Signing of the agreement between the two UN entities
UNICRI and the United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT) signed an agreement establishing a framework for their cooperation. The agreement was signed by Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas, UNICRI Director, and Atefah Riazi, Chief Information Technology Officer and Assistant Secretary-General, OICT, during a high-level event at the United Nations Headquarters in New York examining the role of artificial intelligence and robotics in preventing and countering crime and terrorism, and strengthening security.
The agreement recognizes the great potential that the combination of emerging technologies such as digital technologies, information systems, standards and devices, and digital content has in promoting progress in the social, economic and cultural aspects of humankind, reducing inequality and allowing for the democratization of technology tools.
Under this framework, UNICRI and OICT will bring their respective knowledge and expertise from the crime prevention, rule of law and security domain and the information and communication technologies domain, to cooperate in using technological innovation and data to strengthen and implement improved policies and tools for crime prevention and criminal justice.
On the occasion of the signature, Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas, UNICRI Director, noted that the cooperation between UNICRI and OICT is “an important step for us in turning theory into practice.” Ms. Riazi welcomed the agreement, stressing that “peace and security in the cyberworld requires a digital and cyber approach.”
OICT supports the UN Secretariat and Member States on cybersecurity and emerging technologies and services. By leveraging technology, the Office seeks to innovate and build innovative solutions to enable the substantive work of the Organization, particularly the implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.