For information only - not an official document
UNIS/CP/864
30 October 2015
ST. PETERSBURG/VIENNA, 30 October 2015 (UN Information Service) - Next week more than one thousand participants will meet in the Russian Federation to discuss efforts to tackle corruption around the world, at the Sixth Session of the Conference of the States Parties (COSP6) to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
The vital importance of combating corruption as a fundamental part of realizing the recently adopted Sustainable Development Goals, will be among the topics discussed at the conference in St. Petersburg. Corruption is an obstacle to progress and prosperity, stifling economic growth and impeding development.
As the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Yury Fedotov, said at the Summit in New York where the goals were adopted: "A world free from organized crime, the exploitation and trafficking of children and women, corruption and violence is a world where we can realize our common goals of preserving the environment, ensuring sustainable consumption and production, reducing inequality, building resilient infrastructure, achieving gender equality and ending poverty and hunger."
Around one thousand people from Member States, parliaments, inter-governmental organizations, civil society, the private sector and the media are expected to attend the COSP6 to review the implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption and discuss how to better tackle corruption.
UNCAC was adopted twelve years ago and is the only legally binding universal anti-corruption instrument. Every two years the States Parties to the Convention meet to review implementation of the Convention and discuss how States can better tackle corruption.
Key events open to the media
The plenary sessions of the conference are open to the media. On Monday 2 November the high level opening will be addressed by the Head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation, Sergei Ivanov, and the Executive Director of UNODC, Yury Fedotov.
There are a range of special events taking place in St. Petersburg on various topics related to tackling corruption. For the full programme go to:
https://www.unodc.org/documents/treaties/UNCAC/COSP/session6/2015_COSP_Programme_web.pdf
Monday, 2 November
Plenary: High-level opening and general discussion (10 a.m., Conference Hall 1)
Press conference with Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation and President of the COSP, Alexander Konovalov, and the Executive Director of UNODC, Yury Fedotov (1.15p.m. Venue: tbc)
Special events on anti-corruption in small island developing states, and promoting integrity and transparency in the public procurement system.
Tuesday, 3 November
Plenary: General discussion followed by prevention
Special events on public-private partnerships in anti-corruption; protection of business from corruption practices; the nexus between illegal wildlife and forestry trades and corruption; countering corruption in the implementation of Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals; and Stolen Assets Recovery Initiative: close to a decade of international efforts in support of the recovery of stolen assets.
Wednesday, 4 November
Plenary discussions on asset recovery and international cooperation, and review of implementation of the Convention and technical assistance
Special events on how open data can prevent and fight corruption; combating corruption through education, tackling corruption through public-private dialogue; the Brazilian 'Car Wash Operation' case study on financial investigation techniques; and civil society participation in anti-corruption efforts.
Thursday, 5 November
Plenary discussions on review of implementation of the Convention and technical assistance and implementation of article 63 paragraph 4 (c) of the Convention.
Special events on drafting corruption-proof legislation; addressing corruption challenges in an era of climate change; integrity and legacy of sport; corruption challenges to the looting, trafficking and sale of cultural heritage and best practices in combating corruption and its impact on the enjoyment of human rights.
Friday, 6 November
Plenary session on the implementation of article 63 paragraph 4 (c), provisional agenda for the seventh session and consideration and adoption of the report.
Webcasting
The plenary will be webcast live and some other key events. To see the live webcasting go to:
http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/events/2015/cosp6_webcast_english.html
Or in original language: http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/events/2015/cosp6_webcast_floor.html
Available for Media Interviews
Experts from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime are available for interviews.
Websites for further information
Further information for the media is available here:
http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/events/2015/cosp6_2015.html
For the official conference website with documents in all UN official languages go to: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/treaties/CAC/CAC-COSP-session6.html
The programme is available here: https://www.unodc.org/documents/treaties/UNCAC/COSP/session6/2015_COSP_Programme_web.pdf
For the Conference website of the Host Country go to: http://www.uncorruption.ru/en/
For more information on UNODC's work against corruption visit: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/corruption/index.html?ref=menuside
* *** *
For information about media accreditation contact:
Veronika
Crowe-Mayerhofer
Telephone: +79 2143 84673
Email: press[at]unvienna.org
For further information contact:
Martin
Nesirky
Spokesperson for the 6
th Session of the Conference of the States Parties
to the UN Convention against Corruption
Telephone: +43-699-1459-5676
Email: martin.nesirky[at]unvienna.org
or
David
Dadge
Spokesperson, UNODC
Phone: (+43 1) 26060-5629
Mobile: (+43-699) 1459-5629
Email: david.dadge[at]unvienna.org
Follow @UNODC on Twitter and join the conversation using #NoToCorruption.
