The 15th United Nations Conference on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice officially opened on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. More than 40 ministers of justice and over 5,100 delegates from 119 countries attended the conference.

The conference, themed "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," focuses on combating new forms of transnational crime using cyber technology and artificial intelligence and on promoting the digital transformation of the justice system. The conference attracted a large number of young participants and adopted the Abu Dhabi Declaration, calling for strengthened international judicial cooperation and the use of technology and early intervention to prevent crime.

In her video address, He Rong, China's minister of justice, emphasized China's firm stance on upholding multilateralism and the core role of the United Nations in global crime governance. She stated, "We will practice multilateralism and better leverage the role of UN agencies. We will adhere to the principles of consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, firmly uphold the international system with the UN at its core, maintain the international order based on international law, abide by the international rule of law, support UN agencies in playing a greater role in crime prevention and global criminal justice governance, and promote the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development."

During the conference, the Chinese delegation comprehensively showcased its practical experience in the areas of juvenile protection, legal aid and criminal justice reform. In recent years, China has basically established a relatively complete legal system for the protection of minors, creating a "six-pronged protection" network involving family, school, society, the internet, government and the judiciary. China adheres to the principle of "education as the primary focus and punishment as a secondary measure," striving to guide juvenile offenders back onto the right path through specialized education, community corrections and legal aid.

During the conference, an ancillary meeting entitled "Recent Progress in Juvenile Delinquency Prevention in China," hosted by the Chinese delegation and supported by the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Section of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, was held.

In key areas such as preventing youth crime and promoting legal aid, China has long maintained close and pragmatic cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and has played a positive role.

Candice Welsh, director of the Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs at UNODC, says projects undertaken by UNODC in cooperation with the Chinese Ministry of Justice have enabled the organization to share these experiences. By working with young people in schools, communities and through sports, UNODC cultivates their life skills, enabling them to understand risks and make the right decisions for their future, thereby enhancing the resilience of young people and their communities and ultimately preventing such crimes.

In the field of legal aid, China's practices and contributions have also been highly praised by UN officials.

Aimée Comrie, chief of the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Section at UNODC, tells CMG that in the field of legal aid, China has always been a crucial and major partner in their work. Dozens of member states are involved, and experts have come to share their experiences, but China truly plays a leading role in this area.