The election, which took place on Friday as part of the Alliance’s mid-term board renewal process, saw competition among a number of prominent international human rights figures and representatives of non-governmental organizations affiliated with the Alliance.
According to information released following the vote, 205 member NGOs from across different regions of the world participated in the electoral process. Abdel Gawad Ahmed, who serves as President of the Arab Council for Fair Trial and Human Rights, secured the board seat with backing from member organizations seeking greater representation and fresh perspectives within the Alliance’s leadership.
His election is being presented as providing Arab and African representation within the governing body and marks the first time that an Egyptian-Arab-African organization has won the position from its first nomination, surpassing candidates with extensive international experience in the field.
Commenting on the result, Abdel Gawad Ahmed said the victory represented “not merely a personal achievement, but an international recognition of the competence and capabilities of Egyptian human rights figures and the organizations they represent, contributing to the efforts of the United Nations Office dealing with crime issues in Vienna.”
He added that his campaign focused on strengthening the role of non-governmental organizations—particularly Egyptian, Arab and African members of the Alliance—not only as observers but as active participants in decision-making and in shaping international policies related to crime prevention and criminal justice.
Ahmed said he aims to work closely with the Alliance’s 205 member organizations to reinforce the principles of justice and the rule of law globally while expanding civil society participation in international policy discussions.
The Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice is one of the leading international civil society networks working in coordination with the United Nations and other international institutions to promote crime prevention and strengthen criminal justice systems, particularly in addressing transnational organized crime.
The Alliance maintains a formal Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and serves as a principal civil society partner in major UN forums, including the UN Crime Congress and the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ). It is headquartered in Vienna and maintains consultative links with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Ahmed concluded by stressing that membership on the Alliance’s Board of Directors carries responsibility for advancing security and justice for all, ensuring that the voice of civil society is heard in the formulation and implementation of international policies on crime prevention and criminal justice, and supporting the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions.
Short link: