Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and its Review Mechanism

Ladies and gentlemen, representatives of the Government, dear partners, colleagues from our sister agency UNODC,

let me start by thanking the government of Montenegro for hosting the event, UNODC for the work they have done in organising this multi-stakeholder workshop; as well as the project partner the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative and the Austrian Development Agency for their support. 

Just a quick note on the context in which the UN family operates in Montenegro. We are a team of 16 UN agencies, funds and programmes working together to advance national development priorities in line with the Agenda 2030, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and EU accession processes. The United Nations Resident Coordinator Office coordinates the work of UN County Team to help enhance impact in the country.

I am pleased that we are all together at the 7th in a raw multi-stakeholder event on the UN Convention against Corruption organized in Southeast Europe, following a series of similar workshops in Africa, Southeast Asia and Central Europe. The aim of the workshop is to develop the participants’ capacity to contribute to the implementation of the Convention and to provide a platform for a constructive dialogue between civil society, governments and the private sector; contributing to a responsive and accountable decision-making process on corruption matters at the international level.

On this note, I would like to remind that the Convention, which entered into force in 2005, introduced a comprehensive set of standards, measures and rules that all countries can apply, in order to strengthen their legal and regulatory regimes to fight corruption.  It calls for preventive measures and the criminalization of the most prevalent forms of corruption in both public and private sectors. And it makes a major breakthrough by requiring states parties to return assets obtained through corruption to the country from which they were stolen.

In addition, it is important to note that the Article 13 of the Convention explicitly recognises the role of civil society in fighting corruption. This article requires each state party to promote the active participation of individuals and groups outside of the public sector to help fight corruption and raise public awareness of the issue.

These are just some of the reasons why the gatherings like this are important. Workshops, such as this one, contribute to increasing the ability of civil society and private sector, which is an important ally, to participate meaningfully in the implementation of the Convention. However, factors such as safe and effective conditions must also favour civil society work. CSOs working on anti-corruption issues cannot carry out their role effectively when they are subject to constraints that negate the rights to freedom of expression, information, association and assembly. Civil society require proper access to information to enable full and effective oversight and engagement with the Convention and anti-corruption efforts more broadly.

Importance of participatory approach in addressing this problem is well reflected in the words of the UN Secretary General, António Guterres who stressed that, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, “action against corruption should be part of broader national and international reforms and initiatives to strengthen good governance, tackle illicit financial flows and tax havens, and return stolen assets.”

On 1 January 2016, the 17 SDGs of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders officially came into force. These goals are a universal call to action in order to eradicate poverty, achieve economic growth, establish just societies, and reach environmental objectives. The goals are interconnected – often the key to success in one will involve tackling issues more commonly associated with another.  One of the key tasks of the Resident Coordinator’s Office is to support the implementation of SDGs.

An effective implementation of the Convention is in direct support of Goal 16 – peaceful and inclusive societies, strong institutions and access to justice for all. The UNCAC contains the most comprehensive set of legal commitments by Governments to tackle corruption and bribery in all its forms – an explicit target of the SDGs. This workshop is part of the SDG Target 16.6 of developing effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels, through: the sharing of information on lessons learned and the adaptability of good practices on the prevention of corruption in public and private sector institutions, including accountability measures, strengthening professionalism and integrity, and promoting public access to information and the transparency of institutional functions and services.

Dear partners and friends, let me conclude by joining UNODC’s call to governments to accelerate the implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). In order to succeed collectively, they must involve CSOs and the private sector.

Thank you very much for participation at this important gathering. I wish you all successful work.