International Anti-Corruption Day
The United Nations Convention against Convention (UNCAC), the first and only legally-binding universal anti-corruption instrument, entered its 20th anniversary in 2023. Nowadays, the vast majority of United Nations Member States are parties to the Convention.
Celebrating this important achievement, IAACA President Mr Danny Woo shared his vision and plans in a video released on 9 December 2023, the International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD). Quoting the theme of the 2023 IACD - "UNCAC at 20: Uniting The World Against Corruption", he called for concerted efforts in enhancing cooperation and strengthening anti-graft capacity, and invited stakeholders to fight corruption together.
Experience Sharing in the African and Asia-Pacific Regions
To enhance graft-fighters' capacities through exchange of experience and knowledge, IAACA experience sharing events were held for counterparts in Africa and the Asia-Pacific in October and November 2023.
Africa
The Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Centre (CAACC) organized an online "Corruption Prevention Strategies Training Programme" on 23-26 October 2023. IAACA supported the programme by arranging seasoned officers from the Independent Commission Against Corruption of Hong Kong, China (ICAC) to share experience in preventing corruption and raising public awareness against the crime.
Participants from African anti-corruption authorities interacting with ICAC speakers
The speakers elaborated on what strategies ICAC has developed for anti-corruption education and public engagement, and how new technology and social media has been used for promoting probity culture. ICAC's institutional framework, strategies and methodologies in systemic prevention were also explained.
Over 40 participants from 15 African anti-corruption authorities actively participated in the discussion. They gained practical knowledge of designing and implementing policies, strategies, frameworks and programmes on community education and systemic prevention.
Asia-Pacific
On 20-22 November 2023, around 100 officers from 14 anti-corruption authorities in the Asia-Pacific region participated in a hybrid workshop on anti-corruption community education and youth engagement in Putrajaya, Malaysia.
Officers from five Asia-Pacific countries attending the workshop in person
The workshop was a joint effort of the anti-corruption authorities of Bhutan; Brunei Darussalam; Hong Kong, China; Malaysia and Singapore under IAACA’s coordination. Special thanks go to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for hosting this workshop. During the three-day event, experts of the five authorities shared their experience in raising public awareness against corruption, using the social media for anti-graft publicity, and developing anti-corruption education programmes. The participants who attended the workshop in-person also visited the headquarters of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), including MACC.fm, an online radio operated by MACC, to learn more about Malaysia's anti-corruption publicity work.
Participants visiting the MACC.fm radio in the headquarters of the MACC
IAACA will coordinate more regional workshops to advance the professional experience sharing among anti-graft practitioners. Anti-corruption authorities are welcome to contact the IAACA Secretariat to discuss training collaboration.
Forging Closer Partnership in Central Asia
ICAC of Hong Kong, China, which also serves as IAACA Secretariat, participated in the “Launching Conference of the UNCAC Regional Fast Track Implementation Platform” and the “Tashkent Anti-Corruption Forum III” in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on 2-3 November 2023. The delegates took this opportunity to brief over 300 anti-corruption experts in Central Asia on the latest initiatives of IAACA.
ICAC representatives participating in the “Launching Conference of the UNCAC Regional Fast Track Implementation Platform” and the “Tashkent Anti-Corruption Forum III” in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Sharing IAACA's latest initiatives to the conference participants
The delegates also met with the senior officers of the anti-corruption authorities of four Central Asian countries, namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, to explore areas of cooperation, such as regional training and experience sharing.
IAACA President Speaking at the ACE Award Ceremony
IAACA President Mr Danny Woo gave video-taped remarks at the 7th Annual Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award (ACE Award) Presentation Ceremony and the opening of the Integrity Champions Forum, which were held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on 19 December 2023.
Launched in 2015 by the Rule of Law & Anti-Corruption Centre of Qatar, the ACE Award recognises and celebrates individuals, organizations and initiatives that have made outstanding contributions to combating corruption and promoting transparency and integrity.
President Woo congratulating the ACE Award winners on their outstanding achievements
President Woo highlighted in his speech the importance of the award in the fight against corruption, “The ACE award draws the world's attention to the distinguished achievements of the winners who have devoted their efforts, some for their whole life, in fighting corruption. Upon the 20th anniversary of the adoption of UNCAC, the ACE Award is a timely reminder that we should unite together to fight this age-old evil... To win this battle requires the joint efforts of different parties both locally and internationally.”