Doha: HE President of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority (ACTA), and President of the 11th session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), Hamad bin Nasser Al Misnad, has affirmed that hosting this session by the State of Qatar renews the collective commitment to combating corruption and exploring avenues for bolstering integrity and transparency, in addition to broadening international cooperation horizons in this critical field.
According to Qatar News Agency, addressing the opening session of this conference, HE Al Misnad stressed that this high-profile event positions itself as a core platform for engagement and sharing expertise, as well as galvanizing anti-corruption efforts on the global stage. He applauded the accession of Saint Kitts and Nevis and San Marino to the UNCAC in 2024 and 2025, which raised the total number of States Parties to 192, and urged additional States to accede to the Convention.
The previous sessions of this conference have contributed to concrete achievements that deepened the culture of transparency and helped share best practices, Al Misnad noted. Al Misnad further elaborated that the key recommendations from these previous sessions have been related to the prevention and criminalization of actions related to corruption, asset restoration, and facilitating shared legal assistance.
These breakthroughs underline a crucial fact: combating corruption can't yield merits unless there is high political commitment in place, along with effective international cooperation and the concerted efforts of a variety of sectors, Al Misnad underlined. He further emphasized the importance of adhering to the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, foremost among them respect for state sovereignty, equality of rights, and non-meddling in internal affairs.
The principles align with the provisions of Article 1 of UNCAC, which explicitly calls for strengthening measures to prevent and combat corruption, promoting international cooperation and technical assistance, and consolidating integrity, accountability, and true public administration, the president pointed out. Al Misnad evinced that these objectives will be prioritized on the conference agenda, aiming to outline the next phase of the UNCAC's orientation and future.
He explained that the conference is being held at a critical stage in the fight against corruption, amid increasingly formidable challenges driven by technological advances, the digital space, and cross-border financial instruments. This situation, he says, imposes a shared responsibility to reassess priorities, update joint working mechanisms, and strengthen institutional capacities.
Qatar's presiding over this session stems from a vision which entails that combating corruption isn't merely a legal or procedural practice, but rather a developmental and ethical pathway that requires collaboration among governments, the private sector, civil society, academic institutions, and young segments, which are much counted upon, the president stressed.
The opening session featured the State of Qatar assuming the chairmanship, during which Al Misnad was elected President of the 11th session by endorsement, succeeding HE President of the 10th session, Christine Cline, from the United States. During the session, the members of the bureau for the current session of the Conference were also elected by acclamation, to assume the positions of Vice-Presidents of the current session.
They are namely: HE Naimi Aziz, Permanent Representative of the United Republic of Tanzania to the United Nations Office in Vienna; HE Rovshan Sadegbayli, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations Office in Vienna; and HE Cesar Augusto, Alternate Representative of the Federative Republic of Brazil to the United Nations Office in Vienna. Meanwhile, HE Jose Maria Vastiada, Counsellor of the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Spain to the United Nations Office in Vienna, was elected as Rapporteur. The proposed agenda was also presented, approved, and formally adopted.
The opening session was punctuated by a screening of a video that showcased the State of Qatar's efforts in anti-corruption areas, alongside its enduring commitment to backing global efforts thereon, through strengthening multilateral action and laying the groundwork for a global environment grounded on values of justice, integrity, and equality. This is in addition to the State of Qatar's launching of the National Strategy to Enhance Integrity, Transparency, and Prevent Corruption for the years 2025-2030, in a move that underscores its commitment to combating corruption and aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030.