For information only - not an official document
UNIS/CP/869
3 November 2015
My thanks to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation for organizing this event.
Partnership between the public and private sectors is a critical link to success in combatting corruption.
Working together, governments and businesses can promote transparency, integrity and accountability, and thus support conditions conducive to investment, economic growth and sustainable development.
The importance of involving the private sector in anti-corruption action has been widely recognized, starting first and foremost with the UN Convention against Corruption itself.
The Convention requires States parties to take a series of measures that together lay the foundations for free and fair markets and sustainable economic development.
The Fifth Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention in Panama in 2013 adopted the first resolution on the private sector.
The resolution urges States parties to foster increased dialogue and cooperation between the public and the private sector in anti-corruption efforts, raise awareness on the need for businesses to establish and implement appropriate anti-corruption ethics and compliance programmes and engage the business community in the prevention of corruption.
Moreover, the Doha Declaration adopted at the recent Thirteenth Crime Congress also contains recommendations on strengthening public-private partnerships to prevent and counter crime in all its forms and manifestations.
Clearly, governments understand the value of partnering with the private sector in anti-corruption action.
What is also clear is that combatting corruption is good for business.
Businesses thrive where laws are clearly defined and applied fairly.
Effective anti-corruption strategies can enhance reputation among consumers and increase shareholder value.
While we have seen governments and companies increasingly engaging in anti-corruption cooperation, we still need to do more to support effective communication and coordination between the sectors.
We must ensure that the business community overall understands governments' obligations in the fight against corruption, as well as their own responsibilities and rights vis-à-vis public counterparts.
More companies need to be encouraged to approach anti-corruption as an essential part of overall management strategies, and not just a box-ticking risk mitigation and compliance exercise.
The blueprint for all this work remains the Convention, which provides a strong foundation for engaging with the private sector and supporting international cooperation.
The implementation review mechanism of the Convention can further assist in identifying the technical assistance needs of developing countries.
Companies can help to address these needs by joining forces with public institutions in the countries where they do business, as well as by partnering with international organizations including UNODC, and investing in strengthening and sustaining public anti-corruption infrastructure, capacity-building and skills development.
Anti-corruption initiatives by businesses and chambers of commerce can also help to support collective action.
For example, the Russian Anti-Corruption Charter For Business, which was launched by Russian companies themselves, seeks to strengthen the corporate consensus against corruption, and sets forth measures to address corruption within and between companies, as well as between companies and government.
In March this year, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, UNODC and the International Anti-Corruption Academy organized a Conference on Public-Private Partnership in the Fight against Corruption in Moscow.
The event was well received, and helped to support consultation processes between government leaders and business leaders, thereby enhancing interaction and building confidence and trust.
The conference report will be presented here today, and I hope it will inform further joint efforts.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Clean governments make better partners for business.
Companies with a firm commitment to integrity and accountability promote efficiency and protect their bottom line.
Cooperation between the public and private sectors increases the impact and credibility of individual action by both sides.
UNODC is here to support you in these endeavours.
I wish you a fruitful discussion.
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.
