The United Kingdom used its address at the 35th Session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to urge stronger international cooperation against evolving global threats, particularly violence against women and girls, organised crime, and migrant smuggling.
Speaking on behalf of the UK Government, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Catherine Atkinson MP, Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, outlined a series of domestic reforms and international initiatives aimed at strengthening cross-border justice systems.
UK Welcomes New UN Leadership and Signals Partnership Intent
At the start of her remarks, Atkinson congratulated Monica Juma on her appointment as Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Director-General of the UN Office in Vienna.
She stressed that closer cooperation with UN leadership will be essential as countries face increasingly complex and transnational forms of crime that cannot be addressed in isolation.
Rising Cross-Border Threats Drive UK Policy Focus
The UK highlighted the growing scale of international threats affecting citizens, particularly digital crime and violence against women and girls.
Officials said these issues are increasingly transnational in nature, requiring coordinated responses across jurisdictions.
London has already joined forces with eight countries through an International Coalition aimed at ending violence against women and girls, reflecting what the government describes as a “shared global responsibility” to confront the issue.
Domestic Reforms Target Digital Abuse and Online Harm
Atkinson detailed recent UK legislation designed to address emerging forms of online abuse, including laws banning so-called “nudification apps” and other tools used to create non-consensual intimate images.
The UK is also hosting an international side event in Vienna to bring together governments and experts to examine the growing threat of digital violence and to develop coordinated responses.
Officials said the initiative is part of a broader strategy to halve violence against women and girls within a decade, with a strong focus on online harms that cross national borders.
Push for Stronger Protection Orders Across Borders
A key theme of the UK statement was the need to strengthen legal protections for victims of abuse who move between countries.
Atkinson highlighted the importance of protection orders in safeguarding victims but warned that their effectiveness often diminishes once individuals cross borders.
To address this gap, she welcomed a recent decision by the Hague Conference on Private International Law to establish a working group focused on improving recognition and enforcement of protection orders internationally.
The group is expected to explore the development of a future multilateral framework to enhance global victim protection.
UK Expands Efforts Against Organised Crime and Fraud
The speech also emphasised the UK’s commitment to tackling organised crime and fraud on a global scale.
Atkinson referenced the UK’s role as a major supporter of the UNODC-INTERPOL Global Fraud Summit held in Vienna earlier in the year.
She noted that the UK continues to fund international programmes designed to disrupt criminal networks, including contributions to UNODC initiatives and the wider rollout of the Organised Crime Strategy Toolkit, which is now used by practitioners in more than 20 countries.
The UK has also committed £1.5 million this financial year to technical assistance aimed at strengthening global responses to organised crime.
Strong Position on Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking Networks
In her closing remarks, Atkinson condemned migrant smuggling and human trafficking, describing them as serious transnational crimes requiring coordinated international enforcement.
She pointed to the UK’s introduction of a dedicated sanctions regime targeting individuals and networks involved in people smuggling, as well as legislative changes designed to disrupt criminal operations earlier and improve prosecution capabilities.
The UK urged all member states to deepen cooperation and maintain momentum in tackling shared security challenges, warning that no single country can address these threats alone.
