UNIS/CP/553
8 January 2008

MEDIA ADVISORY

High-Level Bali Conference to Review Progress in Enforcing the United Nations Convention Against Corruption

VIENNA, 8 January 2008 (UN Information Service) -- Countries which have signed or ratified the United Nations Convention against Corruption will hold a high-level meeting in Bali, Indonesia, from   28 January to 1 February 2008 to review implementation of the Convention and consider ways of stepping up international efforts to prevent and fight corruption.

The Convention, which came into force on 14 December 2005, is the first legally binding global anti-corruption instrument. So far, 140 States have signed the Convention and 105 have ratified it to become full-fledged States Parties. 

The Second Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption will focus on three key issues: reviewing implementation of the Convention, asset recovery and technical assistance to build national capacity to combat corruption. Other issues will include measures to prevent corruption and improve international cooperation.

The Conference will take place at the Bali International Convention Centre, Nusa Dua, Indonesia .

It will be opened by Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia, and attended by ministers, policy-makers, experts and representatives of civil society, the media and the private sector. Over 1,000 participants are expected.

A number of special events are also planned to engage the broadest cross-section of society in the fight against corruption: 

28 January: Launch of the UNDP Asia-Pacific Human Development Report on Corruption and Human Development

28 January: Artists for Integrity

29 January: Ministerial Roundtable: Asset Recovery

29 January: Forum for Non-Governmental Organizations

30 January: Business Coalition: The UN Convention against Corruption as a New Market Force

30 January: Forum for Parliamentarians: Implementing and Overseeing the UN Convention against Corruption

31 January: Peer-to-Peer Media Forum: Covering Corruption with Integrity

All plenary meetings and special events will be open to the media.

For more details on the Conference, please click http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/treaties/CAC/CAC-COSP-session2.html

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For information, please contact:

Mr. Walter Kemp
Acting Spokesman
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Telephone: (+43-1) 26060 5629
Mobile : (+43-699) 1459-5629
E-mail: walter.kemp@unodc.org

or

Ms. Preeta Bannerjee
Public Information Officer
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Tel: (+43-1) 26060 5764
Mobile:(+43-1) 699 1459 5764
E-mail: preeta.bannerjee@unodc.org

For media accreditation, please contact:

Mr. Adila Arief
Media Accreditation Officer
United Nations Information Centre - Jakarta
Telephone: (+62-21) 3983 1011/13
Mobile phone: (+62) 08111 891 736
Facsimile: (+62-21) 3983 1014
E-mail: adila.arief@unic-jakarta.org