The Non-Aligned Movement has stressed that corruption practices, including lack of sound international corporate governance, bribery, money laundering and transfer abroad of illegally acquired funds and assets undermine the economic and political stability and security of societies, undermines social justice and severely endanger the efforts of developing countries for sustainable development. NAM recognises that the United Nations (UN) Convention against Corruption provides universally accepted norms to prevent and combat corrupt practices, establishes the principle of asset recovery and transfer of assets of illicit origin and mechanism for international cooperation in this regard. Under the UN Convention, States are legally obliged to prevent and criminalize corruption; promote international cooperation; recover and return stolen assets, and improve technical assistance and information exchange in both the private and public sectors.

At the 18th NAM Summit held in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2019, NAM welcomed the significant number of States that have already ratified or acceded to the United Nations Convention against Corruption and in this regard urged all States, that have not yet done so to consider ratifying or acceding to the Convention as a matter of priority, and calls upon all States parties to fully implement the Convention as soon as possible, including through international cooperation as outlined in the Convention.

The majority of NAM Member States are members of the United Nations and have been adopting most of the conventions of the United Nations. In relation to deal with the menace of corruption, the main policy-making body of the United Nations Convention against Corruption is the Conference of the States Parties (COSP) that supports States parties and signatories in their implementation of the Convention, and gives policy guidance to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to develop and implement anti-corruption activities.

NAM reiterated its principled stance and its firm opposition to any form of corruption at the Ninth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, from December 13 to 17, 2021 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. The Delegation of Azerbaijan, speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, welcomed the compromise reached during the Fourth Session of the conference of States Parties held in Marrakech, Morocco contained in Resolution 4/6 entitled “The Non-Governmental Organizations and the Mechanism for the Review of Implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption”. The NAM statement reiterated the importance of developing and promoting effective policies and practices aimed at the prevention of corruption and underlined the importance of the Marrakech Declaration on the prevention of corruption 4/3 in encouraging the integration of anti-corruption national strategies and welcomed resolution 7/6 entitled “Follow-up of the Marrakech Declaration on the prevention of corruption”.

At the 9th COSP, NAM also reaffirmed the importance of the political declaration “Our Common Commitment to Effectively Addressing Challenges and Implementing Measures to Prevent and Combat Corruption and Strengthen International Cooperation” adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on July 2, 2021. The Declaration expresses concerns about the negative impact that all forms of corruption, including the solicitation of undue advantages, can have on access to basic services and the enjoyment of all human rights, and recognize that it can exacerbate poverty and inequality and may disproportionately affect the most disadvantaged individuals in society.
It also recognizes that the loss of resources caused by corruption at all levels and in all its forms, including when it involves vast quantities of assets, may constitute a substantial proportion of the resources of States, with a particularly negative impact on developing countries. This can undermine citizens’ trust, have a negative impact on governance and the enjoyment of all human rights by all persons affected by corruption, including the victims of corruption, and facilitate various forms of crime.

In accordance with the relevant framework, NAM has reiterated its commitment to step up efforts to promote and effectively implement anti-corruption obligations and robust commitments under the international anti-corruption architecture and further work towards finding synergies and common solutions.

Photo Credit : https://www.flickr.com/photos/unisvienna/49238389557