund of the UNODC, considering the current liquidity crisis that the UN currently finds itself in. Mr. President, the African Group believes that the fight against crime is a common responsibility. While recognizing our shared responsibility to uphold human dignity, human rights, and fundamental freedoms, the African groups calls on the full respect of the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, their national laws, as well as their social, cultural, and religious peculiarities in full respect for their cultural diversity. The Afghan group wishes us all a successful session. I thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you very much, Your Excellency. I now give the floor to the representative of the Asia-Pacific Group, Mr. Majed Al-Qatarnah, Ambassador of Jordan to the United Arab Emirates. Your Excellency, the floor is yours.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Asia Pacific Group. The group warmly welcomes the assumption of His Excellency Abdullah bin Sultan Al-Naimi, Minister of Justice of the United Arab Emirates, of the presidency of the General Committee of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. We extend our full support to you, sir, and to all members of the Bureau as you undertake the important responsibilities ahead. We express our sincere appreciation to the Government of the United Arab Emirates for its generous hospitality and its outstanding efforts in preparing for the hosting of this important Congress. We commend His Excellency Judge Abdurrahman Murad Al-Balushi, Chairperson of the United Arab Emirates National Organizing Committee, and his team for their exemplary work in developing the Abu Dhabi Declaration. We also thank the Secretariat for its dedicated support throughout the preparatory process. Mr. President, this Congress continues to serve as a unique platform that brings together governments, international and non-governmental organizations, and experts from diverse fields. It enables us to exchange views, share experiences, and advance collective efforts to strengthen crime prevention and criminal justice system. The Asia Pacific group underscores the importance of adopting and implementing effective measures to prevent and combat the smuggling of migrants and the trafficking in persons while protecting their lives and human rights, particularly women and accompanied children and adolescents. We highlight the need to address the growing involvement of transnational and national organized criminal groups that profit from these crimes and other offenses, and urge Member States to enhance cooperation to combat these crimes. We further urge Member States to criminalize all forms of child sexual abuse and exploitation, including online child sexual abuse material and its distribution. Strengthening international cooperation, improving data collection, and enhancing the identification of perpetrators and their hotspots linked to these crimes are essential to protecting children and ensuring accountability. Mr. President, the group expresses concern about the rise of violence targeting individuals and communities, both offline and online, based on religion or belief, xenophobia and racism. In this regard, we underline the importance of promoting respect for cultural, religious, ethnic and racial diversity. We call upon all states to undertake appropriate measures in accordance with domestic law and applicable international law to foster a culture of tolerance and mutual respect within societies. The Asia-Pacific Group welcomes the adoption of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime and encourages states to consider signing and ratifying the convention to support its early entry into force. Strengthening international cooperation in combating crimes committed through information and communications technology systems, such as online scams, ransomware attacks, cyber fraud, and cyber-enabled trafficking in person, is essential in today's rapidly evolving digital landscape. We also emphasize that promoting the rule of law and advancing sustainable development are strongly interrelated and mutually reinforcing with crime prevention and criminal justice. In this regard, we highlight the important role of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in advancing Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Mr. President, the Group stresses the need to respond to the serious challenges posed by the increasing links among transnational organized crime, terrorism and related illicit activities, in particular drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, corruption, trafficking in firearms, cybercrime, online scams and money laundering. Addressing these challenges requires integrated and multidisciplinary approaches. including reliable data collection, research, and where appropriate, intelligence and analysis sharing, as well as capacity building and technical assistance to support effectively policy making and interventions. Finally, the Asia Pacific Group attaches great importance to the outcome of this Congress and underscores the need for effective and adequate follow-up to the commitment undertaken within its framework. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you very much. I now give the floor to the representative of the European Union, His Excellency Karl Halirag, Permanent Representative of the European Union in Vienna. Excellency, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, Madam Executive Director, Ministers, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states, Albania, Armenia, Iceland, Montenegro, Norway, the Republic of North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine align themselves with this statement. It's an abbreviated version. The full version will be made available online. Mr. President, we would like first to congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election and ensure you and the whole Bureau of our full support. We would also like to thank the United Arab Emirates for hosting the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi. His Excellency Judge Al-Blushi guided us skillfully through the negotiations of the declaration, which has the full support of the European Union and its Member States and provides a strong basis for our collective action in the years ahead. We are committed to its effective implementation. We also deeply appreciate the excellent work of the Secretariat under the leadership of Executive Director Monica Juma. The European Union remains a strong and reliable partner of UNODC. Mr. President, we meet at a time when armed conflict, geopolitical, environmental and social instability, and attacks on the rules-based international order create unprecedented opportunities for criminal networks. Protecting and supporting victims of all crimes, safeguarding their rights, ensuring equal access to justice for all, and offering the help needed to cope with the damages for all remain non-negotiable pillars of our response. In this context, the recently adopted revision of the EU's Victims' Rights Directive is a powerful tool at our disposal. Mr. President, The European Union and its Member States are deeply alarmed by the scale, brutality and profitability of migrant smuggling. Criminal networks treat human beings as commodities, exploiting vulnerability for immense financial gain with complete disregard for human life and dignity. These networks are closely intertwined with human trafficking, which is both a crime and a human rights violation. The Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling serves as a vital platform for strengthening international cooperation to dismantle the criminal business model, follow the money, and target those who profit from exploitation, not those who are exploited. We encourage all Member States, international organizations, and partners to join this Global Alliance and actively contribute. Crimes that affect the environment can cause irreversible harm to biodiversity and the environment, human health and livelihoods, while generating massive illicit profits, undermining the rule of law and contributing to instability. In this respect, the Environmental Crime Directive and the Council of Europe Convention on Environmental Crime significantly strengthen our fight against these crimes. A central driver across these criminal ecosystems is drug trafficking. The global drug phenomenon has become increasingly complex, violent, and dynamic, with direct consequences for the safety, security, health, and well-being of society and for international security. As reflected in the EU drug strategy, we address the world drug situation through an evidence-based, integrated, multidisciplinary, and human rights-centered approach. Mr. President, corruption and money laundering are the oxygen on which organized crime depends. Money laundering nourishes criminal groups by protecting criminal proceeds. To prevent and reduce organized crime, we must deprive it of its profits through comprehensive anti-corruption frameworks. Furthermore, we strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We call for strengthened international cooperation to counter terrorism, address radicalization leading to violent extremism, disrupt terrorist financing, and combat trafficking in firearms, as well as other forms of trafficking that generate proceeds and may be exploited by terrorist or criminal networks, always in full respect of international law, including international human rights law. Mr. President, to counter these threats effectively, we must urgently strengthen international judicial and law enforcement cooperation, while reinforcing the effective implementation of our obligations under the relevant UN conventions, and promote universal ratification of the UN Convention against Cybercrime, while prioritizing already now its implementation. The European Union already works closely with third countries and plans to strengthen the mandates of Eurojust, whose President is with us in this conference, Europol and the European Public Prosecutor's Office to expand their operational relations with their strategic partners. Effective crime prevention, including through holistic, evidence-based strategies that address the root causes and risk factors associated with crime and criminal justice, must be firmly grounded in the rule of law and human rights. Strong, independent, accessible and quality justice systems are the foundation of public trust and resilient societies. This also requires multi-stakeholder partnerships, including with civil society. Criminal networks have repeatedly shown how quickly they can exploit emerging technologies. The European Union is making use of technologies to strengthen its criminal justice response, notably with the new e-evidence framework, which allows access to electronic evidence quickly and efficiently within the EU's borders. While artificial intelligence and digital tools can strengthen justice systems, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms privacy and data protection must be fully safeguarded under clear legal frameworks and meaningful human oversight. Finally, our commitment to human dignity means that the European Union and its Member States strongly oppose the death penalty at all times and in all circumstances as an irrevocable, inhumane and cruel punishment. We call upon all states retaining it to establish a moratorium as a first step towards universal abolition. Mr. President, the challenges before us are global, interconnected and evolving. No state can confront them alone. The European Union and its member states remain committed to strengthening multilateral cooperation to ensure that organized crime finds no safe haven, no impunity and no profit. And now our pledge. As our pledge for justice commitment, the European Union pledges to launch significant new initiatives to counter organized crime and terrorism, such as the forthcoming TEMIS and INTERCEPT projects, designed to strengthen capacity in the criminal justice and anti-trafficking domains, thereby contributing to the implementation of the Abu Dhabi Declaration. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Your Excellency. We will now continue with the national statement. I would kindly ask all the speakers to adhere to the agreed upon speaking time of three to a max of five minutes. The first speaker will be Her Excellency Ms. Saida Mira Ziyova, Head of the Administration of the President of Uzbekistan. Your Excellency, the floor is all yours.

Mr. President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, It is an honor to speak on behalf of Uzbekistan at a Congress that has spent seven decades trying to make the world a little safer for people who never asked to be afraid. Our thanks to the United Arab Emirates for hosting us in this magnificent city of Abu Dhabi, and to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for work that rarely makes headlines, but changes lives all the same. Dear delegates, we meet at a difficult moment in human history. Crises are touching one region after another. and crime itself has changed shape. It crosses borders with ease, moves through technology, adapts faster than the system built to contain it. But behind every one of those shifts is something simpler and harder to ignore. A family that felt it directly, a child exploited online, a woman who stayed silent too long, afraid that speaking would cost her more than her silence. A community that had quietly stopped trusting the people meant to protect it. That is the weight we carry into this room, and it is why prevention and justice cannot remain abstract ideas discussed at a distance. They have to reach people or they mean nothing at all. This year, ECOSOC elected Uzbekistan for the first time to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice for the 2027 to 2029 term. We do not take it this as a praise. We take it as responsibility and as an invitation to keep learning from UNODC's expertise. from the OAC's long experience, from every country in this room that has already faced that we have been starting to face. Nearly everything we have built these past years, we built by asking others first. Let me share briefly what we have tried to give our own people so far, measured not by pride, but by how honestly we can report it. On prevention, we built a digitally integrated public safety system, joining community level policing with artificial intelligence and data analytics. Last year, our AI powered emergency response platform processed over 3.4 million citizen reports. And behind every one of those numbers was a person. who reached out in a moment of need and was answered, rather than left to wonder if anyone was listening at all. Following Uzbekistan's signing of the UN Convention against Cybercrime, we adopted a national cybersecurity strategy for 2026 to 2030 and established a National Coordinating Council for Cybersecurity and Combating Cybercrime. Because the fear people carry now follows them online as much as it does in the street. We tried to give something harder still, safety inside people's own homes, where the law had rarely reached before. In 2023, Uzbekistan became the first country in Central Asia to criminalize domestic violence. We built a network of rehabilitation centers and introduced mandatory protection orders. We said plainly what should never have needed saying in the first place, that violence against women and children has no place and tolerance in our society. On the rule of law, we tried to make corruption not merely punishable, but structurally difficult to commit at all. We gave our anti-corruption agency real independence and introduced real-time monitoring of public procurement. Uzbekistan has risen 34 places on the corruption perception index, a number that matters only because it means fewer people had to pay in some quiet and unfair way for services that should have been theirs by right. In 2027, we will host the 12th session of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption, and we hope to arrive at that meeting having learned as much as we bring. And everything above was shaped in partnership, not in isolation. Our national strategy Countering Extremism and Terrorism for 2021-2026 was developed in close consultation with the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and reinforced through sustained cooperation with UNODC. Excellencies, now I would like to offer something back. Under our Pledge for Justice initiative, Uzbekistan commits to five goals by 2031 on environmental justice, on judicial digitalization, a regional platform for operational and digital cooperation on criminal matters, on transnational security, on counter-narcotics cooperation, and on protecting children in digital spaces. None of this is claimed that we have arrived somewhere others have not. It is an offer to keep working beside this Congress and an honest admission that we still have far more to learn than we have to teach. When we welcome you to Tashkent in 2031, we do not wish to be judged by what in we promised here today. We would rather be judged by something quieter and harder to measure. whether fewer children were harmed, whether fewer women felt that they had to stay silent, and whether fewer families were left to face fear entirely on their own. Thank you.

Thank you so much, Your Excellency. And now we give the floor Thank you so much, Your Excellency. And now we give the floor to Kuwait, to Her Excellency Awad of Abdul Latif Al-Sanad, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Justice of Kuwait. The floor is yours, Your Excellency.

In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate. His Excellency, Mr. Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, President of the Congress, Ms. Monica Jouma, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Excellencies, distinguished guests, may the peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you at the outset. It is my pleasure to join you at this UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, which is being held under exceptionally difficult circumstances due to the blatant Iranian aggression against the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council and certain Arab countries, and its targeting of vital facilities, airports, infrastructure, and residential areas. in flagrant violation of international law and norms and the principles of good neighborliness, which has led to the postponement of this important international gathering. In this regard, I would like to express our sincere thanks to the Government of the United Arab Emirates led by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for hosting this Congress and for the excellent organization and generous hospitality. I would also like to extend our appreciation to Japan for its unwavering support in advancing the principles and strategies established by the Kyoto Declaration, and to all countries that have adopted that declaration as a framework for combating all forms of crime over the past five years. Our thanks also go to the Republic of Uzbekistan for its intention to host the 16th Congress. Ladies and gentlemen, today we gather to discuss the topics on the agenda of this Congress, which serves as an essential foundation for shaping international policies in the field of crime prevention and combating its serious repercussions on the international community, particularly in light of the emerging and evolving forms of crime. Pursuant to UN General Assembly Resolution 1/70, on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the state of Kuwait adopted its national development plan as part of its vision 2035, which includes comprehensive policies to combat crime. To that end, Kuwait enacted the necessary pieces of legislation, including the law against narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the law against domestic violence, the beneficial ownership law, and the commercial concealment law. Kuwait has also attached particular importance to combating cybercrime as part of its efforts to prevent the spread of all forms of transnational crime. In this context, we enacted the law against information technology crimes as the principal national legislative framework We have also supported international efforts to combat the illicit use of ICTs by joining the UN Convention against Cybercrime. We also issued legislation regulating digital commerce in order to establish a comprehensive legal framework governing online commercial transactions and protecting consumer rights. Colleagues, international efforts to prevent and combat crime constitute a shared responsibility among states, implemented through international agreements and national legislation. Accordingly, Kuwait enacted a national law on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters to ensure that procedures for such assistance are clear and effective. Combating terrorism in all its forms remains a matter of utmost importance at both the national and international levels. Kuwait has kept pace with relevant developments through practical measures aimed at ensuring effective counterterrorism efforts. at the national level, including the issuance of a new counter-terrorism law to address this ideologically motivated transnational crime. Three entities have also been established to implement this law, the Financial Intelligence Unit, a National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing, comprising all relevant national authorities and working to implement the comprehensive strategy in this regard. and a committee responsible for implementing Security Council resolutions related to counterterrorism and terrorist financing. In closing, I hope that this Congress will contribute to reaching understandings and decisions that strengthen international cooperation in combating and preventing crime and promoting criminal justice.

Thank you very much, Your Excellency. And now we will give--.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, It's a great honor for me to be here today as Minister of Justice of Belgium at a Congress that brings together countries from across the world around the shared responsibility, making our societies safer while in crime prevention and criminal justice. Belgium has consistently supported UNODC's work, including through a recent contribution of 500,000 euro for legal reforms aimed at combating drug trafficking and organized crime in Latin America. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, the challenge before us is clear. Organized criminal networks are increasingly connected, agile, and sophisticated. They operate across borders, exploit new technologies and legitimate infrastructure, infiltrate our economies and target our communities and young people. Our response must evolve accordingly. For Belgium, this means tackling organized crime from every angle, preventing it from taking root disrupting its business model, protecting those it targets, and bringing criminals to justice. As a major European logistic hub, Belgium has witnessed how criminal networks exploit legitimate supply chains, particularly for drug trafficking. Their activities generate violence and corruption and undermine public trust. Belgium is therefore strengthening port security, where international cooperation, including within the framework of the IMO, has an important role to play. Within our government, we have also established a task force on organizing crime to tackle the entire criminal chain. But prosecution alone is not enough. We need prevention and early intervention. combined with administrative and judicial action. This is particularly important when criminal networks target young people. We must prevent vulnerable young people from becoming instruments of organized crime. And at the same time, those who deliberately exploit minors for criminal purposes must be held accountable. Belgium has therefore introduced enhanced penalties for offenses involving the use of minors. Excellencies, if we want to dismantle organized crime, we must dismantle its financial foundations. Crime must not pay. Belgium is strengthening its asset-oriented approach to better identify, trace, freeze, confiscate, and recover criminal assets. Building on European initiatives, Belgium is introducing two forms of confiscation without a prior criminal conviction. First, confiscation will be possible where a conviction for the offence that generated the illicit proceeds cannot be obtained, for example, following the death of the offender. And second, we will introduce the confiscation of unexplained wealth linked to criminal activities. In the coming weeks, the Belgian government will submit draft legislation to put these measures into effect. Our objective is simple. Criminal organizations should not be able to hide or retain the proceeds of their activities behind legal or procedural barriers. And when assets are recovered, they should, whenever possible, serve society again. by compensating victims and supporting law enforcement, prevention and the resilience of our societies. At the same time, an effective fight against crime must never come at the expense of the principles we seek to protect. The rule of law, fundamental rights and the rights of victims must remain at the centre of our criminal justice systems. Whether we are dealing with criminal or organized crime, domestic violence, sexual violence against women and children, or other serious offenses, our response must be coordinated and victim-centered. Respect for fundamental rights is not an obstacle to security. It is one of its foundations. Excellencies, no country can address these challenges alone. Criminal networks cooperate across borders every day. They share information, move money and exploit differences between jurisdictions. Our cooperation must therefore be stronger. Belgium therefore supports stronger implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. deeper operational cooperation, faster information sharing, stronger frameworks for asset recovery, and more effective extradition procedures. The good bilateral cooperation between Belgium and the United Arab Emirates is a positive example. Belgium also supports, within a coordinated EU framework, the launch of negotiations on an additional protocol to the Convention addressing crimes that affect the environment. These crimes increasingly involve organized networks operating across borders and require a coherent global response. Ultimately, our objective is not simply to respond to crime after it occurs. It is to prevent criminal networks from gaining a foothold, to stop them from exploiting our young people, to deprive them of the profits that fuel their activities, and to protect our institutions, economies, and communities. Let us send a clear message from this Congress: there can be no safe haven for criminal profits, no tolerance for violence and exploitation, and no compromise on justice and the rule of law. Criminals already know how to cooperate across borders. Our cooperation must be stronger. Thank you. And with regard to our pledge, with a view to advance crime prevention and criminal justice, I pledge for Belgium to adopt within the next 12 months a legislation aimed at improving the effectiveness of its criminal justice system, in line with its key goal of structurally disrupting the criminal profits model. This measure will include the establishment of a national specialized prosecutor's office dealing with organized economic and financial crime, as well as the legislation to facilitate confiscation of criminal assets without prior conviction. Thank you so much.

Thank you very much, Your Excellency. And now we'll give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Clifton Grima, Minister of Justice, Research and Innovation at Malta. And the floor is yours, Your Excellency.

Chair, Excellencies, delegates, representatives of civil society. Malta aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union. We wish to share a few additional remarks in our national capacity. Malta commends the United Arab Emirates for the leadership and also for the successful organization of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. At a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, growing instability, and increasingly complex transnational threats, including the rapid evolution of technologies, the conveying of this Congress carries particular significance. As criminals increasingly exploit opportunities presented by shifting international dynamics and also technological advancement, the need to strengthen crime prevention and criminal justice systems has never been greater. For over 70 years, the Crime Congress has provided a vital multilateral platform, demonstrating our enduring collective commitment to justice, security, and effective international cooperation efforts. For Malta, access to justice remains central to our efforts. Justice systems must be effective, accessible, and responsive. Through our digital justice strategy, Malta is harnessing technology to improve access to justice streamline judicial process, reduce delays and enhance services while safeguarding fundamental rights, due process and also judicial independence. We are also strengthening child-friendly justice, placing the child's best interest at the heart of proceedings through the adoption of child-sensitive approaches that reduce the risk of further trauma. In fully supporting the model pledges of promoting child-centred, inclusive and responsive justice, As further elaborated in the margins of this Congress, Malta stands firmly behind child-centered justice as an essential pillar of people-centered justice. This requires justice systems and also services to be designed around children, their rights, and their specific justice needs, ensuring their meaningful participation in development, implementation, and evaluation of child-centered justice measures. Strong justice systems must, however, be complemented by robust crime prevention and law enforcement. Malta Justice and Home Affairs authorities work closely together to protect communities, uphold the rule of law and respond to evolving criminal threats. I now give the floor to my colleague, Minister Glen Bettenfield.

Thank you, my colleague, Minister Grima. Dear Excellencies, Malta pursues a whole of government approach to tackling crime, recognising that effective responses depend upon close cooperation between justice and law enforcement authorities. Malta continues to rank among the safest countries in the world. In 2025, reported crime fell by a further 6%, reaching one of the lowest levels recorded in recent decades. These achievements are not accidental. They are the result of our shift in community-oriented, intelligence-led policing, with a strong focus on prevention, public engagement and proactive enforcement. But while our streets have become safer, crime has adapted, presenting new challenges that require us also to continuously adapt. We are also intensifying our response to organised crime, including drug trafficking, financial crime and the criminal networks that exploit new technologies. This requires continued investment in law enforcement capacity. intelligence-led and evidence-based policing, as well as training of law enforcement authorities to address increasingly sophisticated criminal threats. The fight against trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants remains a priority for my government. These crimes exploit the most vulnerable, undermine human dignity, and generate substantial profits for organized criminal networks. We remain firmly committed to preventing exploitation, protecting and supporting victims, and raising public awareness through initiatives such as the Blue Heart campaign. We seek to encourage vigilance, reporting, and the protection of victims. We also cooperate closely with our international partners, including UNODC and Interpol, because these criminal networks transcend borders. and therefore require a united international response. Malta firmly believes that resilient and secure societies can only be built on the justice and law enforcement systems that protect the most vulnerable. We are therefore committed to ensuring that no child and no vulnerable person is left without protection. And for this reason, the Malta Police Force continues to invest in child-centered policing, strengthening victim support services, enhance child protection mechanisms, and deepen cooperation between competent authorities to deliver a more victim-focused response. As an island state situated at the crossroads of key maritime routes, Malta is equally conscious of the need to address maritime crime, We remain committed to continue strengthening maritime security, disrupting illicit trafficking networks and promoting coordinated action at sea. Excellencies. As we look ahead, let us be guided by a simple principle: that criminals must never be more agile than the institutions that protect our citizens. The threats we face are evolving, but so too our resolve, our cooperation, and our capacity to respond. Together, we have the tools, the partnership, and the determination to make our society safer, more resilient, and more secure. Let us, therefore, move forward with unity and determination to deliver effective, people-centred solutions that prevent crime, protect the vulnerable and reinforce confidence in our institutions. Malta stands ready to contribute these shared efforts. Thank you.

Thank you.

Now I will give the floor to Her Excellency, Madame Karin Herrera, Vice President of Guatemala.

The floor is yours.

Mr. President, Excellencies. Guatemala its national level prioritizes prevention and the fight against sexual violence, exploitation, trafficking in persons. These are crimes that undermine human dignity and require comprehensive treatment under rule of law. For our part, we have shouldered our responsibilities at the regional level through the Secretariat against Sexual Violence, Exploitation, and Trafficking in Persons.

Currently, we.

Hold the presidency of the Regional Coalition Against Trafficking in Persons and Illicit Trafficking of Migrants. Guatemala, it is essential to strengthen the interchange -- exchange of information and intelligence, coordinated investigation, mutual legal assistance, and protection of victims beyond borders. We should also work toward asset recovery and the prosecution of those that benefit from these crimes. We warmly thank the UN system, especially the UNODC, for its constant support, technical cooperation, which has benefited us in order to strengthen our national capacity, prevent crime, and protect people. Combating trafficking in persons means defending human dignity. and cooperating internationally.

This is our shared responsibility.

We just heard the intervention of the Vice President of Guatemala.

And now two pledges will be made.

Specialized for the prevention and denunciation of the crimes of sexual exploitation. A pledge in terms of prevention of sexual violence. The second pledge. Un programa especializado de la trata de personas dirigido a trabajadores migrantes temporales que participen en procesos de movilidad laboral con otros países, en coordinación con la Secretaría contra la Violencia Sexual, Explotación y Trata de Personas, SVET, el Ministerio de Trabajo y Previsión Social y la Autoridad Migratoria Nacional.

Distinguished, the high level segment and resume at 3:00 PM sharp.

Thank you very much. The meeting is adjourned.