Heads of state, civil society and private sector leaders will discuss the most pressing issues related to corruption and how to combat it at a meeting UN conference against corruption (COSP11) this week in Doha, Qatar.
“When corruption infects the justice system, cases are mishandled, justice is delayed or denied, and victims are silenced.“, President of the General Assembly Annalena Baerbock said to the opening of the conference.
What is the COSP?
Taking place from December 15-19 this year, COSP is the world’s largest international gathering dedicated to the fight against corruption and economic crime.
It is the main decision-making body of the United Nations Convention against Corruption – the only legally binding universal anti-corruption treaty.
This session, entitled Shaping the integrity of tomorrowwill address the role of AI and new technologies in meeting the realities of today’s complex crime patterns.
The links between corruption and financial and organized crime will also be discussed, as well as steps countries can take to improve the transparency of their public financial systems and efforts to combat corruption in the private sector.
Technology can help or harm
“Rapid advances in technology provide corrupt actors with new tools to hide assets, falsify documents, and move between jurisdictions.“, warned John Brandolino, acting executive director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
However, he acknowledged that technology can also be a “transformative” force against corruption, notably by facilitating investigations.
“Governments must strive to reap the benefits of revolutionary solutions“, said Mr. Brandolino, adding that these technological solutions must respect human rights and close the loopholes that allow criminals to misuse digital tools.
Why COSP is important
Corruption deprives people of their basic needs such as education, healthcare, clean water and infrastructure.
The conference aims to translate international commitments into action by assessing how countries implement the anti-corruption treaty and strengthening cross-border cooperation.
The decisions of the COSP have led to real changes, notably the creation of a peer review system which helped 146 countries improve their anti-corruption laws and policies.
“Shaping the integrity of tomorrow is about protecting people from exploitation through crime and corruption,” said Mr. Brandolino. “And it’s also about safeguarding our common aspirations for the future. »
Location of the eleventh session of the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption taking place in Doha, Qatar.
Publicado anteriormente en Almouwatin.
