Delivered by: Salma Al Dhaheri, Attache’

Thank you, Madam Chair.

My country expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his report on the “Scope and application of the principle of universal jurisdiction.” In this context, we emphasize the importance of ensuring that our discussions contribute to clarifying the scope of this principle in a manner that prevents its politicization, preserves trust, and strengthens cooperation among States to prevent impunity.

My country believes that the principle of universal jurisdiction can play an important role in preventing impunity and ensuring accountability for the most serious international crimes. This requires that its scope and application be properly defined, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, including sovereign equality, non-interference in the internal affairs of States, as well as the immunities accorded to State officials.

Furthermore,

We stress the importance of ensuring complementarity between universal jurisdiction and other forms of jurisdiction, so that it is not exercised in a manner that undermines the foundations of other forms of jurisdiction, including territorial jurisdiction, as well as jurisdiction based on the nationality of the perpetrator or the victim.

In this regard, my country considers it important to strengthen legislative frameworks in criminal matters, including extradition and mutual legal assistance, with a view to facilitating investigations, prosecutions, and the exchange of evidence and information among competent judicial authorities, in accordance with the relevant legal safeguards.

My country has taken steps in this regard by concluding more than 140 bilateral agreements with 53 countries, covering extradition, mutual legal assistance, the collection of evidence, the freezing and confiscation of assets, and the transfer of sentenced persons. We are also working to enhance the use of digital services for international judicial cooperation, thereby facilitating the secure exchange of judicial requests and important documents, simplifying procedures and expediting their processing, in support of effective responses to requests for mutual legal assistance.

At the multilateral level, we recently hosted the Fifteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi. We look forward to working together with you to build on the “Abu Dhabi Declaration” to strengthen international cooperation in this field, alongside efforts to advance the “Pledge for Justice” initiative and translate its commitments into practical measures. My country was the first State to make a pledge under this initiative.

In conclusion, Madam Chair,

The United Arab Emirates reaffirms its commitment to working constructively with Member States to strengthen a common understanding of the scope and application of the principle of universal jurisdiction and to enhance international cooperation in criminal matters, in the pursuit of justice.

Thank you, Madam Chair.