International Anti-Corruption Day 2010


On 9 December 2003 the General Assembly of the United Nations established the International Anti-Corruption Day, which is to be celebrated annually on this day, in order to raise awareness of corruption and of the role of the United Nations Convention against Corruption in combating and preventing it. The Convention entered into force in December 2005 and now has 148 Parties. It is the only comprehensive global instrument designed to assist States in preventing and combating corruption in the public sector, the private sector and civil society.
In its capacity as guardian of the Convention against Corruption UNODC offices around the globe annually aim to highlight the different facets of corruption and facilitate special events to further raise awareness and assist the fight against corruption. Central to these efforts is the campaign " Corruption - Your NO Counts".  
In South Africa UNODC, in partnership with the Public Service Commission of South Africa and the National Anti-Corruption Forum, has organised a Roundtable event, to take place in Pretoria on 9 December 2010. The event will bring together representatives of government, business and civil society in order to discuss responses to corruption and approaches to its prevention. This event is particularly relevant against the background of this year's message by the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on occasion of the International Anti-Corruption Day, in which he emphasises the importance of the private sector's active involvement in the fight against corruption (click here for the full message).
Amongst others, including various members of the diplomatic core, the event will be addressed by H.E. Mr. Richard Baloyi, Minister of Public Service & Administration, Ms. Futhi Mtoba, President of Business Unity South Africa and Chairperson of the National Anti-Corruption Forum, and Dr. Agostinho Zacarias, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in South Africa ( click here for the full program) . The Acting Representative of UNODC Southern Africa, Dr. Elisabeth Bayer, will highlight the extensive Peer Review Mechanism of the Convention, which is currently undergoing its first round of reviews.