30TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND GENERAL MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PROSECUTORS (IAP): “THE VERSATILE PROSECUTOR AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE"
On 7 September 2025, the 30th Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Prosecutors (IAP) was hosted by the Attorney General's Chambers of the Republic of Singapore. This prominent event convened over 450 prosecutors from 90 countries, focusing on the evolving and multifaceted role of the prosecutor in upholding the rule of law and safeguarding the integrity and effectiveness of the criminal justice system.
This four-day Conference was attended by a delegation of prosecutors from the Criminal Justice Division of the Attorney General's Chambers from Brunei Darussalam, led by The Honourable Datin Seri Paduka Dayang Hajah Nor Hashimah binti Haji Muhammed Taib Attorney General in her capacity as the Public Prosecutor. The delegation's participation reflected Brunei Darussalam's ongoing commitment to international prosecutorial dialogue and capacity building. The Opening Ceremony of the Conference was graciously officiated by His Excellency, Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the President of the Republic of Singapore. In his Opening Address, the President observed that prosecutors around the world are confronting increasingly complex challenges, particularly the rise of cybercrime and transnational offences, both of which are being accelerated by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. The President added that criminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence to carry out large-scale scams and relying on cryptocurrencies to hide their illegal profit, thereby making the problem more complex and widespread.
The conference theme, “The Versatile Prosecutor and the Administration of Criminal Justice", explored discussions on the adaptive role of the versatile prosecutor in monitoring emerging trends such as AI-enabled crimes, cultivating deep specialist knowledge alongside cross functional skills, embracing technological advancements through the use of AI to further enhance prosecutorial services, and reinforcing importance of international cooperation amongst prosecution services and international bodies such as IAP.
During a bilateral meeting between The Honourable Attorney General and His Excellency Lucien Wong, the Attorney General of the Republic of Singapore, discussions centered on a range of shared legal concerns, and mutual commitment to strengthening legal cooperation and advancing common prosecutorial priorities.
In one of the Special Interest Sessions, Deputy Public Prosecutor Hajah Rozaimah binti Haji Abd Rahman delivered a presentation titled “Safeguarding Victims: Protecting Victims' Wellbeing in Criminal Proceedings Without Compromising the Pursuit of Justice" highlighting Brunei Darussalam's existing legal and procedural frameworks affording victim protection.
The IAP is a non-governmental organisation and the sole global network dedicated to prosecutors. Its membership includes over 170 organisations—comprising prosecutorial bodies, professional associations, and crime prevention agencies. Together with its individual members, the IAP represents more than 250,000 prosecutors across 175 countries and regions worldwide. The IAP is committed to supporting and empowering prosecutors across the globe in upholding the rule of law and advancing the full implementation of its standards of professional conduct amongst prosecutors.
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