Countries adopt global blueprint to tackle fast-evolving crime in digital age
UN Crime Congress Adopts Abu Dhabi Declaration to Address Digital-Era Threats
Qinilo.com – Governments have endorsed a new international framework aimed at confronting crime that is becoming more technologically sophisticated, borderless and difficult to investigate. The Abu Dhabi Declaration was adopted by acclamation on Saturday as the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice began in the United Arab Emirates capital.
The gathering brings countries together at a moment when online fraud, cybercrime, digital financial tools and the misuse of emerging technologies are reshaping risks for individuals, communities and institutions. Delegates are expected to examine how justice systems can respond without weakening fundamental rights or leaving vulnerable people without protection.
A shared response to changing criminal methods
The Declaration recognizes that modern services, public infrastructure and digital technologies can all be misused for criminal purposes. It draws attention to newer patterns described as “crime as a service” and “violence as a service,” reflecting the ways criminal activity can be organized, offered and enabled through networks that extend across national borders.
Countries also pledged to increase their own responsible use of technology. This includes digitalizing justice systems and applying artificial intelligence in criminal justice work. However, the agreement makes clear that innovation must be accompanied by protections for people. Human oversight, transparency, due process and data protection are identified as essential safeguards.
For the public, those commitments matter because the consequences of digital crime rarely remain confined to the internet. Fraud can strip families of savings, manipulated content can fuel abuse, and criminal networks can use online platforms to recruit, deceive or exploit people far from their physical base of operations. Effective responses therefore depend on both technical capacity and institutions that people can trust.
Justice and rights at the centre of the agenda
In a video address to participants, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said the Congress was being held during a period of deep global change. She emphasized that access to justice must be treated as a universal principle rather than a benefit available only to some groups.
“Justice cannot be a privilege. It must protect every person, uphold every person’s rights and leave no one behind,” said Ms. Mohamed. “This Congress is an opportunity to renew our shared commitment to justice and the rule of law, and to translate that commitment into action.”
The emphasis on rights is significant as justice institutions adopt more digital tools. Technology can help authorities process cases, share information and reach people who struggle to access services. Yet its use can also create serious concerns if decisions are opaque, personal data is mishandled or people cannot challenge actions that affect them. The Abu Dhabi Declaration places those questions alongside the need for stronger enforcement.
Participating governments are being encouraged to turn the broad commitments into measurable action through the voluntary Pledge4Justice initiative. Under that process, governments can announce specific actions on crime prevention and criminal justice that are time-bound and extend through 2031.
Call for cooperation beyond borders
Monica Juma, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, presented the Congress as a test of whether international cooperation can keep pace with the evolving criminal environment. She said the rule of law and effective criminal justice remain central to the safety of people and the planet.
“Today, the world convenes in Abu Dhabi to reaffirm that the rule of law and criminal justice are essential to the safety and security of people and the planet,” said Ms. Juma. “At a time when confidence in multilateralism is faltering, let Abu Dhabi be a testament to international cooperation.”
Five years after the previous Crime Congress in Kyoto, Japan, Ms. Juma said the world had reached another turning point. Artificial intelligence and other technologies are advancing at exceptional speed, creating opportunities for public benefit while also giving criminals new ways to operate.
Platforms that link billions of users can also connect offenders. Digital currencies may help conceal illegal proceeds, while online tools can be used to mislead, manipulate and exploit victims. In Ms. Juma’s view, technology is doing more than increasing the pace of criminal activity; it is altering the nature of crime itself.
Organized criminal groups, she warned, are increasingly able to take advantage of gaps between jurisdictions, institutions and legal systems. That makes cooperation among countries especially important, whether the issue involves investigating cyber-enabled fraud, tracing illicit funds or protecting victims whose experiences cross several borders.
Focus on people at greatest risk
Delegates were urged not to lose sight of the human impact behind broad discussions of digital systems and international policy. Ms. Juma highlighted children drawn into gangs, women subjected to violence in homes or online spaces, people who cannot obtain legal help, and young people attracted into scam operations by promises of better prospects.
“Protecting these people must be the measure against which we judge our efforts over the coming week,” she said. “It must be our north star.”
She called for laws and institutions that can adapt to changing threats, wider availability of legal aid and access to justice, and technology used as a positive force rather than as a mechanism that expands harm. Her message underscored that a declaration alone cannot solve these challenges; implementation will determine whether its commitments lead to meaningful results.
Hosted by the United Arab Emirates, the Congress continues through 1 October under the theme Protecting People and Planet in the Digital Age. It includes representatives from 119 countries, more than 40 justice ministers and other senior officials, and over 5,100 participants from governments, civil society, academic institutions and the private sector.
Plenary sessions, workshops, exhibitions and side events are scheduled throughout the Congress. Organizers have also described it as the most youth-inclusive Crime Congress to date. Young participants are contributing through workshops, follow-up activities, a Youth Lab and an art exhibition, following a Youth Forum held on 24 and 25 September.
UNODC serves as the Congress secretariat and will support work connected to implementation of the new framework. The challenge for participating countries now is to translate shared language on cooperation, technological safeguards and victim protection into practical policies that work in courts, communities and digital spaces alike.
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