Side Event at the 34th Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ)
Date and Time: 22 May 2025, 11:30 CEST
Venue: MOE100, Vienna International Centre and Online (Hybrid Format)
Organisers: Organized by the Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations in Viennawith the support of France, the UNODC Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Section (CPCJS) and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI).
 

As frontier technologies continue to reshape the 21st-century landscape, their influence is being felt across every sector of society - including the realm of criminal justice. During the upcoming 34th Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), the Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda, and UNICRI with the support of prominent international organisations, will convene a high-level side event to explore the growing intersection between cutting-edge technologies, human rights, and the rule of law. The event is co-sponsored by the Government of France (TBC) and UNODC- CPCJS. 

This side event will gather an interdisciplinary panel of experts in technology, law, and justice to discuss how Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, drones, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, robotics, and other transformative tools shape the commission of crime, as well as the responses by law enforcement and judicial actors. While these technologies offer great promise for improving access to justice and accelerating investigations, they also pose significant ethical and legal challenges, especially in terms of human rights, due process, and equality.

Speakers will examine how malicious actors exploit new technologies and the corresponding need for criminal justice institutions to adapt. At the same time, the panel will consider how these tools can be used responsibly and ethically, with appropriate safeguards to prevent misuse and protect fundamental rights.

The discussion takes place against the backdrop of a fast-growing global technology market, projected to expand by more than 18 percent annually until 2030, and in the context of international efforts to integrate technology into justice systems while respecting human rights. Reference will be made to General Assembly resolution 79/172 on neurotechnology, the Kyoto Declaration, and recent UN reports underscoring the need for a human rights-compliant approach to digital transformation into criminal justice.

This side event is a key step in deepening global understanding of the responsible use of technology in upholding the rule of law. It also contributes to the preparatory work for Workshop 4 of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (2026), which will focus on “Turning the Digital Age into an Opportunity: The Responsible Use of Technology in the Criminal Justice System”.

Objectives of the event:

• Facilitate cross-sectoral dialogue on how the malicious use of frontier technologies challenges criminal justice systems.
• Evaluate how the projected growth in emerging technologies impacts Sustainable Development Goal 16.3, which calls for access to justice and the promotion of the rule of law.
• Discuss the legal, ethical, and human rights implications of using frontier technologies in criminal justice.
• Identify the safeguards and frameworks necessary to ensure that technological advances reinforce, rather than undermine, justice and human dignity.

As we move deeper into the digital age, this timely discussion invites policymakers, practitioners, academics, and civil society to reflect on how technological advancement can be balanced with accountability, fairness, and respect for human rights.

Other events

Side Event at the 34th Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ)
Crimes That Affect the Environment – Launch of the Minerals Crimes Study
Date and time: Tuesday, 20 May at 13:00
Venue: Hybrid (M6) link
Organisers: UNODC Research and Trend Analysis Branch with the support of France, Peru and UNICRI

Side Event at the 34th Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ)
Addressing new, emerging, and evolving forms of crime, including crimes that affect the environment, smuggling of commercial goods, and trafficking in cultural property and other crimes targeting cultural heritage
Date and time: 19 May 2025, 3:00-6:00 PM.
Venue: Hybrid, Vienna International Centre, Press Room; link 
Organisers: The United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme Network Institutes (PNI)