The Global Programme against Corruption
Corruption undermines democratic institutions, retards economic development and contributes to government instability. Corruption attacks the foundation of democratic institutions by distorting electoral processes, perverting the rule of law, and creating bureaucratic quagmires whose only reason for existence is the soliciting of bribes. Economic development is stunted because outside direct investment is discouraged and small businesses within the country often find it impossible to overcome the "start-up costs" required because of corruption.
The United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) creates the opportunity to develop a global language about corruption and a coherent implementation strategy. A multitude of international anti-corruption agreements exist, however their implementation has been uneven and only moderately successful. The UNCAC gives the global community the opportunity to address both of these weaknesses and begin establishing an effective set of benchmarks for effective anti-corruption strategies. The Global Programme against Corruption (GPAC) is a catalyst and a resource to help countries effectively implement the provision of the UN Convention against Corruption.
There are a rapidly growing number of countries that have become parties to the Convention. The primary goal of the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU)/Global Programme against Corruption (GPAC) is to provide practical assistance and build technical capacity to implement the UNCAC and efforts will concentrate on supporting Member States in the development of anti-corruption policies and institutions. This will include the establishment of preventive anti-corruption frameworks.
Main areas of work:
Technical Cooperation:
Projects undertaken by GPAC have a specific global logic, leading to the identification of good practices and materials that are not only relevant to one specific country or limited geographic context, but are able to inform policy making and strategic planning on a world-wide scale. GPAC functions as a focal point for the UNODC field office network in the development and implementation of anti-corruption projects designed to support Member States with a specific view to building up local capacities in the long run.
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International Coordination:
The necessity of increasing partnerships and coalitions with other national and interntional organizations, doing anti-corruption work. GPAC has initiated and become the driving force behind
the International Group for Anti-Corruption Coordination (for which the Global Programme is the secretariat). This is the only body that attempts to coordinate the anti-corruption efforts of donors, multilateral anti-corruption enforcement officials, and NGOs to help facilitate their work by avoiding duplication and leveraging resources.
GPAC also supports
the Judicial Integrity Group, an association composed of Chief Justices and senior judges, in the development of standards and policies to strengthen judicial integrity and capacity. They recently adopted
the Bangalore Principles on judicial integrity and the programme will be helping justices implement those principles.
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Policy Development and Research:
The Global Programme contributes through programmes and projects that identify, disseminate and apply
good practices in preventing and controlling corruption and has produced multiple technical and policy guides, including
the Anti-Corruption ToolKit. GPAC has produced
assessment publications based on missions undertaken in the respective countries. The Global Programme engages also other agencies in this process, both through the International Group for Anti-Corruption Coordination as well as bilaterally. The ACU is working with UNIDO on the development and implementation of measures and tools for small and medium size enterprises to protect themselves against corruption. Finally, the ACU is a partner with UNICRI on a project for the development of a guide on best practices and the creation of an electronic library for the implementation of the UNCAC. The Anti-Corruption Unit continues its efforts to coordinate and facilitate the development benchmarks, methodologies and approaches for a global assessment of corruption, as well as anti-corruption efforts.
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Awareness Raising and Outreach:
Public awareness materials are produced that can be used globally in anti-corruption campaigns both the UNODC field office network, governments, NGOs or other civil society organizations. Special focus on the International Day against Corruption (9 December) to raise the public awareness to the problem of corruption.
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