Breaking the Corruption Chain

In Egypt, UNODC provided specific training and expertise to 50 public officials on the corruption prevention issues such as access to public information, asset declarations, effective anti corruption policies, and more than 180 national officials were offered the assistance in drafting and training on implementation on Codes of professional conduct in public service and judiciary.

In 2014, with the ratification of UNCAC by the State of Palestine and Sudan, all the countries of the region covered by UNODC Regional Office are now State Parties to the Convention. We have been working with regional partners promoting information sharing across borders, encouraging cooperation among nations in the region, and sending the message that values such as integrity, accountability, governance and transparency must prevail in our societies.

In Iraq, UNODC assisted the Government through training of public officials on anti-money laundering and financial investigations throughout 2014. Iraq’s efforts to prevent corruption were also documented in a report shared with delegates to the UNCAC Intergovernmental Working Group on the Prevention of Corruption in September. In November, special assistance in asset recovery was provided to Iraq during the Arab Forum for Asset Recovery held in Geneva, and UNODC is planning to extend this assistance in 2015 through the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR), a joint program between UNODC and the World Bank.

Today, we, as partners, mark the International Anti Corruption Day. For, indeed, fighting corruption effectively requires a partnership of all stakeholders, not only the government but also civil society, the youth, women, the media, among others. “Break the Corruption Chain”, this year's theme, is a clear message, capturing the need for us to form partnerships, work together, to raise awareness in societies about corruption, to report it, to prosecute it, to punish it, to deter it, and to ensure integrity and accountability for the benefit of all citizens and governments. Only then, can economic prosperity, equality and justice for all.

UNODC re-affirms its commitment to assist all countries and support their efforts in achieving their nations' goals and the world's aspirations under UNCAC.

(Source: UN)

(UN image via Shutterstock)