Doha: HE Acting Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), John Brandolino, has affirmed that the State of Qatar is undertaking colossal efforts in support of anti-corruption efforts globally. He commended its hosting of the 11th Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
According to Qatar News Agency, the third session, which was convened in Doha in 2009, had been a pivotal moment when anti-corruption leaders and experts from around the globe converged and pledged to jointly work to prevent and combat corruption, in support of UNCAC, which then was in its early stages, Brandolino clarified.
Addressing the first day of the Doha session, Brandolino outlined that this commitment has been practically materialized through endorsing the reference basis and framework of the Implementation Review Mechanism, which constituted a starting point for future efforts aimed at analysing, understanding, and enhancing the implementation of the Convention by States Parties.
Since then, the Convention has achieved concrete and remarkable outcomes, with the number of States Parties reaching 192 from various countries of the world, Brandolino noted. He indicated that thanks to the review mechanism and backing from UNODC experts, those nations significantly succeeded in bolstering their national capabilities and international cooperation.
He highlighted the implementation of over 330 Qatar-led visits under the mechanism, noting that numerous gaps were identified and addressed, and over 4,800 technical assistance needs were met. The UNCAC community is today called upon to leverage the convening of the Doha conference to reinvigorate efforts in addressing urgent challenges and threats, thereby reinforcing integrity, transparency, and accountability as core pillars to achieve the aspirations of humanity, Brandolino concluded.
Brandolino went on to suggest that this convention in Doha is laser-focused on shaping integrity in the world of tomorrow through acknowledging the novel challenges related to corruption and economic crime patterns, as well as the rapid change imposed by technology, which is taken advantage of by corrupt entities. But these patterns, he acknowledged, at the same time represent a powerful tool that should be leveraged in combating corruption, recalling that the final draft document of this conference highlights AI as one of the tools that help investigators and governments achieve concrete progress, provided they are leveraged in alignment with respect for human rights, contributing to bridging the loopholes criminals can exploit in this regard.
As such, Brandolino called for pursuing a coordinated approach among the relevant entities, pointing out that the GlobE Network, supported by the UNODC, constitutes a successful model, encompassing over 240 anti-corruption authorities from 130-plus countries, and providing a secure, direct, and rapid mechanism for communication among competent authorities worldwide. Brandolino reiterated his call for all States Parties to join this network, suggesting that it is critically important to forge collaboration with the private sector to leverage the opportunities offered by digital technologies.
He further noted that the Private Sector Forum, held within the conference, represents a key platform to strengthen this collaboration, stressing the importance of protecting individuals who wield bold motivations in exposing corruption, primarily whistleblowers and those operating in investigative journalism. In addition, Brandolino noted that shaping integrity in the world of tomorrow is contingent upon protecting individuals who are exploited by criminals and corrupt individuals, in addition to investing in safeguarding public trust and strengthening transparency measures.
It is vitally important to work closely with lawyers, accountants, real estate professionals, service providers, and other partners to reinforce anti-corruption efforts, he continued. Brandolino concluded by affirming that, amid the rapidly evolving global environment, the UNCAC community must remain prepared to adapt proactively, guided by the enduring principles of integrity, transparency, and accountability.