The countdown is on ⏳ From across the world to Abu Dhabi, the crime and justice community is getting ready to meet, exchange ideas and shape what comes next. 📅 26 September - 1 October 📍 Abu Dhabi #CrimeCongress is almost here. Are you ready?

A generation that will inherit the future of justice should have a voice in shaping it. On Day 2 of the #CrimeCongress Youth Forum, Generation Justice is bringing young people’s perspectives into the global conversation on crime prevention and criminal justice.

A generation that will inherit the future of justice should have a voice in shaping it. On Day 2 of the #CrimeCongress Youth Forum, Generation Justice is bringing young people’s perspectives into the global conversation on crime prevention and criminal justice.

It has been a week of intense and successful engagements during the 81st #UNGA High-Level in New York. Over three days, I held a total of 35 strategic engagements, including bilateral meetings with 3 Presidents, 13 Ministers and high-level officials, 1 Senator, 5 USGs, 2 Representatives of IFIs, and 2 EU Commissioners, amongst other @UNODC stakeholders. I also signed three cooperative documents, participated in several high-level meetings, including co-hosting a high-level meeting focusing on organized fraud, as well as the General Assembly. Throughout these engagements, delegations underscored the value of UNODC and the imperative to scale support to combat the growing convergence of crime types, in particular transnational organized crime, the growing threat of drugs, corruption, terrorism, and the critical value of strengthening the rule of law. It is clear from New York that the world understands the imperative for greater cooperation in order to secure people, communities, nations, regions and the world. UNODC is playing its role in offering technical support and capacity-building, as well as its convening ability to all UN Member States in their efforts to create a safer and secure world. And NOW we turn to ABU DHABI! I am proud to welcome the world to Abu Dhabi for the 15th UN Crime Congress commencing on 26th September 2026. Here, global leaders, civil society, and experts will map the crime prevention agenda for the next 5 years. Held under the theme of Justice for People and Planet in the Digital Age, participants will focus attention on: 🔹 Next-Gen Frameworks that tackle the multiplying tech-driven criminal networks, organized fraud, and cybercrime. 🔹 Strengthening Coalitions that facilitate multi-agency, cross-border and cross-regional collaboration, including in maritime domains, and 🔹 Building Future-Ready Law Enforcement, including adapting criminal justice systems to rapid technological advancements. Yes, the challenges confronting the world are complex, but our collective resolve is stronger. Welcome to the #CrimeCongress—let us drive lasting impact for a safer, more just world. United in purpose, ready for the future. Welcome to the 15th UN Crime Congress. Welcome to Abu Dhabi. #FutureOfSecurity #MultilateralismInAction #CrimePrevention #AbuDhabi #UNODC

Young people are taking an active role at the #CrimeCongress, turning challenges into ideas and ideas into solutions 💡   What do they want the future of crime prevention and criminal justice to look like?   👉 Hear directly from them on our Instagram: instagram.com/unodc_hq/

Who funds politics matters. UNODC, @Int_IDEA & @IFES1987 , with support from Norway, launch a global initiative to strengthen transparency and oversight in political finance: ow.ly/PArs50ZQT1v #UnitedAgainstCorruption

Maritime crime, incl. drug, firearms and human trafficking, piracy, illegal fishing and pollution, threatens security, ecosystems and coastal livelihoods. UNODC supports countries in detecting, investigating and prosecuting these crimes, strengthening justice at sea.

Had the honour and pleasure to meet with H.E. Mr. Rodrigo Paz Pereira, President of Bolivia, during #UNGA81 in New York. We discussed the growing convergence of crimes and drug trafficking with Bolivia and across the region. I commended President Paz’s leadership and commitment in strengthening cooperation with @UNODC, nationally and across the region. I reaffirmed UNODC’s commitment to provide reliable and impartial evidence, to inform Bolivia’s drug policies and operational responses, and look forward to building on this partnership.

What does the latest evidence tell us about: Crime Violence Corruption Access to justice Explore the latest report by UNODC, @UNDP , @UNHumanRights and @UNICEF to see where progress on #SDG16 has been made and where challenges remain: unodc.org/unodc/en/news/2026…

Held a productive meeting with H.E. Mr. Omar Bula Escobar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, on the sidelines of #UNGA81. Colombia is a longstanding and valued partner of @UNODC. Our Regional Office in Bogotá anchors our work in the region, ensuring we can maximise our impact and reach the communities we serve. We discussed the scaling of our programmes on alternative development, against organized crime, in anti-corruption efforts, enhancing the capacity of criminal justice, and drug-use prevention and treatment. I look forward to continuing this important work together.

Had a very productive and positive meeting with Ms. Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General of the UN @globalcompact. The objectives of the UN Global Compact and the mandate of @UNODC converge around a shared vision of strengthening integrity, accountability, resilience, and development through effective partnerships. I look forward to strengthening and scaling our cooperation.

A very warm reunion with H.E. @vanderbellen, President of Austria, during #UNGA81 high-level week. We reflected on Austria’s longstanding partnership with the United Nations, and its strong support for our work from Vienna as our host city and a home to multilateralism. Good to continue the conversation beyond Vienna and to bring a little of Vienna with us to New York. Photo: Prk/Marcel Kulhanek

It was a proud moment to meet Mr. Ilan Goldfajn, President of the Inter-American Development Bank, with whom we signed the Procedural Framework Agreement and officially joined the Alliance for Security, Justice, and Development to protect communities and disrupt illicit economies across Latin America and the Caribbean. The fight against organized transnational crime requires strong partnerships across all sectors. The new framework will, therefore, streamline operations and allow Latin American and Caribbean nations to deploy crime-fighting resources faster. Together, we are building a unified front against cross-border criminal networks. I look forward to leveraging the rhetoric value of this framework to scale impact on the ground.

Ever wondered what a workday at #UNVienna looks like ?🌍 Are you currently a Master's or PhD student in 🇦🇲🇦🇹🇨🇿🇬🇪🇭🇺🇵🇱🇸🇰🇸🇮🇹🇷🇺🇦 ? Apply now for the virtual Shadowing Programme at #UNVienna, running 24 Oct–24 Nov 2026. Deadline: 27 Sept. 2026 Apply here: unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/ne…

For too many people, discrimination, inequality and a lack of resources can stand in the way of seeking a fair legal remedy. The #CrimeCongress is bringing countries together to make justice more accessible, especially for those most at risk.

The #CrimeCongress in Abu Dhabi starts this Saturday! Six days of ideas, solutions and action to advance crime prevention and criminal justice.  But what is the Crime Congress all about and what makes it unique?  Here are 3 things to know 👇

Bolivia’s coca cultivation has increased by 7% in 2025, reaching 36,400 hectares. The price of coca leaf surged by up to 82%, according to a new UNODC report. Learn more about Bolivia’s coca production dynamics & the country’s new drug policy: ow.ly/FXLR50ZPBM4

Our meeting with Cartwright Weiland, Assistant Secretary of @StateINL, during #UNGA high-level week was an opportunity to review our discussion since our last meeting in Vienna in August. We took stock of our collaboration, reflected on the steps we have taken since our last meeting, and agreed on the next steps. Grateful for the engagement with colleagues across the US administration as we work towards delivering more effectively, efficiently, and scaling our impact on the ground.

Had the honour to meet with H.E. William Ruto, President of Kenya on the margins of #UNGA high-level week in New York. We discussed the expansion of @UNODC’s partnership with Kenya in tackling maritime crime and cyber-enabled crimes, strengthening border controls and law enforcement, and addressing the growing trafficking of drugs along routes from Latin America and the Caribbean to Africa, the Middle East and Europe. We also explored cooperation on drug-use prevention and treatment, building on the joint UNODC-@WHO international standards. President Ruto agreed to bring together a team from the Kenyan Ministry of Interior, Attorney General and Ministry of Health to develop a coordinated strategy, taking into account UNODC’s expertise and knowledge. I thank the President for his expressed commitment to advance Kenya’s ratification of the UN Convention against Cybercrime. This will undoubtedly aid efforts targeting cyber-enabled crimes. Good to reconnect and to turn an established connection into an even stronger partnership.

As the scale and sophistication of organized fraud continue to grow, countries face a shared challenge that no border can contain.   Today’s discussion at the high-level event, Tackling Organized Fraud: A Way Forward from the Global Fraud Summit, was a reminder that criminal networks operate across jurisdictions. Therefore, our response must evolve and be more intergrated. Fraud thrives where cooperation is weak, information is fragmented, and victims are left unsupported. Building resilience requires stronger partnerships between governments, law enforcement, the private sector and civil society.   But progress does not happen by itself. It requires sustained cooperation, trust and the determination to act together.   I encourage those who have not yet endorsed the Global Fraud Summit’s outcome documents, namely the Call to Action on Combating Fraud and the Global Public-Private Partnership Framework to do so, in an effort to strengthen cooperation. The broader the support, the stronger the signal we send that coordinated action against organized fraud is both urgent and necessary.   #UNGA81