UN Crime Congress: Technology is transforming crime – and the response to it
UNODC chief Monica Juma warns that technology has accelerated global crime while also offering tools to combat it, as the 15th UN Crime Congress opens in Abu Dhabi to address evolving threats and foster cross-border cooperation.
Technology has outpaced institutions meant to counter crime, enabling criminal networks to exploit global instability and digital tools for illicit gains. Monica Juma, UNODC Executive Director, highlights how these networks now operate across borders instantly, using technology to expand their reach. She notes that while crime has become more sophisticated, the same innovations can strengthen responses if governments coordinate effectively. The 15th UN Crime Congress in Abu Dhabi will focus on these challenges, bringing together global stakeholders to address cyber-enabled crime, trafficking, and online scams.
Juma emphasizes that technology leaves no country immune, as organized criminals exploit disinformation and fake job offers to infiltrate legitimate sectors like banking. She underscores the UN’s role in uniting diverse actors—from investigators to journalists—through platforms that enable rapid information sharing and evidence transfer. The goal is to create a convergence of competencies to counter threats almost immediately, though she acknowledges that current cooperation mechanisms remain underdeveloped. Policies, relationships, and mechanisms are needed to translate this collaboration into action.
The UN General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime unanimously in 2024, with over 80 signatories already. The Convention provides a toolkit for international cooperation and standardized responses to cyber threats. Juma urges countries to ratify it swiftly to bring it into force, as its full potential depends on widespread adoption. She notes that many nations are progressing through domestic legislative processes to ratify the Convention, aiming for its early implementation.
Juma describes scam centers in Southeast Asia as a global crisis, with victims hailing from over 80 nationalities. She stresses that these centers often target young people seeking work, framing them as victims rather than perpetrators. UNODC supports capacity building in criminal justice systems to assist victims, including those subjected to trauma, torture, and abuse. The agency advocates for victim protection, rehabilitation, and the identification of real criminals behind these operations, highlighting the need for systemic support.