Six-day summit brings together delegations from over 97 countries to chart international criminal justice and crime prevention strategies for the next five years
ABU DHABI, Sept. 26, 2026 : More than 5,000 delegates, including justice ministers and legal experts from around the world, gathered in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday for the opening of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
The six-day conference at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi marks the world’s largest multilateral forum dedicated to crime prevention, modern policing, and penal reform. Running through Oct. 1, the congress convenes government ministers, civil society leaders, and legal scholars to establish global enforcement and justice priorities for the next five-year cycle.
More than 97 nations sent delegations to the summit, led by over 32 ministers of interior and justice. A roster of 93 expert speakers and specialists will lead sessions examining emerging security threats, judicial reform, and international law enforcement cooperation.
Organized under United Nations auspices, the gathering addresses challenges ranging from transnational organized crime and illicit financial flows to the growing operational footprint of technology in modern offenses.
Delegates intend to draft shared policy frameworks placing public welfare and judicial integrity at the foundation of law enforcement systems. Key agenda tracks focus on institutional accountability, expanded legal aid access, and cross-border digital evidence sharing.
The summit also centers on leveraging new technologies responsibly across criminal justice systems. Over the coming days, working groups will evaluate tools for forensic analytics, cross-border intelligence coordination, and judicial efficiency while establishing safeguards for civil liberties and human rights.
Established in 1950 and convened every five years, the UN Crime Congress serves as the central international body shaping multilateral crime policy and international legal standards. Outcomes finalized during the Abu Dhabi sessions will feed into formal resolutions presented to the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
