SDGs give anti-corruption convention a new mission, says UNODC Chief at COSP6 closing
6 November 2015 - Addressing participants at the closing of the Sixth Session of the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (COSP6), UNODC Executive Director, Yury Fedotov, said today that the Sustainable Development Goals had given the UN Convention against Corruption "renewed purpose and energy".
"The UN Convention against Corruption 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," said Mr. Fedotov.
The UNODC Chief told participants that the Implementation Review Group and other subsidiary bodies ensure that anti-corruption efforts are placed at the centre of the global 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," he said.
Nine resolutions were passed during the five days of the conference ranging from public private partnerships to addressing the needs of small island developing states. More than 30 high-level events, as well as dozens of sessions, meetings and other forms types of discussions were also held.
Mr. Fedotov, in his closing address, paid a special tribute to the President of the Conference, Alexander Konovalov, for ably guiding the proceedings over the five days, and expressed his warm gratitude to the Russian government for hosting the conference in St. Petersburg.
The UN Convention against Corruption's implementation is powered by a Review Mechanism that has enabled the training of anti-corruption experts and helped countries revise their legislation. In 2017, the Seventh Session of the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption will be held in Vienna, Austria.
Statement by UNODC Executive Director at the Conference's closing
CoSP6, St. Petersburg, Russia, 2-6 November, 2015