The United Arab Emirates is placing young people at the centre of international discussions on justice by hosting the inaugural Youth Justice Forum in Abu Dhabi on 24 and 25 September 2026.
Held as part of the preparatory meetings for the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice – Abu Dhabi 2026, the forum brings together young people from around the world to explore practical ideas and solutions to challenges related to crime prevention and criminal justice affecting younger generations.
The initiative reflects the UAE’s approach to youth empowerment, recognising young people as important partners in shaping policies, developing solutions and supporting sustainable development.
62 Young Participants From Around the World
The inaugural forum brings together 62 young men and women from around the world, including 31 representatives from Youth Councils across the UAE, in collaboration with the Federal Youth Authority.
The Youth Justice Forum provides Emirati youth with an international platform to share their experiences, perspectives and ideas while engaging with peers on issues shaping the future of crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law.
The forum also reflects the UAE’s commitment to supporting meaningful youth participation in major international conferences and global events.
Preparing for the 15th UN Crime Congress
The forum is taking place ahead of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, scheduled to be held at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi from 26 September to 1 October 2026.
It provides a dedicated space for young people to identify challenges affecting their generation and develop youth-led responses that can contribute to safer, more just and more resilient societies.
The discussions are designed to connect youth perspectives with broader international efforts addressing crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law.
Abdulrahman Al Blooshi Highlights Youth’s Role in Justice
In his opening remarks, H.E. Abdulrahman Murad Al Blooshi, Assistant Undersecretary for the International Cooperation and Legal Affairs Sector at the Ministry of Justice and General Coordinator of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice – Abu Dhabi 2026, said that engaging young people in the global dialogue on justice reflects the UAE leadership’s vision of empowering youth.
He said the approach encourages young people to play an active and constructive role in serving their countries and communities, while representing an investment in the sustainability and future readiness of justice systems.
Addressing participants, Al Blooshi said they had come from around the world with fresh perspectives, moral clarity and the courage to imagine better approaches to justice. He stressed that they were not attending simply as observers, but to help shape the future of crime prevention and criminal justice.
He further noted that, for the first time, the voice of youth will be incorporated into the Abu Dhabi Declaration itself. According to Al Blooshi, the statement produced by the young participants will be carried into the opening of the Congress and presented to decision-makers from around the world.
UAE Youth Councils Bring Local Experience to a Global Platform
Al Blooshi also highlighted the participation of 31 young people from the United Arab Emirates Youth Councils, describing their involvement as particularly significant given the UAE’s view of young people as active partners in developing solutions and shaping the future rather than simply recipients of policies and programmes.
He said organising the forum ahead of the Congress reflects a shared commitment by the United Nations and the UAE to creating meaningful space for youth voices and ideas and enabling young people to contribute to international discussions focused on protecting people and the planet.
He expressed hope that the ideas and proposals developed by participants from the UAE and other countries would help move discussions from dialogue to action and contribute to youth-led initiatives and partnerships capable of delivering sustainable impact.
Federal Youth Authority Supports International Youth Exchange
H.E. Khalid Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Director of the Federal Youth Authority, said the participation of members of the UAE Youth Councils reflects the UAE leadership’s belief in young people’s ability to contribute to addressing global challenges and developing solutions based on knowledge, innovation and social responsibility.
He said Youth Councils play an important role in communicating the views and aspirations of young people from different communities and sectors to decision-making and international dialogue platforms.
Al Nuaimi added that the Federal Youth Authority had worked to involve 31 young men and women from Youth Councils across the UAE, giving them an opportunity to exchange experiences with peers from around the world.
He described the forum as an opportunity to transform local experiences into ideas with global relevance while bringing international knowledge and best practices back to the UAE youth ecosystem. This, he said, can further strengthen the role of young people in promoting respect for the rule of law and building safe and cohesive societies.
Design Thinking Turns Challenges Into Practical Ideas
During the first day of the Youth Justice Forum, participants used a design-thinking approach to identify challenges and opportunities affecting young people.
The process moved from defining priority issues to generating ideas that could be developed into practical solutions.
On the second day, participants will test and refine their proposals before presenting them through a gallery walk and project-pitch session. The format will also allow participants to exchange perspectives and engage with interested delegates from UN Member States.
Generation Justice Connects Youth With the UN Congress
The forum forms part of Generation Justice (GenJust), an initiative launched by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in 2024 to strengthen youth participation in preparations for and follow-up to the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
The discussions also build on the work of the Generation Justice Youth Network and the Generation Justice Global Blueprint for Action, which was developed through regional youth consultations held in 2025.
The Blueprint incorporates recommendations from young people across several areas, including crime prevention, access to justice, digital safety, gender-responsive justice, human rights education and the responsible use of emerging technologies.
Joint Youth Statement to Shape the Next Stage
During the second day, participants will work on a Joint Youth Statement based on a zero-draft prepared by Generation Justice youth members.
The participants will consolidate the key messages, priorities and recommendations emerging from their discussions. They will also examine how youth-led ideas can help translate the draft Abu Dhabi Declaration into practical action.
The discussions will focus on supporting international cooperation in crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law over the next five years.
Youth Recommendations to Enter Congress Proceedings
On the opening day of the Congress, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Justice will receive the recommendations and outcomes of the Young Voices for Justice Forum.
The forum brought together young people from the UAE and their counterparts from UN Member States through a dialogue platform focused on youth perspectives on crime prevention and criminal justice.
The recommendations and outcomes developed by youth representatives will be formally presented and discussed as part of the Congress proceedings.
Generation Justice Continues Through Youth Exhibition and Labs
Generation Justice will maintain a dedicated presence throughout the Congress through a youth exhibition stand within the accompanying exhibition, which will run from 26 September to 1 October.
The initiative will also feature Youth Lab sessions on 26 and 27 September, covering a range of issues linked to young people’s concerns and the future of justice.
Topics will include artificial intelligence and misinformation, climate change and crime, digital trust and the culture of lawfulness, crime prevention and health, as well as community-based approaches to preventing forced marriage and associated crimes.
Through the Youth Justice Forum, young participants from the UAE and around the world are being given a direct platform to contribute ideas, develop recommendations and engage with international discussions ahead of the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi.
Register to our mailing list to receive the latest news
Also follow us on the technology portal and its news in Egypt