For information only - not an official document
UNIS/CP/883
5 November 2015
ST. PETERSBURG/VIENNA, 5 November 2015 (UN Information Service) - A high-level panel on partnerships against corruption in the Pacific, held today on the margins of COSP6, applauded the commitment of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians against Corruption (GOPAC) in its fight against corruption.
The Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Yury Fedotov, in his own opening address, said, "UNODC, as guardian of the UN Convention against Corruption, remains committed to working with all our partners in the fight against corruption."
Mr. Fedotov informed the audience that promotion of partnerships was particularly important to assist the new development agenda and Goal 16, which called for substantial reductions in corruption and bribery and promoted justice and accountable institutions.
"These partnerships," he said, "can provide a solid foundation for collective action to end corruption and promote accountability, transparency and sustainable development." He also highlighted Goal 17, which calls for enhancing partnerships for sustainable development.
In discussing the role of Pacific countries in fighting corruption Mr. Fedotov noted that GOPAC continued to be a key partner in the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project.
"Together with GOPAC, the Project has successfully worked with parliamentarians to foster a shared appreciation of corruption risks and impacts, as well as to establish means for seeking joint solutions, including through the creation of GOPAC Chapters and the Standing Committee on Anti-Corruption," said the UNODC Chief.
UNODC is also helping Pacific countries fight corruption through the ratification of the Convention, which now has 11 States parties in the Pacific, effective implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and engagement through the implementation review mechanism.
Mr. Fedotov was delivering his remarks at the 6th Forum of Parliamentarians held at COSP6. Other speakers included John Hyde, GOPAC Oceania Chair, Luisa Senibulu, UN-PRAC Programme Associate, Nandi Glassie, GOPAC Cook Islands Chair, and Lord Fusitu'a, GOPAC Tonga & Standing Committee on Anti-Corruption.
More than 1,000 people are attending COSP6. The UN Convention against Corruption is the only legally binding universal anti-corruption instrument and was adopted in 2003. Every two years the States Parties to the Convention meet to review implementation of the Convention and discuss how States can better tackle corruption.
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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.
