The Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) was established in 1992 by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and functions as the primary body of the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice. The commission holds annual and intersessional meetings, which consist of 40 Member States elected by the Economic and Social Council. CCPCJ serves as the governing body for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The commission follows the 2030 Agenda consisting of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, primarily focusing on “Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions”. Moreover, the annual sessions allow Member States to share expertise and information used to strategize and create international plans for combating crime.

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Given the field of issues the CCPCJ handles, the Arab World has been a focal point of their activities. Specifically, CCPCJ deals with issues such as terrorism, organized crime, and corruption, all of which are prominent issues throughout the region. CCPCJ has a field office in Saudi Arabia that actively engages with Arab States’ governments and non-governmental organizations to address issues related to the CCPCJ mandate. The commission’s primary goal in the region is to reduce the rate of corruption, combat all forms of organized crime, and ensure equal justice among civilians. Thus, the commission’s scope of topics shows the necessity of the commission’s actions to achieve long-term peace and prosperity in The Arab World.