Doha: The eleventh session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) reviewed the policies and experiences of a number of countries around the world in combating corruption, through discussions on progress made in implementing the Convention's provisions and an examination of the most prominent shared challenges.
According to Qatar News Agency, participants in a plenary session held today as part of the conference in Doha-chaired by HE President of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority (ACTA) and President of the eleventh session of the Conference of the States Parties to UNCAC, Hamad bin Nasser Al Misnad-underscored the pivotal role of the United Nations Convention against Corruption as a binding global instrument. They emphasized its unique nature and its comprehensive framework addressing the various forms of corruption, as well as means of prevention and combat.
Conference deliberations included an assessment of joint efforts in combating the phenomenon of corruption and its links to various forms of crime. Participants urged States Parties to support relevant initiatives and to embrace a spirit of cooperation that would lead to formulations accommodating the concerns and interests of all States Parties, as well as their right to combat corruption in accordance with national priorities and domestic legislation.
Participants stressed that such efforts must be consistent with the provisions of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and relevant reference frameworks. They discussed the close linkage between anti-corruption efforts and the developmental, economic, and political trajectories of each State Party, emphasizing the importance of concerted regional and international efforts to confront and combat corruption. This is particularly important given its transnational nature, which necessitates strengthening international cooperation in a manner consistent with the obligations set out in the Convention, while respecting differences in states' capacities and specific circumstances, and upholding the principles of respect for national sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.
They further highlighted that combating corruption is a shared responsibility borne by all states, stressing the critical importance of providing technical assistance and the need to sustain and enhance support for developing countries, especially those affected by conflict and post-conflict situations. This support should be delivered through technical assistance, capacity-building, technology transfer, and sustainable financial and technical support, provided at the request of beneficiary countries and in line with their identified needs and priorities.
Participants also reaffirmed the commitment of States Parties to continue making use of available mechanisms to identify best practices and challenges in implementing the Convention, to disseminate those practices, to address implementation gaps, and to deepen mutual understanding and trust among States Parties, building on the challenges identified in this regard.
This session forms part of a series of discussions aimed at assessing progress in the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and enhancing cooperation among States Parties. The conference proceedings are set to continue tomorrow with further interventions, during which additional countries will present their experiences and challenges, as part of a collective effort to build more transparent and integrity-driven systems that help protect public resources and strengthen trust in institutions.