NAM welcomes the Follow-up of the Marrakech Declaration on the prevention of corruption

The Non-Aligned Movement and its Member States in the course of time have adopted and incorporated several steps that lives to its commitments of eradicating the evils of corruption holding potential to disrupt progress and innovation, especially for the developing nations that forms the major part of the Non-Aligned World. Out of the pool of initiatives undertaken by the Member States of the Non-Aligned Movement, welcoming the “Follow-up to the Marrakech Declaration on the prevention of corruption” is one big step in the direction of solidifying its commitment towards eradicating the evils of corruption from the socio-cultural, political and economic arena of the countries worldwide.

Majority of NAM Member States are the 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.

The Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption in its resolution 7/6, entitled “Follow-up to the Marrakech Declaration on the prevention of corruption” states that the Working Group acting as one of the subsidiary bodies established by the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption should continue with its stated work to advise and assist the Conference in the implementation of its mandate on the prevention of corruption. The Working Group has been stern in its efforts to combat corruption and in the mean time has earned the appreciation for facilitating ways for sharing information between States parties.

The United Nations Convention against Corruption in its resolution 7/6, has requested members to continue with their co-operative steps of sharing information and urged the Secretariat, subject to the availability of extrabudgetary resources, to continue its work as an international observatory, including by updating the thematic website of the Working Group with relevant information.

The Non-Aligned world also welcomed the resolutions of the Conference and underlined the importance of the conclusions and recommendations of the Working Group at its meetings held in Vienna from 22-24 August, 2016 and from 21-23 August, 2017.

The Conference on the basis of the article 63, paragraph 7, of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, and rule 2, paragraph 2, of the Rules of Procedure of the Conference of the States Parties decided that the Working Group should meet during the sessions of the Conference and, as appropriate, shall hold at least two intersessional meetings within existing resources. In its sessions the Conference reconfirmed this decision in resolution 4/3 entitled “Marrakech Declaration on the prevention of corruption” and resolution 5/4 entitled “Follow-up to the Marrakech Declaration on the prevention of corruption”.

The “Follow-up of the Marrakech Declaration on the prevention of corruption” respects the mandates of the Conference and its workings have been initiated and supported to avoid any duplication of discussion so that a varied range of topics pertaining to corruption in dealt in an efficient and elaborative manner.

NAM in lieu with its commitment towards the “Follow-up of the Marrakech Declaration on the prevention of corruption” has urged its Member States to adopt a collaborative framework on regional and international levels and to promote bilateral, regional and international activities to prevent corruption, including workshops for the exchange of relevant experiences and good practices. NAM has also appreciated the Declaration’s move of promoting integrated anti-corruption policies in broader crime prevention and criminal justice reform strategies, public sector reform plans and development programmes, strategies and action plans.

The Declaration’s vision is in full integration with the ethics and principles of the Non-Aligned Movement and thus adopting the measures to its full actuality becomes a bit easier and convenient.

NAM also welcomes the Conference Declaration to encourage the member states to base their public service on the principles outlined in the Convention including, inter alia, efficiency, transparency and objective criteria in recruitment, the promotion of integrity, honesty and responsibility and adherence to codes of conduct for public officials.

The “Follow-up of the Marrakech Declaration on the prevention of corruption” is an active and efficient step that aligns well with the ethics of the Non-Aligned Movement.