India showcases justice reforms, digital initiatives at UN Congress

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal showcased India’s technology-driven justice system, updated criminal statutes, and international legal cooperation while addressing the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi.

According to an official statement, Meghwal also held bilateral discussions with UAE Minister of Justice Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi during the event.

Speaking at the UN Congress, Meghwal emphasized India's newly enacted legal framework, comprising the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, pointing to their emphasis on technology integration, swift access to justice, forensic sciences, and digital-first legal processes.


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He detailed India’s digital measures to combat cyber threats, highlighting the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal for their role in expediting crime reporting, blocking fraud, and freezing mule accounts.

Reaffirming India's stance of zero tolerance toward terrorism, the Union Minister stressed the urgency of international collaboration to counter terrorism, drug smuggling, transnational wildlife offenses, illegal logging, toxic waste disposal, and other forms of organized and environmental crime.

Meghwal further noted the expanding legal collaboration between India and the UAE, especially regarding international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. This relationship, strengthened through cooperation between the India International Arbitration Centre (IIAC) and the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), focuses on knowledge sharing, professional training, joint initiatives, legal research, and digital dispute resolution systems. DIAC currently manages nearly 5,000 cases with an aggregate value surpassing AED 80 billion (around USD 21.8 billion).

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On the sidelines of the summit, Meghwal met with Monika Juma, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), to explore ways to bolster legal partnerships and jointly tackle drug trafficking and organized crime.

The official statement added that these engagements demonstrate the maturing India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which spans trade, investment, energy, technology, defense, education, and cultural exchanges, alongside deeper links in law, justice, and governance.

India's presence at the 15th UN Congress reinforces its focus on modernizing legal structures, leveraging digital tools, strengthening public institutions, and fostering active international cooperation.

(With inputs from agency)