UNCAC at 20 - 20th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC)

20th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC)

On 31 October 2023, the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), the world’s first and only legally binding universal anti-corruption instrument, celebrated its 20^th anniversary. Enjoying nearly universal adherence with 190 parties, UNCAC plays a pivotal role in uniting countries against corruption and fostering effective international cooperation.

To mark the anniversary, UNODC held a special high-level event in Vienna, the birthplace of the Convention, to reflect on the achievements of UNCAC to date and on what is still needed to achieve its full and effective implementation.

Photo gallery

Agenda

Time

Segment

Media registration

Musical performance

10:00 - 10:05

Brass music quintet

High-level opening

10:05 - 10:30

Keynote speakers:

Ms. Ghada Waly
Executive Director, UNODC

H.E. Mr. Alexander Van der Bellen
Federal President of the Republic of Austria

Mr. Othmar Karas
First Vice-President, European Parliament (via video)

Ms. Serena Ibrahim
Member of YouthLED Advisory Board of UNODC’s Global Resource for Anti-Corruption Education and Youth Empowerment (GRACE) Initiative, Lebanon

High-level panel discussion

10:30 - 11:45

20 years of the Convention: Where are we and where are we heading?
Format: Davos-style moderated discussion

The high-level discussion will also feature an UNCAC at 20 Anniversary Video narrated by Ms. Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications. The video will focus on the role of corruption prevention in achieving the SDGs and will launch a call to action to treat the issue of corruption as a matter of urgency.

H.E. Ms. Alma Zadić
Federal Minister of Justice, Austria

H.E. Mr. Luis Javier Campuzano Piña
Permanent Representative, Mexico

H.E. Mr. Mohamed Hamdy Elmolla
Permanent Representative, Egypt

Ms. Monika Fröhler
CEO, Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens

Mr. Mark Pieth
Former Chair, OECD Working Group on Bribery

Moderator:
Mr. Martin Kreutner
Founder and First Dean of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA),
Founder of the European Partners against Corruption Network (EPAC/EACN)

High-level closing remarks/address

11:45 - 11:55

H.E. Ms. Laura S.H. Holgate
Permanent Representative, United States of America