Under the 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’, the 15^th UN Crime Congress will take place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, between 26 September and 1 October 2026.

Established in 1955 and held every five years, the UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (the Crime Congress) provides the largest platform for exchange on crime and justice issues, among governments, policymakers, practitioners, academia, intergovernmental organizations and civil society. The aim is not only to exchange views, but also to generate impact in the fields of UN policymaking on crime prevention and criminal justice.

Civil society and independent expertise have always been central to the history and mandate of the Crime Congress, as will be the case for this edition, whether participants are there in person or online.

As the world’s largest independent think tank on organized crime, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) will engage throughout and take part in a range of events, with key partners, presenting its latest research to foster a deeper understanding of the current key issues in the field of responding to organized crime. The GI-TOC will explore the current landscape of the global illicit economy, cross-sector collaboration to analyze transnational criminal networks, the future of peace operations and the importance of including grassroots civil society perspectives in responding to transnational organized crime.

Key GI-TOC events and engagements

Resilience in action at the 2026 Crime Congress

27 September | 15:00–16:00 GST

Organized by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime with the support of Norway, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom and Canada

The Resilience Fund was launched in the margins of the CCPCJ in May 2019, and has held engagements at every CCPCJ since, and (remotely) at the 2021 Crime Congress in Kyoto. It is a unique civil society support mechanism, building resilience around the world through community-led initiatives. Initiatives share the same goals as the Crime Congress – to better understand and counter organized crime, and better protect our people and planet.

Speakers will include beneficiaries of the Resilience Fund, working on the front line against organized crime from around the world, and representatives from member states.

Venue: Room 2C, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (hybrid)

Supporting intelligence-led policies, partnerships and policing through cross-sector collaboration to analyze transnational criminal networks

28 September | 11:30–12:30 GST

Organized by INTERPOL with the support of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Data-driven policies and intelligence-led policing are essential components in countering transnational organized crime, yet critical gaps persist in how information is collected, shared and operationalized. Policies and approaches tend to be siloed between state-centric law enforcement frameworks and civil-society or academic initiatives, with minimal coordination between the two spheres.

At this side event, INTERPOL and the GI-TOC will present their cross-sector collaboration aimed at bridging these divides through an integrated analytical approach that unifies INTERPOL’s global law enforcement datasets and the GI-TOC’s granular analysis of the dynamics of criminal networks drawn from its research observatories, civil society actors, journalists and regional experts.

Venue: Room 2A, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (hybrid)

Building resilience to organized crime: Why community responses matter

28 September | 18:00‐19:30 GST

Organized by NYU Abu Dhabi Institute

As geopolitical fragmentation and state fragility reshape the global landscape, transnational organized crime is finding new opportunities across an increasingly interconnected world. This conversation will examine how communities are responding to these challenges, drawing on lessons from the Resilience Fund and more than 500 community-led initiatives supported since 2019. It explores the role of grassroots leadership in building resilience to organized crime and strengthening social cohesion, while considering how locally led approaches can inform broader responses at a time when international cooperation is under increasing pressure.

Speaker: Tuesday Reitano, Managing Director, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

In conversation with: Miguel Syjuco, Visiting Associate Arts Professor of Literature, NYU Abu Dhabi Institute

Venue: NYUAD Institute Building, Lecture Hall (in-person, registration needed)

The future of peace operations: tackling transnational organized crime

30 September | 14:30–15:30 GST

Organized by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime with the support of Canada

UN political offices and peacekeeping missions may not immediately come to mind as tools to address transnational organized crime. However, crime, its impact on conflict and the UN’s role in addressing these issues are central to peace operations.

The event will allow stakeholders to present their work, advance towards a better understanding of current crises and what it means for the international community, and recognize the importance of partnering with local civil society organizations on justice and crisis resolution responses.

Venue: Room 2C, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (hybrid)

Crime at a crossroads: The global illicit economy in 2026

 1 October | 10:00–11:00 GST

Organized by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime with the support of Canada, Japan, Norway, Switzerland and the US

This event will feature a presentation given by the GI-TOC on the state of the global illicit economy, following on from the publication of the 3rd edition of the Global Organized Crime Index. At the Crime Congress in 2021, the GI-TOC presented a report on the Global Illicit Economy, with the support of Switzerland and Norway. Since then, the global illicit economy has changed beyond recognition, and the GI-TOC has been tracking and analyzing developments through its Global Organized Crime Index.

The event will include high-level thematic presentations outlining the trajectories of organized crime since 2021; how it has intersected with global mega-trends; and what policy options states and international organizations have to enhance their responses in the current geopolitical context.

Venue: Room 2A, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (hybrid)

GI-TOC-supported events

Closing the gaps: Strengthening international cooperation and legal frameworks to address crimes that affect the environment

26 September | 13:00–14:00 GST

Organized by Peru with the support of Brazil, Colombia, France, South Africa, the UNODC Global Programme on Crimes that Affect the Environment, INTERPOL, the End Wildlife Crime and Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, the International Council for Environmental Law, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Wildlife Justice Commission

Venue: Room 1C, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (in-person)

Civil society as a catalyst for strengthening national responses to organized crime

26 September | 13:00–14:00 GST

Organized by the UNODC Civil Society Unit with the support of Angola, Chile, Kenya, Mexico, Pakistan, the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime and the Group of Friends on Multistakeholder Participation on UNODC matters

Venue: Room 2A Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (hybrid)

Strengthening the fight against environmental crimes: Progress and prospects – maintaining international ambition

26 September | 16:30–17:30 GST

Organized by France with the support of Brazil, Colombia, Germany, Norway, Peru, South Africa, the UNODC Global Programme on Crimes that Affect the Environment and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Venue: Room 1C, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (format to be confirmed)

From regional contributions to the Abu Dhabi declaration: Civil society contributions to the 15th Crime Congress

26 September | 16:30–17:30 GST

Organized by the UNODC Civil Society Unit with the support of Canada, France, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, the Group of Friends on Multistakeholder Participation on UNODC matters and the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

Venue: Room 2C Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (hybrid)

Civil society for enhanced multilateral action on crimes that affect the environment

27 September | 11:30–12:30 GST

Organized by the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice with the support of France, Germany, Peru, the Amazon Watch, Criminologists Without Borders, the Environmental Investigation Agency, the Global Commission to End Wildlife Crime, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, the Group of Friends for Multistakeholder Participation in UNODC Matters, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Wildlife Justice Commission

Venue: Room 2B Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (hybrid)

Advancing the rights of the victims of crime

27 September | 15:00–16:00 GST

Organized by the European Public Law Organization with the support of Brazil, Italy, Mexico, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, the International Scientific and Professional Advisory Council to the United Nations, and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center

Venue: online only

Regional voices against organized crime: Strengthening civil society networks for localized impact

28 September | 10:00–11:00 GST

Organized by the Asia Civil Society Regional Network for UNTOC Implementation (NET4U Asia) with the support of the UNODC Civil Society Unit, the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the European Civil Society Working Group on the Implementation of UNTOC and the Fight against Organized Crime, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, the African Civil Society Regional Network for UNTOC Implementation (NET4U Africa) and the Americas Civil Society Regional Network for UNTOC Implementation (NET4U Americas)

Venue: Room 2D Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (hybrid)

Multistakeholder contributions to the implementation of the UN Convention against Cybercrime

28 September | 13:00–14:00 GST

Organized by the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice with the support of the UNODC Civil Unit and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Venue: online only

Pathways to justice and reparation across borders

28 September | 15.00–16.00 p.m. GST

Organized by the Global Civil Society Coalition for the UNCAC with the support of the African Center for Governance, Recovery and Sustainable Development, the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice, the European Public Law Organization, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Transparency International

Venue: online only

Building community resilience to combat organized crime in South and Southeast Asia: Civil society perspectives

29 September | 16:30–17:30 GST

Organized by the Centre for Human Rights Research with the support of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

 Venue: Room 2B Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (hybrid)

Advancing integrity and independence in criminal justice institutions

29 September | 16:30-17:30 GST

Organized by the European Public Law Organization with the support of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, ISPAC and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center

Venue: online only

Civil society priorities for action beyond the 15th UN Crime Congress

30 September | 11:30–12:30 GST

Organized by the Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice with the support of the UNODC Civil Society Unit, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, the Asia Crime Prevention Foundation, the Centre for Governance Research Pakistan, Criminologists Without Borders, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, the Group of Friends for Multistakeholder Participation in UNODC Matters, the International Legal Foundation, Kennis: Knowledge for Safety and Good Governance, Penal Reform International, Rapha International, Soroptimist International, the Wildlife Justice Commission, World Society of Victimology and Zonta International

Venue: Room 1D Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (hybrid)