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FIGHT CORRUPTION TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS: UN CONVENTION AGAINST CORRUPTION CONFERENCE WAS HELD IN ABU DHABI
16-20 December 2019 - The world's primary anti-corruption conference was held in Abu Dhabi with a call to advance efforts to prevent and combat corruption to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The Convention of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, with 186 parties, is the only legally binding universal anti-corruption instrument. Every two years, the States parties to the Convention meet, with the ninth session scheduled to take place in 2021 in Egypt.
The eighth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption concluded with resolutions on strengthening prevention and the work of anti-corruption bodies, improving data collection and more.
Preparations for the first-ever UN General Assembly special session against corruption in April 2021 were also agreed in a resolution that will be recommended for adoption by the General Assembly.
Fifteen resolutions were adopted during the session, addressing the work of anti-corruption and audit bodies, financial intelligence units and parliaments, as well as issues including public sector integrity and public awareness, challenges of small island developing states, prevention, asset recovery, bribery, measuring corruption, environmental crime and corruption in sports.
Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Mr. Yury Fedotov says in his message to Eighth Session of the Conference:
“International cooperation is fundamental. We must reinforce our best defences: strengthening law enforcement and criminal justice; partnering with the financial sector and businesses to increase accountability and transparency; engaging with civil society; and supporting young people who are demanding accountability, justice and a fair future.”
The Conference also agreed to continue work under the second cycle of the Convention's implementation review mechanism covering prevention and asset recovery.