For information only - not an official document

UNIS/CP/886
6 November 2015

As prepared for delivery

Statement of the UNODC Executive Director, Yury Fedotov, at the closing of the Sixth Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption

6 November 2015

ST. PETERSBURG/VIENNA, 6 November 2015 (UN Information Service) - I am pleased to address you at the closing of the Sixth Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption-COSP6.

Over the last five days, your discussions have done much to continue the global fight against corruption and bribery.

As I stated in my opening speech, and I wish to stress it once again, countering corruption today is necessary to achieve the sustainable development goals of tomorrow.

And our achievements in St. Petersburg this week are closely linked to the UN's overall work. 

There have been many references to the Sustainable Development Goals and 2030 Agenda during this session. It is clear that Goal 16, which recognizes the need to address corruption, is essential to the new development agenda.

States parties are openly acknowledging that preventing corruption and bribery, and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, are mutually reinforcing. These views underline UNCAC's importance to the UN's global efforts. 

This week in St. Petersburg, States Parties have agreed to launch the second cycle of reviewing the implementation of the Convention. It will start next year with looking at how countries prevent corruption and facilitate asset recovery. 

Over this last week, we have held more than 30 high-level events, as well as dozens of sessions, meetings, informals and other types of discussions.

Valuable discussions have taken place and important decisions adopted ranging from public private partnerships to addressing the needs of small island developing states, and from academic initiatives to confronting the corruption connected to wildlife and forest crime. 

This work could not have been achieved without the support and assistance of the host country who worked tirelessly to make this conference such an enormous success.

I offer my sincere gratitude and warm personal thanks to the Russian government, as well as to the Minister of Justice and President of COSP6 Alexander Konovalov. 

From UNODC, I thank the head of the Division for Treaty Affairs John Brandolino, as well as the Dimitri Vlassis, the Chief of UNODC's Corruption and Economic Branch, who has done so much to help organize this conference

I also express my thanks to the UNODC/UNOV staff for all their own hard work and dedication on COSP6.  

Thanks to the ambitious adoption of the SDG's the noble purpose of this conference, and the work of the implementation review mechanism, have been given renewed purpose and energy.

UNCAC was already a highly innovative Convention, but with the new development agenda, we have been given a fresh sense of mission; one that we must not fail. 

We know that people across the world yearn for access to justice and transparent institutions, and the elimination of the corruption and bribery that makes their lives far harder and far more expensive.

In closing, ladies and Gentlemen, let me also say that COSP6 was witness to a very important event. This was the first time that a message was addressed to the conference by the UN Secretary-General at the opening session.

Allow me to quote from his statement:

"All of us have a reason to eliminate corruption and to create societies founded on justice, fairness and the rule of law.  The world counts on you to take bold decisions and act decisively to strengthen the global fight against corruption and bribery."

As we make our return journeys, I ask you to give thought to the Secretary-General's words and to do what is necessary to strengthen the fight against global corruption.

UNODC stands ready to support you in the work that lies ahead. Together, we can turn his stirring words into a reality that can advance the new development agenda and help millions of people.

Thank you.

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Conference website of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC):
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/treaties/CAC/CAC-COSP-session6.html

Conference website of the Host Country: http://www.uncorruption.ru/en/

For further information for the media go to:
http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/events/2015/cosp6_2015.html

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
Mobile: +7 921 437 8894 or +43 699 1459 5676
Email: martin.nesirky[at]unvienna.org

or

David Dadge
Spokesperson, UNODC
Mobile: +43 699 1459 5629
Email: david.dadge[at]unvienna.org

Follow @UNODC and @UN_Vienna on Twitter and join the conversation using #NoToCorruption.