Director-General/Executive Director
Mr. Chair,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I am pleased to join you today to take stock of preparations for the 15th UN Crime Congress.
For almost 70 years, the Crime Congress has helped shape the global agenda on crime prevention and criminal justice.
Today, we are writing another chapter in that history, as we prepare for the upcoming Congress in 2026 in the United Arab Emirates, our torchbearer for this Congress.
Hosting it is no small feat; it requires immense preparation, along with dedication to advancing our collective goals.
The UAE’s role as host highlights the significance of having Member States at the forefront of such processes, leading the global discourse on crime prevention and criminal justice, and fostering international cooperation and dialogue.
And I would like to extend my appreciation to the UAE for undertaking this endeavour and all Member States for their engagement, as well as the UNODC Secretariat for their relentless hard work in driving the process forward.
As we prepare for the next Congress, we must continue to build on the successes of the 14th Crime Congress in Kyoto, and as the preparatory and follow-up body for the Congress, the CCPCJ is the ideal forum to keep discussions on criminal justice and the rule of law high on the international agenda.
The theme of the 15th Congress focuses on protecting people and our planet, and highlights the growing linkages between crime prevention, criminal justice, the rule of law and digital transformation to the Sustainable Development Goals.
And the Abu Dhabi Declaration that will emerge from the Congress should constitute an important milestone for propelling our collective efforts towards the realization of the 2030 Agenda.
This aligns well with the objectives of the Summit of the Future to be held in September, which will pledge to reinvigorate multilateral action and find new solutions to rescue the SDGs.
And we are in a unique position this year to link the discussions and outcomes of this session of the Commission directly to the work of the Summit and to the Pact for the Future, so I encourage you all to take full advantage of this opportunity.
The SDGs, and Goal 16 in particular, are intrinsically linked to fostering safe, inclusive and resilient societies, where justice and the rule of law protect everyone’s rights.
Yet today, weak rule of law institutions and social vulnerabilities are creating opportunities for crime to derail progress on the SDGs, at the cost of people’s lives.
Violence around the world is on the rise.
Homicides are reaching record numbers in some countries, while women and girls are increasingly being killed by their intimate partners or family members.
Thousands more are enduring horrific gender-based violence at the hands of traffickers, with one in three women globally having suffered sexual or other forms of violence.
And our planet’s resources and ecosystems are being exploited without any regard for our future, with hundreds of species on the verge of extinction due to the illegal wildlife trade.
Corruption and financial crimes are allowing these activities to fester, poisoning the foundations of criminal justice institutions, and eroding good governance.
And without strong rule of law institutions, we don’t stand a chance in ending the crime and corruption that is crippling our societies today.
That is why we need renewed action and commitment.
To advance evidence-based, people-centered, and gender-responsive criminal justice systems, so that justice is accessible to all, especially women, youth and the most disadvantaged in society.
To turn the digital age into an age of opportunity, by harnessing the positive potential of technologies, while ensuring adequate safeguards are in place to protect human rights, especially for artificial intelligence which we have yet to fully grasp or understand.
To collect high-quality, reliable data and promote strong data governance frameworks, to identify gaps in responses and keep abreast of emerging threats and trends.
And to listen to all voices, including those of civil society, academia, and intergovernmental organizations, and especially the voices of young people, and I’m proud of UNODC’s Generation Justice Initiative which aims to engage young people directly in the preparatory process for the Congress.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Last year, you adopted an ambitious yet comprehensive agenda for the upcoming Crime Congress that sets the foundation for fruitful discussions.
We must now use this session of the CCPCJ to pave the path for a successful and productive Congress.
Let us walk that path together, as we continue our journey from Kyoto to Abu Dhabi.
Thank you.