11 May 2018 - Today marks the closure of a four-day multi-stakeholder workshop in Senegal on the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and its Review Mechanism. The event, organized by UNODC in partnership with the UNCAC Coalition and support of the Austrian Development Agency, trained some 50 civil society and government representatives from 15 African countries on the implementation of the Convention.
Speaking at the event, the Austrian Ambassador to Senegal, Caroline Gudenus said: "Efforts to combat corruption can only be successful if they are undertaken in a multi-stakeholder framework. The full involvement of civil society in the review process is crucial to achieve progress at the national and international levels."
On that point, Mirella Dummar Frahi, UNODC Civil Society Team Leader, noted that during the first cycle, 89 per cent of Member States included civil society in the review of UNCAC implementation. As per the second cycle, the involvement rate stands at 100 per cent so far, she continued, expressing hope that the trend would continue.
The event featured interactive training techniques, enabling participants to understand the Review Mechanism process pertaining to the Second Cycle (2015-2021) with a focus on preventative measures and asset recovery. In addition, civil society organizations received guidance on how to collaborate with the private sector on anti-corruption. A UNODC small grants scheme, soon to be launched, will be an opportunity for African civil society organizations to implement anti-corruption programmes and initiatives in their communities.
Representing the host country, the Inspector General of the Police, Codé Mbengue, said: "Senegalese non-governmental organizations have made valued contributions to the country visit and the review process. This will be instrumental in advancing the national anti-corruption strategy in Senegal."
Since 2011, UNODC has organized 14 workshops on the Convention and has trained some 320 civil society organizations globally.
UNODC Engagement with Civil Society on Drug and Crime Prevention
