Press Releases
Prosecutor General Justice (Retired) Uz. Abbas Shareef will represent Maldives at the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, being held from 26 September to 1 October 2026 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), United Arab Emirates.
The Congress is being held 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.” Its program addresses contemporary challenges in crime prevention and criminal justice, including emerging forms of crime, access to justice, international cooperation, and the responsible use of technology.
Maldives’ delegation to the Congress includes Prosecutor General Justice (Retired) Uz. Abbas Shareef and Assistant Prosecutor General Uz. Hussain Samy. During the Congress, the Prosecutor General will speak at 3 key segments, presenting the Maldives’ experience in responding to emerging digital crime, strengthening international criminal justice cooperation, improving access to justice, and governing the use of artificial intelligence in prosecution.
During the High-Level Segment, the Prosecutor General will deliver the Statement of the Republic of Maldives. His statement will address the increasingly cross-border nature of cybercrime, reforms undertaken by Maldives relating to electronic evidence, the importance of effective international cooperation, and the Maldives’ approach to the responsible use of artificial intelligence in prosecution.
On 27 September, the Prosecutor General will speak at the SEAJust ancillary meeting, “United Against Transnational Crimes: A SEAJust-Led Approach to Combating Emerging Digital Crimes.” His remarks will focus on strengthening direct practitioner-to-practitioner cooperation in responding to emerging digital crimes and obtaining electronic evidence across borders. He will also share the Maldives’ experience in recent legal reforms and prosecutorial digital transformation and outline measures aimed at strengthening practical cooperation through the SEAJust network.
Maldives is also due to host the SEAJust Annual Plenary in 2027, marking the first time the network will meet in the Indian Ocean.
On 28 September, the Prosecutor General will participate in Workshop 2: “Ensuring equal access to justice for all, towards safe and secure societies while respecting the rule of law,” speaking during the sub-panel on “The role of the police, prosecution, judiciary and the courts in facilitating access to justice.”
His intervention will present the PGO’s “One Door” approach to access to justice, including the development of eDhoroashi as a single digital gateway organised around the needs of different users. He will also discuss the broader digital transformation being undertaken through PGO 2.0 and how emerging technologies can improve public access to prosecution services while preserving human decision-making, accountability, and sovereign control over prosecution data.
The Prosecutor General’s participation in the Congress provides an opportunity to share the Maldives’ experience in modernising prosecution services while engaging with international counterparts on the evolving challenges facing criminal justice systems.
The United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice serves as a premier global forum for stakeholders to address issues relating to criminal justice and crime prevention.