In Abu Dhabi, Morocco signals bid to host a future UN crime congress

This update focuses on Morocco UN crime congress. Morocco has used the UN crime congress in Abu Dhabi to announce its intention to bid for hosting one of the upcoming sessions of the United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

This move puts the Morocco UN crime congress agenda at the center of the Kingdom’s justice diplomacy, with a clear ambition to strengthen Africa’s role in shaping global priorities on security and the rule of law.

A political signal from Abu Dhabi

The announcement came during the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CNUPCJP), currently taking place in Abu Dhabi.

In a statement, Morocco’s Ministry of Justice said the country aims to host a future edition of this UN gathering.

The stated goal is to shine a stronger light on African realities, including the rise of cross-border threats, development challenges and the need for deeper judicial cooperation.

Giving Africa a stronger voice

Morocco is stressing the importance of giving Africa a stronger voice within this UN congress, at a time when security challenges are closely linked to economic and social issues.

According to the ministry, hosting a session of the congress would help:

• highlight African priorities in criminal justice and crime prevention;
• strengthen exchanges of best practices between countries in the Global South and the Global North;
• showcase Morocco’s own reforms against crime and terrorism;
• bring international expertise to questions of prevention, victims’ rights and social reintegration.

For Moroccans living abroad, this bid is part of a wider effort to project the image of a stable country invested in the rule of law and international cooperation. The impact is mainly indirect, through investor confidence, cross-border judicial cooperation and better protection of Moroccan victims overseas, while the announcement remains at the political and diplomatic level for now.

Morocco UN crime congress: a broader vision of justice

During the high-level segment of the congress, Morocco said it fully supports the spirit of the Abu Dhabi Declaration.

The Kingdom underlined that justice is not only about punishment. It must also prevent crime, protect victims, repair harm, support reintegration and build trust between institutions and citizens.

This broader approach fits with the theme of the current congress: “Accelerating action on crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law: protecting people and the planet and achieving the Sustainable Development Agenda by 2030 in the digital age”.

Calling for a more coordinated UN response

Morocco also called for a renewed UN dynamic to reinforce complementarity and coordination between the different UN bodies and entities tasked with fighting transnational organized crime and terrorism.

In the face of interlinked threats, Rabat argues that the international response can no longer remain fragmented. Closer coordination between states, UN agencies and regional actors is presented as essential.

At the opening session, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed recalled the importance of this congress for crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

In a video message, she stressed that justice must not be a privilege. It should protect every individual, uphold everyone’s rights and leave no one behind.

An agenda to watch for Moroccans abroad

Morocco’s bid is still at the stage of a political announcement. The UN process will decide, over the coming years, which country will host future sessions of the congress.

For Moroccans abroad, following this dossier will help gauge the role Morocco will play in global discussions on crime prevention, judicial cooperation and victims’ rights — issues that also affect people who live, travel and invest between several countries.

Future developments will depend on UN negotiations and on official confirmations from the institutions involved, which will later clarify the timing and location of upcoming sessions.

For more context, readers can follow Canal212 news for Moroccans abroad.

For official updates, readers can check the relevant official source.