UNODC supports Uzbekistan’s efforts to strengthen anti-corruption measures                          

On September 23, 2022 in cooperation with UNODC, the ‘II Tashkent Anti-Corruption Forum’ was organized as a joint effort between the Uzbekistan Anti-Corruption Agency, the National Anti-Corruption Council, the Ministry of Justice, the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the UN Development Programme with the assistance of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the World Bank, and the International NGO ‘Regional Dialogue’.

The event, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, was attended by representatives of anti-corruption bodies from several countries, including Azerbaijan, Latvia, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea and the United States, as well as international experts, representatives of the diplomatic corps and international organizations, governmental agencies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, civil society organizations and the media.    

Opening the Forum, Tanzila Narbaeva, Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Chairperson of the National Anti-Corruption Council emphasized the importance of the event and highlighted the work carried out in Uzbekistan in countering corruption. She focused on the areas that would be imperative in countering corruption during the next five years. According to her, each regulatory legal act in Uzbekistan is being developed based on the principle - "legislation free from corruption", she also noted that systemic preventive measures in the practice of combating corruption would be strengthened, and the public oversight would be supported by establishing interaction mechanisms with civil society institutions.

The aim of the Forum was to discuss anti-corruption measures taken by different countries and the progress of anti-corruption reforms in Uzbekistan. 

Ashita Mittal, UNODC Regional Representative to Central Asia, highlighted the central role of the organization’s anti-corruption work in the region. “Tackling corruption is an integral part of UNODC’s support within the Programme for Central Asia 2022-2025. In Uzbekistan, as well as with other countries in Central Asia and South Caucasus, we work closely with national counterparts on the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), exercising the UNCAC Implementation Review Mechanism, supporting the development of anti-corruption strategies, adopting laws, setting up transparent public procurement systems, engaging civil society and promoting business integrity, educating children and youth,” she noted. “With our support, Uzbekistan has recently become a member of the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities (GLOBE Network).”

During the first session of the Forum, ‘Openness and transparency as an effective mechanism for combating corruption’, the speakers reported on the creation of effective mechanisms to ensure the openness of state bodies and organizations, and on the use of open data and support of the public oversight.

In the next session, ‘Formation of an effective assessment of corruption risks’, national and international participants were introduced to the methodology for assessing corruption risks and their importance in preventing corruption and maintaining the integrity of the system.

The third session, ‘The role of education in the fight against corruption’, meanwhile provided participants with an opportunity to share good practices and tools in the field of anti-corruption education, modern mechanisms, and the development of recommendations for further improvement of anti-corruption measures for training of civil servants and citizens.

Vladimir Kozin, UNODC Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser for Central Asia and South Caucasus, referred to the UN General Assembly’s first-ever special session (UNGASS) against corruption held last June, where a political declaration was adopted that summarized the advances made in tackling corruption  since the adoption of UNCAC in 2003. “The political declaration places anti-corruption education and training at the core of a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to promote transparency, accountability, integrity, and a culture of rejection of corruption as a basis for preventing and countering corruption,” he noted. “It recognizes the role young people play as agents of change in creating an atmosphere of non-tolerance towards corruption at all levels of society”.    

Presenting one of the organization’s key projects within this area, Lulua Asaad, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer (Vienna), introduced the Global Resource for Anti-Corruption Education and Youth Empowerment (GRACE) initiative. Launched at the ninth session of the Conference of the States Parties (CoSP) to UNCAC in December 2021, the GRACE Initiative is designed to promote further the role of education and youth empowerment in preventing and countering corruption, . She highlighted that the UNGASS political declaration had mandated UNODC to increase public awareness of and knowledge on preventing and countering corruption.

Ms. Asaad noted: “We have a key focus on multisegmented partnerships working together with governments, civil society organizations, educators, academics, youth, and anti-corruption authorities to foster a culture of rejection of corruption and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. I invite you all to look at such skills as creativity, critical thinking, analyzing, and asking questions on anti-corruption education, ethics, and integrity. It is imperative and very important to build and develop these skills in students, and to build the capacity of teachers on individual, organizational and institutional levels for improving students’ understanding of the meaning and the impact of corruption”. 

This Tashkent Anti-Corruption Forum  is a unique platform for open dialogue, active discussion and exchange of experience for national and international experts, representatives of government agencies, civil society institutions in the field of anti-corruption.    

Based on the discussions during the Forum, proposals were prepared for further improvement of anti-corruption policies, prevention of corruption, assessment of the effectiveness and quality of anti-corruption measures and strengthening international cooperation.    

For further information please contact:

Arifa Fatikhova 

Communications and External Relations Officer

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) 

Regional Office for Central Asia

Mobile: (+998 93) 505-05-58 | Email: arifa.fatikhova[at]un.org