15 November 2011 - The United Nations is calling for nominations for the United Nations Public Service Awards for 2012. The Awards are an international contest designed to reward the creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions that have helped to establish more effective and responsive public administrations worldwide.
In 2010, UNODC and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations created a category entitled "Preventing and combating corruption in the public service" under the Awards. The category encourages higher standards of conduct in the public sector and promotes greater awareness of the importance of tackling corruption in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
By highlighting best practices and promoting excellence and creativity in anti-corruption work, this initiative enhances the ability of States to ensure that public funds are used to improve quality of life through the delivery of basic services. The category reflects the need for increased focus on improving integrity in public service, which is central to the fight against corruption.
Nominations for the United Nations Public Service Awards 2012 are now being accepted online until 31 December 2011. Public-private partnerships, public organizations and agencies at the national and subnational levels and any other public service organization can submit their applications online on the United Nations Public Service Awards website.
Member States of the United Nations are highly encouraged to enter the annual competition by submitting their practices in preventing and fighting corruption in public service as a way to foster integrity in public service delivery.
Award winners will be recognized at a high-level event to be held on 23 June 2012 on the occasion of United Nations Public Service Day, which is celebrated annually.
