The ability to facilitate efficient and effective mutual legal assistance and extradition—the bedrocks of international cooperation on judicial matters - is vital to combatting corruption committed within States and across their borders. Evidence can be destroyed, and suspects can abscond before a request for mutual legal assistance or extradition can be made
Nearly all the UNCAC States Parties have received recommendations under Chapter IV of the Convention in the context of the Implementation Review Mechanism, especially on Article 44 (Extradition) and 46 (Mutual Legal Assistance) of the Convention. In legal systems, laws and procedures- there are cumbersome and lengthy mutual legal assistance and extradition procedures that result in delays thereby impacting investigations and prosecutions; limited resources for processing requests and using modern technology such as video-conferencing; and linguistic and terminology differences have an impact on the extent to which most States can provide and receive assistance.
International cooperation has been identified as one of the regional priorities in most regional platforms. Participating States identified three general categories of challenges to the facilitation of international cooperation in the prevention and investigation of corruption cases: legislative, capacity, and regional networks.
UNODC is thus providing support to participating States in promoting and fostering international and regional cooperation. In this regard, regional handbooks on mutual legal assistance in judicial matters are being developed, trainings and advice have also been provided on international cooperation systems and frameworks and regional working sessions are convened to document the remaining challenges linked to international cooperation in the regions as well as to foster coordination among the participants.
UNODC is also working in close collaboration with other regional networks and bodies such as ASEAN, GIZ East Africa, EAAACA-ARINEA, ARINSA, SADC and OAS.
Whistleblower protection is a regional priority in all the four regional platforms created under the fast-tracking UNCAC implementation project … more
Public procurement is repeatedly reported as the largest single area of corruption in countries participating the regional platforms. … more
The ability to facilitate efficient and effective mutual legal assistance and extradition is vital to combatting corruption committed … more
Promoting integrity, transparency and accountability in the public sector is an important aspect of UNCAC Chapter II that is related to the prevention of corruption. … more
Financial investigations are constantly reported as a challenging area for most of the participating countries in the regional platforms. … more
Corruption thrives in times of crisis. UNODC supports Member States to prevent and combat corruption during COVID-19 pandemic.
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