Events
International Anti-Corruption Day will be commemorated around the world in December 2011.
Egypt
Celebrating the International Anti-Corruption Day, Friday Dec. 9, 2011
Arab Academy, Abou Kir, Alexandria, EGYPT (14:00 to 20:00)
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Libya
Past events:
| Afghanistan | Brazil | Bulgaria | Cambodia | Columbia | India | Indonesia | Jordan | Kazhakstan | Mexico | Panama | Peru | Qatar | Vietnam |
Afghanistan
On International Anti-Corruption Day, the Head of the Afghanistan's High Office of Oversight H.E. Mr. Osmani, UN SRSG Kai Eide, and UNODC Representative for Afghanistan Jean-Luc Lemahieu held a joint press briefing for the local and international media.
During the event, which was organized and hosted by the High Office of Oversight (HOO), Mr. Osmani spoke of the "extensive and systemic nature of corruption in the country", and emphasized the commitment and determination of the government in fighting this scourge. He outlined the work on the revision of anti-corruption laws and regulations, ensuring that they conform with the provisions of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.
Discussing the requirement for Afghanistan's high-level public officials to declare their assets, Mr. Osmani said it is "one of the effective means of promoting transparency and accountability". He thanked all those ministers who had declared assets, and named those who had not done so. These included the Minister of Economics, the Minister of Transport and Aviation, the Minister of Borders, the Minister of Migration, and the Presidential Chief of Staff. In addition, he called on newly nominated ministers to declare assets prior to obtaining their votes of confidence from the parliament.
SRSG Eide in his statement stressed the attention of the entire international community to anti-corruption efforts in Afghanistan, particularly in the light of the commitment to fight corruption Pres Karzai made in his recent inauguration speech. Answering inquisitive questions from journalists, SRSG Eide pointed out that exactly this kind of journalism helps to move the anti-corruption campaign forward.
UNODC Representative Jean-Luc Lemahieu in turn pointed out that Afghanistan has taken a number of significant steps, but an enormous amount of work remains to be done. Anti-corruption is not a law book, he stated, it is a mind-set. He added that this day is a day to pay respect to the Afghan heroes with integrity: anti-corruption officials who are not afraid to go after the high level criminals, honest public officials who risk their jobs exposing corruption, journalists who risk their lives to investigate fraud and report the truth, prosecutors and judges who guarantee justice, even when under attack from powerful forces. Anti-corruption day is a tribute to them, he said.
Brazil
The International Day against Corruption was celebrated in Brazil with an event organised by UNODC and the Brazilian General Comptroller Office (CGU). More than 700 people attended the ceremony, including President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, the President of the Supreme Court, Gilmar Mendes, and a large number of ministers and other senior authorities.
It was the first time a Brazilian President participated in the celebration of the International Day against Corruption, indicating the commitment of the Brazilian government to step-up the efforts against this crime. President Lula chose this moment to sign a draft bill to be sent to the National Congress classifying corruption among senior government officials as a heinous crime. The president explained that poor people in Brazil are arrested when stealing a loaf of bred, but "white collar" criminals often go unpunished. President Lula also commented about the frequent corruption scandals shown by the media. "I would rather keep seeing many headlines about corruption. If there were no headlines, we would be still be robbed without knowing it", said the president.
At the same event, the UNODC Regional Office for Brazil and South Cone awarded Minister Gilson Dipp, inspector of the Brazilian Justice Council, for his contribution to increase integrity and transparency in the Brazilian judiciary system. UNODC also awarded one of the most important Brazilian children's cartoonists, Mauricio de Sousa, for his contribution to prevention of corruption through cartoons encouraging ethical attitudes by the children.
Invited by UNODC, the deputy director of StAR Initiative, Mr. Stuart Gilman, gave a speech about the international tools available for fighting corruption and recovering embezzled assets. "The country's economy develops quickly, but institutions don't necessarily develop as quickly. This is the chance to unfold new corruption cases", said Mr. Gilman, who is in Brazil for a series of meetings with Brazilian authorities.
At the occasion, twenty winners of a short-film contest were awarded. The participants produced 1-minute videos portraying, in a creative way, how society can take part in the fight against corruption. The winners of a contest on electronic games projects for children and adolescents were also awarded.
The International Day against Corruption date also marked the launching in Brazil of the new edition of the global campaign "Your No Counts", encouraging governments, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, the media and citizens around the world to join forces in fighting this crime.
Click here to view the 1-minute video contest winner
Click here to check the cartoons created by Mauricio de Sousa
Bulgaria
The opening of the Regional Conference of SEE (RPOSEE) based in Bulgaria on 9 December brought together Government officials, such as Mr. Kalin Georgiev, Commissioner General of the Ministry of Interior or Mr. Milen Lutskanov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassadors, of countries such as Italy, France, Finland, Norway, Romania, Greece, UK, Sweden, Austria, World Bank Representative, and other relevant Bulgarian and foreign persons interested by the subject of Anti-Corruption.
A total of 90 persons were present at the opening of the Conference.
On the 10 th of December, experts and participants divided into three workshops on different areas of anti-corruption: Institutional Break-Out Session, Legislation and Strategies Break-Out Session and Survey and Statistical Analysis Break-Out Session. They had the opportunity to share during this Conference their experiences on anti-corruption practice and to set a strategy to strengthen regional cooperation on Anti-corruption legislative and institutional fields.
Conference coverage in the media resulted in stories about corruption prevention, the 9 December and the joint UNDP/UNODC international campaign on all national TV channels, many radio and print media outlets.
Cambodia
This 9 December, UNODC Cambodia is marking achievements made in the fight against corruption and in moving towards achieving MDGs.
Through the Your NO Counts campaign, and through UNODC Cambodia's work on the ground, UNODC and UNDP are committed to keep working hand-in-hand with the Government and the people of Cambodia, in the firm belief that everyone has a role to play, not only Governments, but also parliamentarians, businesses, civil society, the media and the average citizen. UNODC Cambodia marks
In infrastructure, extending water, sanitation and electricity coverage is expensive, requiring large-scale investments - yet on average in the Asia-Pacific region, up to 40 percent of this is being dissipated through corrupt practices (UNDP's Asia-Pacific Human Development Report "Tackling Corruption, Transforming Lives", p. 66).
However, in the Mekong sub region, some positive steps are being taken. Regulatory authorities have improved communication across borders to notify each other about the existence of fake drugs in order to more quickly remove them from circulation.
In Cambodia, the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority has implemented a performance-based pay scheme for their staff. Between 1999 and 2006, access to water in the city was transformed, jumping from 25 percent to 90 percent, while the number of household connections for the poorest people in the city rose from 100 to more than 13,000.
Also in Cambodia, in Battambang and Siem Reap, One Window Service Offices have been opened, which serve as one-stop-shops for public service administrative procedures, where fees for all services are transparently displayed on a board inside the office.
In addition, Provincial Accountability Working Groups, consisting of senior civil servants, representatives of NGOs and Commune Councils and private Contractors have been set up in all provinces. More than 2000 boxes have been placed in schools, pagodas and council offices, where citizens can express complaints about alleged abuses of power or corruption by civil servants and their institutions at commune, district or provincial levels. All complaints are recorded and assessed following guidelines outlined in a PAWG manual.
Columbia
In conjuction with Colombian National Prosecutor's Office and National Police Direction, UNODC Columbia commemorated International Anti Corruption Day and called the attention of public opinion on the matter with a public conference.
UNODC Colombia Representative, Aldo Lale-Demoz, Colombia's National Prosecutor, Alejandro Ordoñez, and special guest, Leoluca Orlando, ex major of Palermo, Sicilia, Italy, who was a strong fighter against corruption in Sicily, will speak at the conference. Mr. Orlando shared his experience successfully fighting entrenched corruption in Sicily.
The National Prosecutor's Office building displayed a huge banner with an anticorruption message inspired by the international campaign "Corruption is a crime against development" during the week of International Anti-Corruption Day.
India
UNODC India is focusing its International Anti-Corruption celebrations on youth and media. Events will include:
- Launching of the Your NO Counts campaign and Media sensitization sessions in three states of India, namely Bihar, Orissa nd Madhya Pradesh. These media trainings will spread the message in the economically underdeveloped and interior states of the country.
- Theme articles and interviews to the press as well as panel discussions in the eletronic media in New Delhi.
- Music concert targeted at youth in New Delhi in which the campaign will be launched.
- Seminars in college campuses in partnership with YP Foundation India.
Indonesia
UNODC and the Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) launched two anti-corruption projects in advance of 9 December, funded by the Government of Norway and the European Commission. The projects will support KPK to effectively prevent, investigate and prosecute corrupt practices and recover illegally acquired assets.
Over the next three years, UNODC will provide an integrated programme of technical assistance, software and specialized training programmes to build capacity of key anti-corruption agencies and civil society organizations. The key elements of the projects include supply of case management software, specialized training on investigation and asset recovery, small grants to non-governmental organizations for anti-corruption campaigns and support to the new anti-corruption national strategy.
Julian Wilson, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Indonesia, and Eivind Homme, Ambassador of Norway, expressed their continued commitment to supporting Indonesia address corruption. Norway has contributed US$ 2.3 million to one project and the European Commission 2.4 million euro to the second project.
Project partners include the Partnership for Governance Reform (Indonesia), Transparency International Indonesia and Indonesia Corruption Watch. The German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the Basel Institute for Governance will also assist in the implementation of the project.
The project launch was attended by Ahmad Santosa, Acting KPK Vice Chairperson, the ambassadors of Norway and the Delegation of the European Union, and representatives of the KPK, UNODC, non-governmental organizations, university students and the media.
Jordan
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan joined the international community on 9 December in celebrating the International Day against Corruption under the patronage of the Prime Minister Mr. Nader Al-Thahabi. This celebration, which was organised by the Anti-Corruption Commission in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime was held on the theme 'We are all partners against corruption'. The event, that was preceded by a series of preparatory Roundtables on 6, 7 and 8 December, contributed to raising awareness about the issue of corruption in the Jordanian society and discussing how stakeholders can join forces in preventing and fighting corruption in the framework of the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
The celebration on 9 December attracted over 150 senior-level participants representing different sectors of society, including from government, private sector, civil society, academics and media as well as donor agencies. In particular the Ministers of Justice, Public Sector Development, Interior, and Religious Affairs participated in the event as well as Ambassador Touq who chaired the first Conference of State Parties to the UNCAC in Jordan. On the occasion of the International Day against Corruption, an innovative TV reportage was released, with interviews of ordinary citizens (such as students and taxi drivers) about corruption and the perspective of influential personalities in Jordan on the ways to prevent and fight corruption. In addition, SMS were sent on the International Day to reach out to the wider public to call upon their individual responsibility on the theme 'We are all partners against corruption'. Media and the press covered the full events of the three Roundtables as well as the International Day against Corruption.
The event built on the results of three preparatory Roundtables that were held on 6.7 and 8 December to engage stakeholders against corruption, in particular media and civil society, and develop together a set of recommendations that were presented during the International Day. The first Roundtable reviewed the progress made in the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy with other government institutions involved in the fight against corruption. The second Roundtable discussed the importance of ethical values in preventing corruption, and the role that different stakeholders, in particular civil society and youth, can play in relaying and disseminating these values. The third Roundtable, chaired by a well-known journalist, explored ways about how government can partner with the media against corruption, in particular in uncovering corruption cases as well as in raising awareness about corruption. Among the recommendations that were presented during the International Day, it is worth mentioning in particular: creating a Media unit with specialised staff in the Anti-Corruption Commission to partner with the media against corruption; creating an 'Association of the Friends of the Commission' to work with different stakeholders in promoting ethical values in the Jordanian society; and revisiting the National Anti-Corruption Strategy with government institutions involved in the fight against corruption to refine priorities for 2011-2012.
Kazakhstan
The National Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan against economic and corruption crime (the Financial Police), UNODC and UNDP joined together this year in running a broad anti-corruption awareness raising campaign in Kazakhstan. It included the essay contest for more that 50 school and first-year university students in Astana, production and broadcasting of video spots in Kazakh and Russian languages on the main national TV channels to illustrate that people have the power to say NO to corruption.
Please see below links to the video spots (in Russian language)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cKBtqOd0_k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxRiGh632rU
On 9 December, the telephone mobile network joined the campaign by sending SMS to all mobile phone holders in Kazakhstan with information on the International Day against corruption and the telephone hot line of the Financial Police to report corruption cases.
The same day the Head of the Financial Police of the Republic of Kazakhstan organized a briefing for the Mass Media to inform on the International anti-corruption campaign and on the achievements that the Financial Police has made in 2009.
Mexico
- Official Ceremony, lead by Patricia Espinosa, Mexican Chancellor. Other ministries participating include Función Publica (Internal Affairs), Seguridad Pública (Public Security) and PGR (General Attorney) and Hacienda (Finance). President of Transparency International worldwide is also participating along this event that will take place at the Foreign Relations Ministry.
- Three panels with leading personalities and experts, including public and private sector experts, NGOs, universities, media and chambers of commerce.
- One press conference organized together with UNDP and Price Water House Coopers in Mexico. Press coverage coordinated along with UN Information system.
- TV interviews for Antonio Mazzitelli, Representative on Canal 40 and CNN.
- Formal presentation of the "Anti Corruption Policies of measures of the Fortune Global 500" and the publication "Compendium of the Universal and Regional Instruments on Corruption".
Panama
The UNODC Panama office is participating in a ceremony with the President of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal on 9 December.
Peru
In Peru, UNODC and the Government of Peru launched a new all-day public information fair, titled, "For a Peru without Corruption." Held all over the capitol city of Lima, the information fair featured representatives from Government Ministries who explained their Ministry's work and how it relates to the fight against corruption.
There were several lectures by corruption prevention experts open to the public, on such themes as "Advances in the Anti-Corruption Plan of Peru." Finally, theatre and music street performances rounded out the day, using art to further tell explain about the crucial need for transparency, ethics and the fight against corruption.
Qatar
The third session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption took place from 9 to 13 November 2009 in Doha.
The Conference was established in accordance with article 63 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which was adopted in 2003 and entered into force in 2005. Its aim is to improve the capacity of and cooperation between States parties to achieve the objectives set forth in the Convention and to review its implementation.
More than 1,000 participants attended the event, representing Governments, regional and intergovernmental organizations, civil society, the private sector and the media.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with the World Bank's Communication for Governance and Accountability Program (CommGAP), organized a side event during the Third Session of the Conference of the States Parties.
The event, 'Good Practices in Awareness Raising Campaigns', reviewed good practices on anti-corruption campaigns from Member States and civil society to better inform future prevention work against corruption. Read more about the event and see presentations from it.
This third session of the Conference was preceded by the sixth Global Forum on Fighting Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity (Doha, 7-8 November 2009), which the Government of Qatar hosted.
The Global Forum on Fighting Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity is a multilateral gathering held every two years that brings together government representatives, specialists and academics from various parts of the world to discuss and enhance measures for fighting corruption. The primary objective of the Global Forum is to promote and facilitate international exchanges through periodic meetings.
Vietnam
In Viet Nam, International Anti-Corruption Day was marked in Viet Nam with the aim of promoting the United Nations Convention against Corruption and making the fight against corruption a priority.
The increased attention on the issue of corruption in Viet Nam has been marked by a number of activities organized by the Government and various international organizations, including UNODC.
The Government Inspectorate has been effectively working with UNODC on important anti-corruption matters and is keen to continue collaborating over the coming year.
Important initiatives to support International Anti-corruption Day in Viet Nam were channelled through different forms of media in order to reach a broader audience on the serious issue of corruption. Such initiatives included:
- An educational seminar was held on 8 December, UNODC, in collaboration with the Police Academy, conducted an educational seminar for over 160 trainees and academic staff promoting the theme "Education as a key strategy to fight corruption". Guest speakers at the seminar included representatives of the Police Academy, UNODC and UNDP, and the Deputy Director-General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau within the Government Inspectorate.
- Video clips and television footage were created by UNODC. The clips were broadcast on television networks on 9 December. Notices and announcements were also published on newspapers to further raise public awareness.
- Posters and calendars were printed by the Government Inspectorate in cooperation with UNODC. The posters and calendars, which had anti-corruption messages, were to be distributed to Government agencies across the country.
- On 23 December, a television interview is scheduled to take place with the Director-General of the Government Inspectorate on the topic of "Petty corruption met with great consequences".
UNODC will continue to maintain strong and close contact with the Government of Viet Nam in order to identify opportunities for further collaboration on anti-corruption initiatives.