All times below are Sharm El-Sheikh time (EET).
El Wadi | Organizer: International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)
UNODC (Civil Society Unit), together with UK FCDO, has been supporting regional civil society networks since 2017, focusing on Latin America, South East Asia, Eastern and Southern Africa to support the implementation of the Convention. In 2021, regional coordinators conducted an in-depth analysis to assess contributions and provide future recommendations for continuing the work of the regional platforms. Perspectives from two regions were presented during the event. Representatives of the civil society and government from Mexico spoke of their constructive partnership in the framework of the Implementation Review Mechanism.
El Fayrouz | Organizer: Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) | Co-organizer: UNODC Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific
The 9th Forum of Parliamentarians: Implementing Integrity was organized on the margins of the Conference. Participants included the former Palau Governor and legislator, Leilani Reklai, who spoke on the role of the media in anti-corruption, UNODC Anti-Corruption Adviser Annika Wythes and GOPAC Oceania Secretary John Hyde.
Ste Catherine | Organizer: Basel Institute on Governance | Co-organizers: Environmental and Law Enforcement agencies from Peru, Bolivia, Uganda and Malawi
During the event' Environmental Corruption as a Roadblock to Reaching the SDGs', panellists from government and civil society explored efforts and remaining gaps in preventing and combatting corruption that undermines conservation efforts. They provided examples of anti-corruption tools to reduce environmental crime and debated their challenges and success factors. The panel discussed research findings on the connection between corruption and environmental degradation and how collaboration between the anti-corruption and conservation authorities and stakeholders could be improved. They further described some of the main environmental challenges that countries were facing today, including areas that were most likely to hold back the achievements of SDGs. The importance of multi-stakeholder and inter-agency cooperation and enhancing the institutional culture of integrity were emphasized. Finally, the panel highlighted the importance of understanding local attitudes and opinions, including through population polls, to ensure targeted awareness-raising and anti-corruption approach.
Nile Valley | Organizer: The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Civil Forum for Asset Recovery e.V. (CIFAR) | Co-organizers: Nigeria, UNCAC Coalition
The event discussed how to improve practices related to the management of recovered assets based on international experiences and identified challenges and opportunities. The panel explored how to improve transparency and accountability in asset management, increase the amount of assets recovered, and promote greater international cooperation and capacity-building. It included presentations from civil society, government and bilateral/donor agencies.
El Wadi | Organizer: International Bar Association (IBA) | Co-organizer: International Federation of Accountants (IFAC)
The International Bar Association (IBA) (through its Legal Projects Team and Anti-Corruption Committee) and the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) convened leaders from both professions, along with a high-level speaker from the US State Department, to discuss the professions' role as "gatekeepers" of the global financial system. Panellists explored their role in the fight against corruption and how to enhance this role going forward. Significant similarities between the legal and accountancy professions were outlined, including a shared commitment to fighting corruption and financial crimes. Both lawyers and accountants work throughout the public and private sector and play vital roles in improving legal and regulatory frameworks, preventing, identifying and mitigating corruption, prosecuting bad actors and working on asset recovery. IBA and IFAC sought to raise awareness of the gatekeeper roles of the professions and strengthen the dialogue between the professions with the UN and others, enhancing the partnership on these critical issues. The discussion was built off the IBA-IFAC side event at UNGASS in June 2021, which took a closer look at issues around professional ethics and independence.
El Fayrouz | Organizer: Transparency International, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime | Co-organizer: Italy, Mexico
This panel, consisting of governmental and non-governmental experts, looked at several aspects of transnational organized corruption and the links between UNCAC and UNTOC frameworks. Examples ranged from cross-border corruption used by organized criminal groups to corruption schemes involving transnational networks of public officials, companies and professionals. The panel considered proposals for better coordination of discussions and monitoring of UNCAC and UNTOC to improve anti-corruption efforts worldwide. The event featured panellists from Transparency International, the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, the Government of Italy, the Government of Mexico and other expert speakers.
Ste Catherine | Organizer: Policy Alert | Co-organizer: CISLA - Nigerian Chapter of Transparency International, HEDA of the Resource Centre in Nigeria, Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI)
The energy transition to cleaner, renewable alternatives has been heralded as a solution for both the energy and the climate crises. But the energy transition is not happening in a governance vacuum, and it is now clear that the path to a low-carbon energy future faces corruption risk. This side event explored trends in energy transition and the link to corruption, focusing on resource-rich African countries.
Nile Valley | Organizer: Wildlife Justice Commission | Co-organizers: France, Belgium, UNODC
The event 'Tackling corruption linked to environmental crime' discussed the link between corruption and environmental crime. The panellists presented case studies of successfully adjudicated cases and examples of how corruption facilitates different forms of environmental crime. Speakers highlighted entry points for conducting financial investigations, the importance of public-private partnerships and specialized investigative techniques, alongside successful strategies to prevent and address corruption. Outcomes of a study on global efforts to implement Conference resolution 8/12 on corruption related to crimes that impact the environment were also presented.
Ste Catherine | Organizer: Government Accountability Project (GAP)
This event highlighted the critical role that whistle-blowers worldwide play in fighting corruption. It allowed discussing the identified international and national best practices for establishing robust whistle-blower protection systems, the challenges in implementing the whistle-blower protection laws, and the lessons learned and recommendations for the future. The event had the vocation to be educational and inform the audience about the international best practices for whistle-blower laws and provide support for implementing the commitments on whistle-blower protection included in the political declaration that member states signed during the 2021 UNGASS Against Corruption.
