Vienna (Austria) – 13 December 2022. This year’s International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD) sought to highlight the crucial link between anti-corruption, peace, security, and development, and mark the start of UNODC efforts to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). This has been reflected by the theme of this year’s international day, “UNCAC at 20: Uniting the World Against Corruption”. As we marked IACD 2022, civil society organisations held relevant activities and campaigns, a selection of which the UNODC Civil Society Unit shared below:
United against corruption in Cambodia
Transparency International Cambodia (TIC), Anti-Corruption Working Group and its partners organized an event that included several activities, discussions and workshops for over 150 participants from diverse backgrounds. The aim of the IACD 2022 celebration was to mobilize relevant stakeholders, including CSOs to discuss most pressing issues and solutions moving forward. Besides critical discussions, all participants gathered to celebrate International Anti-Corruption Day by signing a “fighting against corruption commitment” board.
Public-private partnership initiatives in Cameroon
The Cameroon Anti-Corruption Youths Movement (CACYM) officially partnered with the Ministry of finance to mark this year’s IACD. They organized a series of activities, amongst which was one to bring actors from the public and private sectors together to brainstorm on the causes, manifestations and on how to mitigate corruption in prone areas of the administration like the treasury. Nkweti Roland Ticha, Founder of CACYM, mentioned that they will carry on such activities beyond the IACD 2022.
Zimbabwe Women Against Corruption Trust launched report on IACD
As a buildup to IACD, Zimbabwe Women Against Corruption Trust (ZWACT) has shared infographics on social media platforms to raise awareness of the public about the importance of this day and anti-corruption actions. Sandra Matendere, founding director of ZWACT informed us about research they carried on the prevalence and impact of health sector corruption in Zimbabwe focusing on how it is hindering women's access to sexual and reproductive health care services including maternal care in public health institutions. The report, notably, was launched on 9th of December 2022 as ZWACT joined the world in celebrating this important day.
Over the next year, culminating with IACD 2023, together with partners worldwide, we will be reflecting on a world made better thanks to the collective push afforded by the Convention and, crucially, what gaps remain to ensure this is a truly strong mechanism for the years ahead.