FORUM: "Fair Decisions matters." International Day for Judicial Well-being 2026. Judicial well-being is essential for a fair justice system, protecting judges from stress, burnout, and isolation so they can make impartial decisions.The observance relies on removing mental health stigmas and providing proper institutional support. Tired or stressed judges may struggle with focus, patience, and clear judgment. A healthy judiciary protects public confidence and the rule of law. Individual habits and court rules must work together to reduce daily pressure. Stress is normal in a demanding legal career, not a personal weakness. Courts should offer counseling, peer connections, and flexible schedules. Frameworks like the Nauru Declaration guide nations on building safer work cultures. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #25July, #JudicialLeader, #JudicialWellbeing, #judicialstress, #mentalhealth, #secondarytrauma, #InternationalDayforJudicialwellbeing.
EVENT: On July 25th, a virtual event will be held to mark the International Day for Judicial Well-being. The event brings together judicial leaders and policymakers to develop concrete tools and strategies for integrating well-being into court systems worldwide. The United Nations General Assembly encourages member states, UN agencies, judicial institutions, and other stakeholders to observe the day through various activities, including public awareness campaigns, educational initiatives, and wellness programs. Register to participate!
Judge Peter Jamadar, Chairman of the Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers (CAJO), has authored a compelling thematic brief for the Global Judicial Integrity Network, exploring the vital connection between judicial integrity and the well-being of judicial officers.
Global drug use and the number of drugs on the market have been increasing in the past decades. The century-long dominance of heroin in illicit global opioid markets is increasingly being challenged by changes in the illegal supply of opioids. Production, seizures and use of cocaine continue to rise, while low costs of manufacture and reduced risks of detection of synthetic drugs are contributing to their increase on illicit drug markets. Drug trafficking groups are seeking out technological innovation to target new audiences and ensure that drugs increasingly reach their users and help boost their billion-dollar businesses. Illicit drug markets have always been adapting, and organized crime has always been looking to exploit gaps in governance and regulation. In response to these challenges, this year’s campaign will showcase how the international community, local and national governments, civil society and the public is working together on innovative responses to reduce demand for and supply of illicit drugs and thus mitigate threats by:
Launching new prevention efforts to reduce and address vulnerabilities in people, especially youth, and communities, lowering their risk of exploitation by criminal networks;
Keeping ports, airports, sea routes and land borders along key trafficking routes safe;
Collecting and analysing data to shape drug policies;
Detecting and identifying drugs and the chemicals used in their illicit manufacture;
Understanding the chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of drugs, and handling and disposing of them safely;
Supporting responses across the criminal justice system, from interception to investigation and prosecution;
Creating opportunities for farmers to shift from illicit drug crop cultivation to sustainable licit livelihoods;
Putting new substances under international control to respond to emerging drug threats.
EVENTS: At UNHQ; On Friday, June 26th, the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2026 will be marked under the theme “The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges and Innovative Responses,” to highlight the rise of synthetic drugs, the cyber-trafficking issue and to strengthen action and cooperation in achieving a world free of drug abuse. Register to participate!
On 26 June 2026, at 1 p.m. Vienna time in Board-Room D (VIC), the Chair of the 69th session of the CND will hold an event to mark the World Drug Day and to launch the 2026 World Drug Report.
The Special Event, entitled “World drug problem: persisting issues, new challenges, innovative responses”, will mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking and will bring together Member States, the United Nations system, civil society and other stakeholders. The event will provide an opportunity to reflect on the continued and evolving impact of the world drug problem in all its dimensions and to exchange views on priority concerns and innovative, evidence-based responses. The Special Event will be held in a hybrid format, with participation in person in Vienna and online. Delegations are informed that no interpretation services will be available for this event. The programme of the event will be shared closer to the meeting. Opening remarks will be delivered by H.E. Amb. Andranik Hovhannisyan, Chair of the 69th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and Ms. Monica Kathina Juma, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, setting the stage for the discussions and highlighting key priorities in addressing the world drug problem. A central feature of the event will be the presentation of the 2026 World Drug Report, which provides the latest overview of global drug market developments and trends, as well as key challenges and emerging dynamics shaping the international drug policy landscape. Watch the webcast: CND Special Event: International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking | UN Web TV
CAMPAIGN: Governments, civil society, educators are particularly encouraged to take an active role: share on your online platforms the innovative ways you are staying ahead of trends and addressing the world drug problem.Watch the 2026 launch campaign!
STATEMENT: UNODC Executive-director on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2026; June 26th.
Every year, UNODC issues the World Drug Report, with key statistics and data obtained through official sources and research. The report will be published on June 26th.
English: World drug problem: persisting issues, new challenges, innovative responses
Spanish: El problema mundial de las drogas: problemas recurrentes, nuevos retos y respuestas innovadoras
French: Le problème mondial de la drogue : des enjeux persistants, de nouveaux défis, des réponses innovantes
Arabic: مشكلة المخدرات العالمية: تحديات متواصلة، قضايا مستجدة، واستجابات مبتكرة
Chinese: 世界毒品问题：持续的问题，新的挑战，创新的应对
Russian: Мировая проблема наркотиков: сохраняющиеся проблемы, новые вызовы, инновационные решения
Portuguese: O problema mundial das drogas: desafios persistentes, novas dinâmicas e soluções inovadoras
German: Weltdrogenproblem: anhaltende Probleme, neue Herausforderungen, innovative Lösungen
LIVESTREAM: Starting at 13:00 pm CEST, the CND Chair's Special Event to commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking and to launch the 2026 UNODC World Drug Report.
A special event on the presentation of the 2026 World Drug Report", organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on the occasion of the UN International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Our planet is under strain like never before: Temperatures are rising, biodiversity is collapsing, and nearly every person on Earth breathes unsafe air.
Yet there is hope.
Now is the time to invest in resilience, commit to justice, and remember what we are fighting for.
Sustainability is the bedrock on which all our other ambitions rest. Peace, prosperity, equality — none of these exist without a planet to exist on.
Now is the time for courage and creativity.
We must rapidly scale solutions on a range of challenges — from water management and climate resilience, to mining metals and the environmental footprint of Artificial Intelligence.
With the tide turning in favor of renewables, and the help of the next generation, transformation is within reach. We must transform broken systems, unite policy with science, and share solutions with all.
Now is the time set humanity on a path to protect our only home, for generations to come.
FORUM:"Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow's Integrity.'' International Anti-Corruption Day 2025. To effectively promote a culture of integrity across the public and private sectors and build a generation that stands up to corruption, education is key. It teaches values of transparency, accountability and integrity from an early age. By promoting integrity and ethical behaviour within their social circles and challenging small-scale corruption at the community level, it's time develop innovative solutions to address corruption on a global scale. Let's leverage technologies such as blockchain, AI, online platforms, social media and innovative apps to enhance transparency, increase access to information and create tools that facilitate anonymous reporting of corrupt practices.Building a just world and a sustainable planet is only possible if corruption doesn’t stand in the way. United, we can combat corruption. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #9December, #UnitedAgainstCorruption, #IACD2025 .
FORUM:"Modern slavery is on the rise."International Day of Abolition of Slavery 2025.Modern slavery occurs in almost every country in the world, and cuts across ethnic, cultural and religious lines. More than half (52%) of all forced labour and a quarter of all forced marriages can be found in upper-middle income or high-income countries. ILO has adopted a legally binding Protocol designed to strengthen global efforts to eliminate forced labour, which entered into force in November 2016. Ending Modern Slavery requires bold action by frontline leaders, donors, governments and a movement of collaborators. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #ModernSlavery, #forcedlabour, #EndHumanTrafficking, #2December, #SlaveryAbolitionDay.
Slavery is a horror from the history books – and a relentless contemporary crisis.
On the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, we remember past victims, especially the more than 15 million men, women and children across Africa who were seized, shackled and sold into bondage an ocean away – or perished en route.
We recall the painful scars their enslavement left on our societies, including structural inequalities and systemic injustices that have persisted for generations.
We rally to protect the estimated 50 million people now trapped in contemporary forms of slavery around the world, many of them women and children.
And we reiterate our appeal to prevent human rights violations like forced labour and forced marriage from claiming more victims.
Contemporary forms of slavery are perpetuated by crime rings that prey on people struggling to cope with extreme poverty, discrimination or environmental degradation – and by traffickers who exploit people fleeing armed conflict or migrating in search of safety and opportunity. It robs people of their rights, and their humanity.
Governments, businesses, civil society and trade unions must unite to end this crisis once and for all. And they must provide remedy and redress, with real access to justice, fair compensation, rehabilitation, restitution, and guarantees that victims and their families will not suffer again.
2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the Slavery Convention, when the international community made a bold commitment to end slavery in all its forms. We must act with the same resolve to eradicate contemporary forms of slavery. A world built on freedom, dignity and justice for all is not only possible – it is our shared responsibility.
United Nations Secretary-General.
PUBLICATION: General observation on the application of the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105).
At its 2023 session (November–December), the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) adopted a general observation on the application of the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105). The text of this observation is reproduced in this brochure. As part of the regular supervisory system on the application of ILO international labour standards, the CEACR is an independent body whose function is to provide an impartial and technical assessment of the application of these standards by ILO Member States. The CEACR is composed of 20 experts, eminent jurists from different geographical regions, legal systems and cultures. In addition to the comments directly addressed to Governments, the CEACR may decide to publish the so-called "general observations” on certain issues concerning the application of a Convention.
The Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105), constitutes one of the ILO fundamental conventions. Its purpose is to supplement the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29), by requiring States to suppress the imposition of any form of forced or compulsory labour in five situations specified in its Article 1: • as a means of political coercion or education or as a punishment for holding or expressing political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system; • as a method of mobilizing, and using labour for purposes of economic development; • as a means of labour discipline; • as a punishment for having participated in strikes; and • as a means of racial, social, national or religious discrimination.
The Convention was inspired by the work of the ILO–UN Ad-Hoc Committee on Forced Labour, which was established in 1951 to conduct an impartial inquiry into the existence of systems of forced labour. The report issued by the Ad-Hoc Committee in 1953 revealed the existence of two principal systems of forced labour imposed by the State that seriously threaten human rights in contravention with the United Nations Charter. The first was the use of forced labour as a means of political coercion or punishment for holding or expressing political views. The second was the use of forced labour for important economic purposes. The negotiation and further adoption of the Convention reflected the determination of the ILO to continue and intensify its efforts to abolish such practices that were so far not explicitly covered by Convention No. 29.
More than 65 years have passed since the adoption of Convention No. 105. Nevertheless, there are still a considerable number of cases that have been examined by the Committee where compulsory labour continues to be imposed by the State in the different situations prohibited by the Convention. This is particularly the case when compulsory labour is used for economic development purposes or as a punishment for the exercise of civil and political liberties, particularly freedom of expression and assembly. Given the considerable number of situations raised by the Committee with regard to the latter, the Committee considers that it is timely and appropriate to recall the nature and scope of the prohibitions established under Article 1(a) and (d) of the Convention, as well as the Committee’s requests addressed to governments in this regard. These prohibitions refer to the use of compulsory labour as “a means of political coercion or education, or as a punishment for holding or expressing political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social, or economic system” (paragraph (a)); and “as a punishment for having participated in strikes” (paragraph (d)). 2 It must be noted that in these two cases, forced labour usually takes the form of compulsory labour imposed in the context of a penal sanction pronounced for acts that relate to the exercise of civil liberties, including the right to freedom of expression and the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, both of which are recognized in the ILO Declaration of Philadelphia (1944) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). The Committee wishes to recall from the outset that the Convention does not constitute a revision of Convention No. 29 and was adopted to reinforce and complement the protection offered by Convention No. 29. At the same time, these instruments are independent of each other, so that countries which have ratified both must ensure their cumulative application. This is particularly true for the exceptions laid down in Article 2(2) of Convention No. 29, which do not automatically apply in the five specific situations covered by Convention No. 105. Accordingly, while under Convention No. 29 work exacted as a consequence of a conviction in a court of law is an exception and does not constitute forced labour, Convention No. 105 prohibits the imposition of any form of compulsory labour in the situations mentioned under its Article 1, even if the work is imposed as a result of a conviction by a court of law. The Committee also considers necessary to clarify that, in the context of Convention No. 105, compulsory labour can take place either in the form of a sanction of imprisonment involving an obligation to work (compulsory prison labour) or as a specific sanction of community, public or correctional work to which the person has not given his or her consent. In this respect, one of the main questions analysed by the Committee when assessing compliance with the Convention by the country under examination is whether any of these forms of compulsory labour is contained in the national legislation.
FORUM: “Human trafficking is Organized Crime – End the Exploitation.” World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2025. This year’s campaign will highlight the vital role of law enforcement and the criminal justice system in dismantling organized trafficking networks while ensuring a victim-centred approach. Human trafficking continues to be a global threat driven by organized crime. More and more victims are being trafficked every year, across greater distances, with greater violence, for longer periods of time and for greater profit. From 2020 to 2023, there were more than 200,000 detected victims globally, which is just the tip of the iceberg. The actual number of unreported cases is believed to be significantly higher. Organized criminal networks are driving this victimization and exploitation, using migration flows, global supply chains, legal and economic loopholes and digital platforms to facilitate cross-border trafficking at a massive scale. They profit from forced labour, sexual exploitation and coercion into criminal activities, such as online scams and drug smuggling. Despite some progress, criminal justice responses fall short in tackling this rapidly evolving crime. To end human trafficking, law enforcement must enforce strict laws, conduct proactive investigations, strengthen cross-border cooperation, target criminal finances, and leverage technology to identify and dismantle trafficking networks..Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #endHT, #30July, #worlddayagainsttraffickinginpersons, #EndHumanTrafficking on all digital platforms.
EVENTS: On July 30th, the United Nations Office for Drug and Crime (UNODC) will host a high-level event to mark the World Day against Trafficking in Persons 2025. The event will showcase the ways to ensure justice for survivors which requires holding perpetrators accountable and to provide a victim-centred approach to protection, support and access to justice.We particularly encourage law enforcement agencies, including police departments, border security, international agencies, and specialized task forces, to take an active role by utilizing online platforms and conducting in-person outreach at high-traffic areas such as transportation hubs. This way we can reach a wide audience, raise public awareness and promote reporting channels for suspected trafficking cases. The participants active involvement will bridge the gap between the campaign’s global reach and local realities, to ensure that it effectively connects with those impacted by human trafficking. Register to participate!
Human trafficking is a horrific crime and a gross violation of human rights. It is one of the fastest-growing forms of organized crime – run by ruthless networks that prey on vulnerability and profit from pain.
This is a brutal, highly organized enterprise built on deception, coercion and exploitation. And it is evolving rapidly.
Criminal groups are operating across borders with alarming speed and sophistication. They exploit legal loopholes, infiltrate legitimate industries and supply chains, take advantage of migration flows, and use technology to recruit, control and abuse – including through online sexual exploitation or forcing victims into cyber-scams.
We must respond with unity and urgency.
We can do so by breaking the business model that sustains human trafficking – ending impunity, cutting off illicit profits, and strengthening law enforcement and justice systems. Perpetrators must be held accountable.
We must also forge strong alliances -- with civil society, and the private sector including technology companies – to raise awareness and promote reporting channels to prevent exploitation and protect the vulnerable.
And we must strive to ensure justice for survivors, support the displaced, and tackle root causes – from poverty and inequality to conflict and climate disruption.
On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, let us act together to stand with victims, hold perpetrators to account and build a world where no one is bought, sold, or exploited.
Human trafficking no longer hides in the shadows – it operates under a thin disguise, embedded in our economies and daily lives. And it’s growing more organized, more structured, and more ruthless. UNODC data shows that organized criminal networks are behind 74 per cent of detected cases. Traffickers are infiltrating legitimate industries, from agriculture to construction and hospitality, masked by legal contracts and buried in supply chains. Forced labour now accounts for 42 percent of detected trafficking victims, the highest on record. Trafficking for forced criminality is also surging, jumping from 1 per cent a decade ago to 8 per cent today. And traffickers are adapting, using technology and digital platforms to recruit, ensnare, and abuse. From fake job offers to dating apps, women and girls are being lured into online sexual exploitation, while victims are being made to commit cyber-scams and fraud as part of a billion-dollar industry. The exploitation is more systematic than ever. And the world is fighting back. Over 180 countries now have legislation criminalizing human trafficking in all its forms. Protection mechanisms are expanding, helping more survivors with better support. And international cooperation is growing. But we cannot be complacent. We must act faster and smarter. By standardizing the way we look at data, to understand global and national trends. By equipping criminal justice systems to dismantle trafficking networks and end impunity. And by building bridges with the private sector, tech companies, and financial institutions. On this World Day against Trafficking in Persons, let us work together for a world where traffickers have nowhere to hide, and justice leaves no one behind.
FORUM: “Judicial well-being matters for the quality of justice and public trust.” International Day for Judicial Well-being 2025. Over the past decade, a growing global conversation has emerged around these concerns, driven by ground-breaking research and proactive judicial leadership. Empirical research conducted across various jurisdictions, vividly underscores the magnitude of judicial stress. The 2019 National Judicial Stress and Resiliency Survey, conducted in the United States among 1,034 judges, paints a sobering picture. Using a custom-built Sources of Stress Scale, the study identified that nearly 80% of judges experience stress from the gravity of their decisions, followed closely by heavy caseloads (73.2%), unprepared attorneys (67.6%), and self-represented litigants (62.5%)—all of which highlight the systemic pressures inherent in judicial work. Problematic alcohol use among judges, while not widespread, remains a notable concern too. The same Survey found that 9.5% of judicial respondents fell into higher-risk categories on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), with 0.5% at possible dependence. Though most judges reported moderate or low-risk alcohol use, a small group disclosed patterns of binge drinking and associated functional impairments, such as memory blackouts, guilt, or failing to meet responsibilities. Evidence-based research consistently shows that the isolation inherent in the judicial role is a universal factor that undermines judicial well-being. This isolation can significantly affect mental health, increasing the risk of anxiety and depression, which in turn can impair judicial performance and decision-making. Both physical and emotional isolation continue to present serious barriers to judicial well-being, underscoring the need for targeted strategies to break this harmful cycle. Join us to raise awareness of the unique challenges faced by judicial officers and to emphasize the need for a supportive and inclusive judicial culture. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #25July, #JudicialLeader, #JudicialWellbeing, #judicialstress, #mentalhealth, #secondarytrauma.
EVENTS: On July 25th, an event will be held to mark the International Day for Judicial Well-being 2025. The event brings together judicial leaders and policymakers to develop concrete tools and strategies for integrating well-being into court systems worldwide. The United Nations General Assembly encourages member states, UN agencies, judicial institutions, and other stakeholders to observe the day through various activities, including public awareness campaigns, educational initiatives, and wellness programs. Register to participate!
FORUM: "Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow's Integrity." International Anti-Corruption Day 2024. The theme will underscore the vital role of young people in driving change, promoting transparency and building a future rooted in integrity. Young people have dreams and aspirations, but corruption erodes the fabric of society, stifles progress and deprives them of educational opportunities, job prospects, engagement in public life, success in sports and access to healthcare and other essential services. Additionally, it contributes to environmental degradation and climate destruction. Our world confronts numerous challenges, tragedies, inequalities and injustices, many of which are tied to corruption. With 1.9 billion young people in the world, fighting corruption is vital for the future of nearly a quarter of the global population. While young people are significantly affected by corruption, they also have the potential to become powerful agents of change in the fight for a future rooted in integrity. Young people must demand accountability and actively participate in anti-corruption efforts. To effectively promote a culture of integrity across the public and private sectors and build a generation that stands up to corruption, education is key. It teaches values of transparency, accountability and integrity from an early age. By promoting integrity and ethical behaviour within their social circles and challenging small-scale corruption at the community level, young people can drive meaningful change. Additionally, they can develop innovative solutions to address corruption on a global scale. Tech-savvy youth can leverage technologies such as blockchain, AI, online platforms, social media and innovative apps to enhance transparency, increase access to information and create tools that facilitate anonymous reporting of corrupt practices. We must actively listen to young people, as their ideas today may hold the key to the best solutions for combating corruption and strengthening integrity tomorrow. Young integrity leaders play a vital role in advocating for dismantling institutional structures that enable corruption, pushing for greater transparency and accountability. Through active participation and reforms, they help create corruption-resilient institutions that reject unethical behaviour. Addressing corruption leads to a fairer, more transparent society where young individuals have equal opportunities to achieve their dreams. This effort builds trust in institutions and inspires the next generation to actively contribute to creating a better future. Young people have a clear vision and innovative ideas for a future free from corruption. We must give them a seat at the table, listen to their voices, and involve them in the process. By empowering youth to actively engage and help lead future anti-corruption efforts, we can create lasting change. Building a just world and a sustainable planet is only possible if corruption doesn’t stand in the way. United, we can combat corruption. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #9December, #UnitedAgainstCorruption, #IACD2024.
Panel 1 - Young people as integrity builders: Successes and lessons learned from youth engagement and education. The panel will be composed of youth representatives, Member States, anti-corruption experts and academia. It aims to (a) highlight recent progress and successes in engaging young people in anti-corruption efforts, as well as in anti-corruption education; and (b) identify how the United Nations can further efforts to build a culture of integrity both at the international and national levels.
Panel 2 - Shaping tomorrow's integrity in conflict and fragile settings: Introduction of the APTI initiative and focus on the role of young people. The panel will be composed of youth representatives, Member States and United Nations officials with experience in facing and addressing corruption in fragile and conflict-affected settings. The panel will build on a presentation of the UN-led initiative "Achieving Peace Through Integrity" (APTI). Speakers are invited to offer their views on how the United Nations should build on youth engagement and anti-corruption education across its anti-corruption engagement, in order to further peace and security.
WRITING COMPETITION: In July 2024, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) launched an international essay writing competition through its Global Resource for Anti-Corruption Education and Youth Empowerment (GRACE) initiative. The competition invited young people from around the world to share how corruption impacts their lives, families, and communities, as well as how civil society in their countries or communities works to prevent and combat corruption. After reviewing a total of 1,331 essay submissions from more than 100 countries, the GRACE initiative selected 26 winners, representing 21 countries across all regions of the world. Learn more!
FORUM: “Organized crime steals, corrupts and kills. It’s time we pull together to push back.“ International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime 2024. The Open Debate on "Threats to International Peace and Security - Transnational Organized Crime, Growing Challenges and New Threats", held in December 2023, highlighted the serious concerns expressed by the Security Council regarding this escalating threat. The United Nations Secretary-General affirmed: "Transnational organized crime is a vicious threat to peace, security and sustainable development wherever it operates. And it operates everywhere - in all countries, rich and poor, North and South, developed and developing". On the same occasion, the President of the Security Council issued a statement expressing concern about the links between international terrorism and organized crime and the use of new technologies by criminal networks; he also stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation to combat transnational organized crime and recognized the role of civil society in achieving this goal. Recently, the Pact of the Future dedicated Action 24 to this issue, focusing in particular on efforts to combat transnational organized crime and related financial flows through the implementation of comprehensive strategies that should include prevention, early detection, protection, law enforcement, addressing root causes and cooperation with relevant stakeholders. In addition, the Pact of the Future calls to strengthen international collaboration to prevent and combat cybercrime and welcomes the elaboration of the draft Convention against Cybercrime, which is scheduled for adoption by the end of this year. Furthermore, the Discussion guide for the Fifteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to be held in Abu Dhabi in 2026, delivered in May 2024 by Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, focuses, inter alia, on Achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through crime prevention and criminal justice efforts. In particular, the following points have been underscored: • On the occasion of the 14th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice held in 2021, Member States with the “Kyoto Declaration” acknowledged the interconnected and mutually reinforcing nature of sustainable development and the rule of law. They recognized that crime hinders sustainable development, and that achieving sustainable development enables States to effectively prevent and combat crime. Effective criminal justice systems can contribute to socio-economic development by reducing violence, improving social cohesion, and providing avenues for redress when rights are violated. Conversely, development can enhance crime prevention by reducing inequality and addressing the root causes of crime through social development programs. Investing in effective criminal justice institutions within development programs positively impacts justice reform. Recognizing the linkages between crime prevention, criminal justice and the 2030 Agenda necessitates a comprehensive approach that enhances safety and security while promoting equitable economic growth, social cohesion, and the rule of law. Renewed efforts are essential to ensure that sustainable development, supported by a resilient and just framework, ultimately contributes to the holistic well-being of societies globally. Thus, it is crucial to integrate the 2030 Agenda into national and international crime prevention and criminal justice strategies. Member States and Observers of the General Assembly, as well as representatives of UN Agencies, regional and sub-regional organizations and other relevant stakeholders including CSO will be invited to attend. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #StopOrganizedCrime, #UNTOC_ReviewMechanism, #TOCday, #15november, #OrganizedFraud, #organizedCrime, #UNTOC.
On November 13th, 2024; At the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Conference Room 8 at 11am CET, will be held a High-Level Event to celebrate the International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime 2024. The High-level Event aims at discussing how organized crime represents a risk to international peace, security and sustainable development on a global scale, and in highlighting both regional and international initiatives to address the threat and mitigate its impact. The event will analyze transnational organized crime's harmful impacts on social cohesion, trust in national institutions, rule of law, and the Sustainable Development Goals. The High-Level event will focus on the analysis of national, regional, and international experiences that demonstrate how the effective countering of organized crime has led to significant progress in achieving peace, security, development and social cohesion. Space will also be devoted to examining areas that are still severely affected by transnational organized crime, and to reflecting on actions that the United Nations and the international community can take to counter this trend, including victims of TOC. The event will also be an opportunity to highlight the continuing relevance of the Palermo Convention, the most effective international legal instrument in this fight, which celebrated its twentieth anniversary last year. The High-level event will be held in person and consist of an opening segment, three segments with representatives from Member States, UN agencies and other intergovernmental organizations, as well as Academia, Q&A’s and lastly closing remarks. Get the Agenda programme and Watch The High Level Event to observe the International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime!
From 25 to 30 April 2026 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, will be held The Fifteenth Crime Congress under the overall theme “Accelerating crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law: protecting people and planet and achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the digital age”, in line with the General Assembly Resolution 78/223. The Congresses provide a forum for (a) the exchange of views between States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and individual experts representing various professions and disciplines; (b) the exchange of experiences in research, law and policy development; and (c) the identification of emerging trends and issues in crime prevention and criminal justice. Get the Useful Resources on the Overall theme, agenda items and workshop topics, the Discussion guide and learn more about the Generation Justice Initiative. The congress will be organized by the CCPCJ.
PUBLICATION: The release of the new Issue Paper on organized fraud is right on time; The focus of the issue paper is organized fraud that targets individual members of the public or private institutions for the purposes of obtaining a financial or other material benefit. Fraud is an expansive category of crime. One of the greatest challenges to understanding it is its scope. It encompasses a range of criminal behaviours that are bound together by the common principle of dishonesty. The opportunities to employ dishonesty for the purposes of fraud span the full range of social, commercial, financial and technological settings, which can vary in different regions of the world. These opportunities are exploited by criminals from highly diverse backgrounds, ranging from professionals exploiting a legitimate corporate position to cybercriminals from within deprived communities. In this way, fraud is distinct from many other criminal categories that cover more discrete criminal behaviours occurring in specific settings (e.g. burglary). This diversity creates challenges in terms of developing a single, cohesive and comprehensive picture of fraud. The newly adopted resolution on technical assistance recommends enhanced protections for witnesses and victims, along with access to compensation and restitution. Read the full report!
