Bangkok (Thailand), 9 December 2024 - A whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach is essential in the fight against corruption. To mark today’s International Anti-Corruption Day, we take a look at the role that non-state actors play in this collective fight and at the work accomplished so far across Southeast Asia.
The United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) underscores the role of non-state actors and urges State parties to take suitable actions to promote the active participation of individuals and groups outside the public sector in anti-corruption efforts.
“It has been proven worldwide that citizens are key to winning the fight against corruption. Media and civil society organizations provide the platforms and support needed for citizens to take action. UNODC has been empowering these efforts, but sustaining this support is crucial, as tackling corruption is a marathon, not a sprint,” shared Torplus Nick Yomnak, Director of the Knowledge Hub for Regional Anti-Corruption and Good Governance Collaboration (KRAC) and leader of the Southeast Asia Anti-Corruption Network (SEA-ACN).
UNODC, as the guardian of UNCAC, is committed to supporting and strengthening the role of non-state actors in preventing and addressing corruption in Southeast Asia.
However, across the region, there are worrying signs that both civil society and press freedom are in decline. Against this backdrop, with the support from the Government of Sweden, UNODC launched a project in July 2023 to empower civil society organizations and investigative journalists in Southeast Asia to promote transparency and accountability. With this project coming to an end this month, the Government of Sweden has reinforced its commitment to this mission, granting a new financial contribution for UNODC to continue its work with non-state actors in 2025.
“Supporting investigative journalism and civil society in anti-corruption efforts strengthens the critical role of non-state actors for holding decision-makers to account,” said Dr Le Thanh Forsberg, Senior Advisor of Regional Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden in Thailand. “I am proud that Sweden in collaboration with UNODC and governments in the region can drive our collective commitment to rule of law and accountability in Southeast Asia.
Following an integrity workshop for civil society organizations convened in October 2023 by UNODC in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this month, with UNODC’s support. The Network was created to facilitate the sharing of experiences and lessons in advocating for reforms.
Under SEA-ACN, civil society organizations from the region are working on several initiatives, including an initiative on harmonization of the definitions of Politically Exposed Persons for Thailand and Malaysia (see recent webinar here), and a study on public procurement frameworks within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
In March 2024, the Journalists Against Corruption (JAC) Network for Southeast Asia was launched. The JAC network is intended to serve as a platform for journalists to investigate and expose corruption issues through investigative collaboration and training opportunities
“Investigative journalism is a powerful weapon in the fight against corruption, often driving significant change. In many cases, it has exposed wrongdoing that led to the resignation of public officials and spurred much-needed reforms. The establishment of the Journalists Against Corruption (JAC), supported by UNODC, aims to strengthen and sustain the vital work of investigative journalists, particularly in these increasingly challenging times,” said Carmela Fonbuena, Executive Director of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) and JAC leader.
JAC met in 2024 to receive substantive training from UNODC), and member journalists received several grants to conduct their own investigations—their stories will be published in various media outlets throughout this month. In order to preserve the integrity and independence of the stories the journalists publish, the stories will not be linked to UNODC explicitly.
SEA-ACN and JAC Networks had the opportunity to showcase their efforts at a global stage, in Vilnius, Lithuania. Transversally to these efforts, UNODC has developed resources to increase publicly available information on corruption challenges and international commitments, supporting this way advocacy and awareness-raising work of civil society actors and the media. This includes five fact sheets on UNCAC, a discussion paper on Whistleblower Protection, three studies on the implementation of UNCAC in ASEAN (Chapter III, Chapter IV, Beneficial Ownership), and a discussion paper on the right to information in ASEAN.
“UNODC acknowledges the support of the Government of Sweden to bring together non-state actors in the fight against corruption and is pleased to share that this partnership will continue driving transparency and accountability in the ASEAN region,” said Annika Wythes, UNODC Team Lead of the Anti-Corruption Hub for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Click here to learn more about UNODC’s anti-corruption efforts in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
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