Director General/Executive Director
Mr. President of IAACA, Dr. Al-Marri,
Our very honoured guest, your Excellency Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir,
Distinguished participants,
It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Vienna International Centre for this Annual Conference and General Meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities.
I had the great honour of joining His Excellency Prime Minister Mahathir, along with the Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani and Dr. Al-Marri, in Kuala Lumpur just last month, where we presented the Anti-Corruption Excellence Awards to highlight innovative approaches and contributions from around the world.
Now we meet in Vienna to further advance global cooperation in the fight against corruption.
Anti-corruption agencies do the hard work every day, on the ground, to prevent and combat corruption, ensure accountability and integrity and help countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime is pleased to support IAACA in bringing your agencies together to discuss challenges and share experiences and best practices.
2018 marked the fifteenth anniversary of the landmark UN Convention against Corruption, and this conference is an ideal opportunity to take stock and take anti-corruption action forward.
The Convention's Implementation Review Mechanism has played, and continues to play, a critical role in strengthening knowledge and effective implementation of UNCAC.
Your agencies most often serve as focal points and lead your countries' work of participating in the reviews and following up on their recommendations.
As guardian of the Convention, UNODC works closely with many of you, and we rely on your continued support through the second cycle of the Implementation Review Mechanism.
UNODC has been proud to support IAACA since it was established in 2006 on the initiative of China.
I would like to highlight my appreciation of China's leading role in this process.
I would also like to commend and thank Dr. Al-Marri for his dedication, hard work and generous support as President of IAACA, and as UNODC Regional Special Advocate for the Prevention of Corruption.
UNODC looks forward to working with you and IAACA to strengthen implementation of the Convention through technical assistance and the development of global tools and guides.
Prime Minister, your Excellency,
I thank you for demonstrating your commitment to the fight against corruption through your presence here today. UNODC is grateful to have such active allies in supporting anti-corruption action around the world.
Dr. Al-Marri,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I wish you productive and fruitful discussions over the next days.
International cooperation is essential to preventing and fighting corruption, and I encourage you to realize the potential of IAACA to provide a useful platform for strengthening your much-needed collaboration.
UNODC is here to support you. Thank you.