Doha: The plenary session held today, within the framework of the eleventh session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, continued its proceedings by addressing additional key items on the agenda aimed at strengthening the implementation of the Convention, expanding the scope of participation, and assessing progress achieved in the Implementation Review Mechanism, in preparation for moving toward a new, more effective and transparent phase in international anti-corruption efforts.
According to Qatar News Agency, HE President of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority Hamad bin Nasser Al Misnad, who is also the Chair of the eleventh session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, said during the session that the Conference continues to make tangible progress toward achieving the desired goal of universal global accession to the Convention.
In this regard, he noted that the period following the tenth session of the Conference witnessed the accession of two new States Parties to the Convention, Saint Kitts and Nevis and San Marino. This brought the total number of States Parties to 192. He noted that this development reflected the growing commitment of the international community to strengthening integrity and transparency and combating corruption in all its forms, and to reaffirm the Convention's central role as a comprehensive global framework in this field.
During the session, the Chair of the eleventh session of the Conference of the States Parties called on States Parties to update information relating to their competent national authorities, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention, particularly those related to prevention, mutual legal assistance, and asset recovery, stressing the importance of complying with the notification requirements set out therein.
In the course of the session's proceedings, representatives of several states and non-governmental entities delivered statements highlighting the role of all stakeholders in combating corruption. They emphasized in particular the importance of involving civil society organizations and academic circles in policymaking and in promoting transparency, as well as the need to coordinate among the various review mechanisms and exchange best practices. They noted that the next phase of the review mechanism should be characterized by greater transparency and inclusiveness.
The speakers also affirmed that the world stands at a critical juncture in confronting transnational corruption. They explained that effective legislation, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and anti-money laundering laws, has contributed to achieving unprecedented results in law enforcement and whistleblower protection. When properly applied, these laws have enabled the prosecution of major and influential corrupt actors and have led to outcomes described as historic.
Some speakers called for the global application of best practices adopted in enforcing anti-corruption laws, foremost among them the provision of full confidentiality protection and compensation for whistleblowers for their disclosures.
They noted that the first cross-border laws to provide strong protections for whistleblowers were enacted in 2010 under the Dodd-Frank Act, targeting the bribery of foreign public officials and fraud in international markets, before this framework was further strengthened in 2022 with the enactment of anti-money laundering legislation.
They pointed out that, taken together, these legal frameworks cover corrupt activities worldwide and protect whistleblowers regardless of their nationality or place of residence, even in countries that lack national legislation to protect them. Based on data accumulated over more than 15 years, they stressed that these laws have proven highly effective, contributing to the recovery of billions of dollars in penalties, in addition to directing billions more to support the efforts of international law enforcement agencies.
They also stressed the importance of expanding the involvement of non-governmental actors, such as parliamentarians and non-governmental organizations, in the processes of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the Implementation Review Mechanism. They commended the progress made since the adoption of the Convention and the pivotal role played by non-governmental actors in enacting legislation, strengthening oversight, and improving accountability mechanisms.
During the session, one speaker highlighted the efforts undertaken by parliaments and non-governmental organizations, particularly in small island developing States, to address corruption risks associated with climate finance. He emphasized the close link between corruption, environmental harm, and the worsening impacts of climate change, and in this context called on the Conference to give this issue greater attention in its future work and decisions.
In an intervention by a representative of civil society organizations, he noted that the Doha Declaration of Civil Society would be issued later today and that, according to him, it has so far received the support of more than 55 organizations participating as observers in the Conference, reflecting the vital role of civil society in supporting international efforts to combat corruption.