UAE Delegation Participates in the 34th Session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Vienna

UAE Delegation

 UAE Delegation Participates in the 34th Session of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Vienna

A delegation from the United Arab Emirates, headed by H.E. Judge Abdulrahman Al Balooshi, Assistant Undersecretary for International Cooperation and Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Justice, participated in the 34th session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, held in Vienna, Austria, from May 19 to 23, 2025.

The delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Justice, along with members of the UAE’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations and international organizations in Vienna. This reflects the UAE’s institutional integration and collaborative approach in addressing international criminal justice issues.

This participation comes as part of the UAE’s ongoing preparations for the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, which will be hosted in Abu Dhabi in April 2026. The session witnessed substantial discussions on global challenges in criminal justice and crime prevention. Participating delegations, including the UAE, emphasized the importance of combating all forms of crime by enhancing international cooperation, promoting gender equality, respecting human rights, building capacities, transferring technology and training to developing countries, as well as updating national legislations in line with modern developments.

The session highlighted the need to combat human trafficking and support victims through rehabilitation and reintegration programs. There were also strong calls for fighting terrorism in all its forms, stressing the need for coordinated international efforts and strengthened national legislation.

In this context, the UAE delivered multiple statements during the session, reaffirming its strong commitment to international cooperation in building a more just and sustainable future. The delegation emphasized the crucial role of the preparatory meetings for the 2026 Abu Dhabi Congress in shaping a forward-looking global vision for addressing crime and criminal justice.

As part of the session's events, the UAE delegation hosted a side event titled "The Road to Abu Dhabi," which focused on the preparatory tracks for the congress and attracted significant international engagement.

Additionally, H.E. Hamad Al Kaabi, UAE Permanent Representative to the United Nations and international organizations in Vienna, participated as a keynote speaker in a side event organized by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime in cooperation with INTERPOL and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The event, titled "Combating Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism," highlighted the UAE’s efforts in fighting organized crime.

On the sidelines of the session, the UAE delegation also took part in numerous side events and held several bilateral meetings with member states, aimed at strengthening cooperation frameworks, exchanging expertise, and coordinating positions on priority issues related to criminal justice and crime prevention.

The UAE delegation consistently reiterated that preparations for the 15th UN Congress in Abu Dhabi are progressing steadily, with the aim of producing a landmark international declaration — the “Abu Dhabi Declaration” — that reflects global consensus on the importance of collective action against crime in all its forms, and sets new foundations for effective, equitable, and sustainable criminal justice systems.