Pretoria (South Africa), 8 December 2023 – Over the last 20 years, UNCAC has supported global advancement of efforts to fight the endemic scourge of corruption, which undermines all areas of society’s development. Today, International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD) reminds us that the Convention and the values it promotes are more important than ever.
On IACD 2023 a message was sent out to State Parties inviting them to reflect on what the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) has meant for the fight against corruption and what gaps remain to ensure UNCAC remains a strong mechanism for the years ahead. It is with this intent that the Public Service Commission (PSC) of South Africa with the support of UNODC and UNDP has organized an event to commemorate the 20 years of UNCAC and the IACD entitled, “UNCAC at 20 – United the World against Corruption: Anti-Corruption Policies and Programmes How to Better Collaborate to Improve Implementation and Impact”.
The Deputy President Hon. Paul Mashatile speaks on role of the South African government in fighting corruption
South Africa Deputy President, Hon. Paul Mashatile, in the keynote speech highlighted how the country is proud to have ratified the Convention on 22 November 2004 and how since then developed a framework law, strategy, and institutions with a mandate to combat corruption. The Deputy President underlined that, “building an efficient, capable, and ethical state free from corruption remain our top priority. This means that the Public Service must be staffed by men and women who are professional, skilled, selfless, and honest.”
UN Resident Coordinator in South Africa, Mr. Nelson Muffuh addressing the commemorations.
UN Resident Coordinator in South Africa, Mr. Nelson Muffuh, recalled the commitment and work that South Africa has undergone over the past nine years and emphasized the importance of advancing efforts to prevent and fight corruption. Mr. Muffuh stated that, “recognizing that corruption knows no boundaries, the United Nations also encourages countries to continue to come together and share best practices, information, and resources, by strengthening international cooperation and collaboration, we can combat this global challenge effectively.”
Building on this momentum, UNODC continues to provide technical assistance by providing training programs, resources and knowledge tools aimed at enhancing capacities and strengthening the institutional response to effectively combat corruption. UNODC has enhanced its delivery capacity by establishing Anti-Corruption Hubs and Regional Platforms that provide assistance to states to fast-track the implementation of the Convention through South-South cooperation, of which South Africa is already a participating country.
