The fight against corruption in the Pacific region takes centre stage last week as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIFS) join forces to bring Pacific government anti-corruption focal persons together at the Pacific Pre-Conference of State Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
This Pacific Pre-Conference of State Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), being held at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat from 17-18 August 2023 in Suva, Fiji, aims to amplify efforts towards a united stance against corruption in the Pacific.
Vanuatu as a signatory of the UN Convention against Corruption was also part of that very important regional pre-conference.
Mr Albert Nalpini, the National Human Rights Coordinator, Emmanuel Blessing from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Lendry Young at the Public Prosecutor’s office were present for two days meeting.
When the world’s 189 UNCAC-signatory nations meet in December 2023 in Atlanta, US for the 20th year of the UNCAC, the international focus will be on uniting the world against corruption. The cornerstone of the Pacific's commitment to tackle corruption is the Teieniwa Vision.
Initiated in 2020 during the first Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Conference, hosted by Kiribati with the technical assistance of UNODC and PIFS, the Teieniwa Vision crystallizes Pacific unity against corruption.
The Pacific Pre-Conference of State Parties serves as a platform to reinforce the commitment to the Teieniwa Vision, promoting its operationalization. This meeting will facilitate dialogue on Teieniwa Vision implementation, providing updates on the Priority Implementation Matrix, assessing needs, and establishing the Teieniwa Vision Taskforce. Participants will also lay the groundwork for the upcoming Conference of the States Parties (COSP), including discussions on a draft Small Island Developing States (SIDS) resolution and identifying focal points for COSP special events.
The Pre-COSP meeting serves as a collaborative platform for strategic planning and coordination in the ongoing battle against corruption.