UN Crime Congress to address technology's role in global crime

The 15th UN Crime Congress is set to convene in Abu Dhabi, serving as the largest global gathering focused on criminal justice and crime prevention. The event will address how evolving technologies are reshaping criminal activity, including cyber-enabled crime, trafficking, and online scams.

Monica Juma, the newly appointed Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), noted that technology has created an “ecosystem of criminal profiteering with a very far-reaching footprint.” She highlighted that criminal networks can now move money, goods, and information across borders rapidly, often targeting millions of people instantly without the need for physical intermediaries.

While technology facilitates these illicit activities, the Congress will also explore how the same tools can enable governments and institutions to implement faster and more coordinated responses to global threats.