Opening Ceremony of the Training of Civil Society Organisations on the Review Mechanism of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC)

JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, March 19, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Media invitation

DATE: Tuesday, 20 march 2012

VENUE: Birchwood Executive Hotel & Conference Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa

TIME: 09h00 – 11h00

The United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) is the legally binding international anti-corruption instrument. Adopted by the UN General Assembly in October 2003, it is the first global framework to harmonise anti-corruption efforts worldwide. The convention entered into force in December 2005 and currently has 148 State Parties (including South Africa). This convention is unique not only in its worldwide coverage but also in the extensiveness and detail of its provisions. It is widely recognised as the most promising initiative to curb the scourge of corruption.

In November 2009, the 3rd UNCAC Conference of States Parties adopted a review mechanism for the UN Convention against Corruption. The review of implementation of the Convention is a crucial process as it helps States parties to identify challenges and good practices. The resolution adopting the review mechanism encouraged governments to include civil society and private sector inputs to their self-assessments and left it optional for governments to decide whether to allow a country visit and whether to involve civil society and the private sector to make inputs during the country visits

In order to enable civil society organizations to contribute to the implementation of the Convention and to the review process, UNODC, in partnership with the UNCAC Coalition and with the support of the Austrian Development Agency, is organizing a training workshop from 20 to 23 March 2012 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

During the four-day event, participants will learn about the key provisions of the Convention, be familiarized with the review, including the various tools and steps of the review process.

Participants will also be taught how to contribute to country reviews undertaken by States Parties to the Convention and how to respond if invited by their Governments to participate in the preparation of self-assessment checklists and direct dialogue.

Members of the media are cordially invited to attend the Opening Ceremony starting at 9am, which will be addressed by Representatives from UNODC, the UNCAC Coalition and Donor Agencies. The speakers will be available for individual interviews after the formal proceedings and before the closed training begins.