The 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice opened in Abu Dhabi on Saturday with delegates adopting the Abu Dhabi Declaration, a strategic document meant to shape international crime‑prevention and criminal‑justice priorities for the next five years. The session also launched Pledge4Justice, a new platform to convert political commitments into concrete initiatives, with the United Arab Emirates announcing an initial pledge of up to USD 5 million.
High-level turnout and a strategic roadmap
The congress, held at the ADNEC Centre, drew representatives from more than 97 countries, including over 32 ministers of justice and interior ministers, according to official materials. Organizers said the Abu Dhabi Declaration will serve as the event's principal political and strategic outcome and will steer international cooperation in crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law through 2031.
The declaration is organized around four central pillars — prevention and resilience; justice and the rule of law; evolving and converging criminal threats; and innovation and cooperation — and is reflected across 18 articles and 67 paragraphs that frame the document's commitments and priorities.
| Element | Count |
|---|---|
| Pillars | 4 |
| Articles | 18 |
| Paragraphs | 67 |
Focus areas and policy priorities
The declaration highlights an array of priorities championed by the UAE, including protection of women and children, the role of artificial intelligence and technologies in criminal justice, and environmental considerations. Other topics addressed in the document include organized crime, cybercrime, the responsible use of AI and modern technologies, protection of victims and witnesses and other vulnerable groups, asset recovery, illicit financial flows, anti‑corruption, mutual legal assistance and extradition.
- Measures to strengthen participation of women in criminal justice systems and combat violence against women.
- Initiatives to create or enhance child‑sensitive justice systems.
- Coordinated responses to cybercrime and converging criminal threats.
By placing technology, victims’ protection and financial crime on the same strategic footing, the declaration signals an intent among participating states to pursue a broad, integrated approach to crime and justice challenges.
Pledge4Justice and the UAE commitment
The congress introduced Pledge4Justice, designed to translate the political commitments in the Abu Dhabi Declaration into practical programs and capacity‑building efforts. The UAE announced the first contribution to the platform: up to USD 5 million, structured as annual payments of up to USD 1 million from 2026 through 2031.
Organizers described the funding as intended to support development of justice systems, capacity building and efforts to ensure the congress outcomes deliver sustainable impact across communities. The pledge represents an early attempt to match high‑level commitments with financial resources, a critical step if states intend to move from declaration to implementation.
Implications and next steps
The Abu Dhabi Declaration is positioned as the guiding political instrument for the Congress’s work over the coming five years. Its adoption and the launch of Pledge4Justice set the agenda for follow‑up actions, including international cooperation on mutual legal assistance, asset recovery, and cross‑border law enforcement responses to cyber and organized crime.
Delegates will now face the task of translating the declaration’s articles and paragraphs into national policies, cooperative mechanisms and funded programs. The practical impact of the congress will depend in part on how member states, donors and international agencies operationalize the commitments and align resources behind the priorities identified at the opening session.
