UNODC’s Action Against Corruption

By
Ahmed Shaat
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271

New York, 9 January 2022 (TDI): According to the UNODC’s Action Against Corruption, which is part of the UNODC’s Global Action Plan, corruption affects all countries on a social, political, and economic level.

It undermines democratic institutions and leads to political instability. Democracies are subtly undermined by corruption, which intentionally distorts electoral processes, distorts the rule of law, and creates bureaucratic quagmires for receiving bribes Due to corruption, small businesses in the country may not be able to overcome their “start-up costs.”

United Nations Convention against Corruption is a legally binding anti-corruption instrument. A wide-ranging approach and many of the convention’s provisions make it a mandatory tool for developing a comprehensive response to a global issue.

Conference of the States Parties (COSP) provides UNODC with policy guidance for anti-corruption initiatives, in addition to supporting state parties and signatories in their implementation of the Convention. State Parties are evaluated on how well they have implemented the Convention through a unique peer-review process.

Secretary-General COVID-19: Corruption Statement

In a brief statement, the Secretary-General of the United Nations explained the danger of corruption in general and the increase of this danger in a way that predicts danger due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations stated that the Corrupt practices are illegal and immoral. These practices undermine public confidence. It is even more damaging when dealing with a crisis such as COVID-19.

There is a lack of oversight and transparency in the rapid response to the viral outbreak, which creates new opportunities for people to exploit the situation and divert funds away from those who most need them.

It is possible for authorities to determine fair prices without verifying suppliers. Sometimes, unscrupulous vendors sell defective products, such as defective ventilators and counterfeit medications.

Furthermore, collusion between supply chain managers has left many people without access to many needed goods, causing the market to become distorted.

Countering such theft and exploitation requires combating illicit financial flows and tax havens, taking action against vested interests that gain from secrecy and corruption, and exercising the utmost vigilance over how national resources are spent.

Accountability, transparency, and integrity should be strengthened as soon as possible. Responsible leadership is essential. Businesses must be held accountable.

The importance of a vibrant civic space and open access to information cannot be overstated. Whistleblowers should also be protected and recognized.

Using technology, it is possible to enhance transparency and monitor the procurement of medical supplies. It is necessary to empower and strengthen anti-corruption bodies.

The United Nations’ response to COVID-19 continues to place a high priority on transparency and accountability. Corruption has created a climate of distrust and anger around the world.

Corruption threatens both the Sustainable Development Goals and good governance around the globe. It is imperative that governments and leaders understand how the United Nations Convention against Corruption and its tools can be beneficial to them.

Conference of the States Parties

The UN Convention against Corruption (UNCC) is governed by the Conference of the States Parties (COSP). State Parties and Signatories are assisted in the implementation of the Convention, and UNODC is given policy direction for developing anti-corruption activities.

Article 63 of the Convention establishes the Conference

In order to facilitate the implementation of the Convention, cooperation between states to attain the Convention’s goals should be promoted and reviewed. In furtherance of its mandate, the Conference meets every two years.

Implementation Review Mechanism

Implementation Review Mechanism (IRM) assists States Parties with effective implementation of the Convention. Throughout the review cycle, two peer reviewers are selected by lot (one from each regional group) to examine each state party.

The IRM is guided and overseen by the Implementation Review Group, a subsidiary body of the COSP that was established along with the IRM in Resolution 3/1.

Principles of the Mechanism
  • Transparent, efficient, non-intrusive, inclusive, and impartial.
  • Non-adversarial and non-punitive, without any form of ranking.
  • Opportunities to share good practices and challenges.
  • Technical, promoting constructive collaboration; and
  • Complements existing international and regional review mechanisms