Doha: Qatar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna, HE Ambassador Jassim Yaqoub Al Hammadi, emphasized the significance of Qatar's hosting of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) for the second time. This event marks a notable achievement in Qatar's ongoing efforts to lead international action against corruption.
According to Qatar News Agency, Ambassador Al Hammadi highlighted that hosting the conference aligns with Qatar's vision to enhance multilateralism and support United Nations institutions and conventions. He spoke on the sidelines of the 11th session of the Conference of the States Parties to UNCAC, currently taking place in Doha, expressing Qatar's pride in its efforts to prevent and combat corruption. He emphasized that Qatar's achievements are supported by a strong legal and institutional framework and a society rooted in values that promote integrity and reject corruption.
Ambassador Al Hammadi reiterated Qatar's support for anti-corruption initiatives, including the Conference of the States Parties to UNCAC. He also mentioned the Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award, which honors individuals and institutions worldwide for their contributions to combating corruption. The Ambassador expressed Qatar's commitment to ensuring that the 11th session of the Conference in Doha becomes a pivotal moment for international solidarity against corruption.
The conference aims to advance this goal through discussions and resolutions to enhance the Convention's implementation at various levels. Among these are draft resolutions from Qatar concerning the extension of the Convention's review mechanism and enhancing international cooperation and the use of artificial intelligence in the fight against corruption.
Ambassador Al Hammadi warned about corruption's severe consequences, noting it depletes five percent of global GDP and causes significant damage worldwide. He stressed that corruption hampers sustainable development and highlighted the Convention's importance as the only legally binding global instrument against this crime, with near-universal adoption by 192 States Parties.
The 11th session, hosted by Qatar from December 15 to 19, is addressing various anti-corruption issues, including legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms. It also focuses on emerging technologies like artificial intelligence in tackling modern corruption complexities.
Qatar's hosting of this session demonstrates its commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation and fostering good governance. The Conference is recognized as the most comprehensive global forum dedicated to combating corruption, gathering 192 States Parties to the Convention, along with over 2,500 participants, including government officials, experts, and civil society stakeholders.