Corruption: an Impediment to the Sustainable Development Goals

The Network of Prosecutors and Central Authorities from Source, Transit and Destination Countries

Effective international cooperation in criminal matters is a prerequisite for successful fight against corruption. At the Fourth Plenary Meeting of the CASC Network (the Network of Prosecutors and Central Authorities from Source, Transit and Destination Countries in response to Transnational Organized Crime in Central Asia and Southern Caucasus) in Baku states members discussed advantages and disadvantages of various types of Central Authorities, identified obstacles to mutual legal assistance and extradition based on actual cases, and proposed practical steps to overcome these obstacles. The meeting also revealed the need to upgrade provisions on extradition of the Codes of Criminal Procedure of Turkmenistan and Tajikistan to ensure the right of a suspect/defendant to a judicial remedy

Third round of monitoring of Uzbekistan under the OECD Istanbul Anti-Corruption Action Plan

In 2016, UNODC Senior Legal Adviser, in her capacity of the monitoring team member, participated in a return mission to Uzbekistan to present the 3rd monitoring round report and discuss priorities for future action. The 3rd monitoring round report on Uzbekistan was adopted at plenary meeting of the Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) under the Istanbul Anti-Corruption Action Plan on 9 October 2015. The report analyses progress made by Uzbekistan in carrying out anti-corruption reforms and implementing recommendations received under the Istanbul Anti-Corruption Action Plan since the Joint 1st and 2nd rounds of monitoring. The report also analyses recent developments and provides new recommendations in three areas: anti-corruption policy and institutions, criminalization of corruption and prevention of corruption. The report was presented - at three separate meetings - to around 250 Uzbek officials representing 16 various ministries (including deputy ministers) and academia as well as the UN and other international organizations and journalists. The report was well received by authorities and the international community. The full report is published in English and Russian on the OECD website at http://www.oecd.org/corruption/acn/istanbulactionplancountryreports.htm.