The UAE, represented by the International Affairs Office at the Ministry of Interior, took part in the tenth edition of the Economic and Social Council Youth Forum, organized by the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice via video-conference. The forum set out to discuss ways to protect vulnerable youth from crime and violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The forum was attended by Her Excellency Lana Nusseibeh, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations, and Lt. Col. Dana Hamid Al Marzooqi, Director General of the International Affairs Office at the Ministry of Interior.

The objectives of the forum included identifying emerging threats, trends, possible solutions, and areas of intervention to protect youth and ensure sufficient protection for those in danger.

It is also aimed to discuss ways to rebuild a better society after the pandemic and achieve justice and peace worldwide by discussing the implications of COVID-19 in preventing crime and highlighting perspectives on human rights protections.

The UN Women report was reviewed during the forum, and an unprecedented increase in the rate of sexual violence worldwide since the beginning of the pandemic was noted. The forum also reviewed the Interpol report, which indicated that the sexual exploitation and abuse of children soared globally during that same period.​