SAN JOSE: United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security Institutions Alexander Zouev praised the State of Qatar's dedication to honoring global efforts in combating corruption through the HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award.
In his speech during the ceremony honoring the winners of the eighth edition of the award, hosted by the Republic of Costa Rica, he emphasized that Qatar's initiative significantly contributes to raising global awareness and fostering international cooperation to combat corruption. He noted that such efforts support justice, peace, and sustainable development. He also expressed his gratitude to Qatar, Costa Rica, and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center for organizing and hosting this timely global event.
The UN official highlighted the close connection between corruption and organized crime, illicit exploitation of resources, human trafficking, and smuggling of goods. He stressed that corruption undermines human rights, particularly affecting women and youth, especially in fragile and conflict-prone areas. Corruption, he added, poses a threat to global peace and security and hampers economic growth and human development.
Zouev noted that the United Nations Convention against Corruption adopted two decades ago, remains the only binding global legal instrument to combat corruption. He highlighted its pivotal role over the past 20 years in promoting transparency, integrity, and accountability, aiding efforts in peacebuilding and reconstruction. He also commended the implementation review mechanism of the convention for identifying gaps and providing technical assistance to countries.
Furthermore, he pointed to intensified UN efforts to strengthen anti-corruption initiatives, including establishing a global task force on corruption and adopting unified positions to address this global issue. He emphasized the importance of tackling transnational threats in conflict environments.
In conclusion, he underlined that the standards provided by the UNCAC offer a framework for restoring trust in public institutions. He stressed the importance of partnerships with entities like the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center in promoting good governance and the rule of law.