IntroductionAddressing corruption in post-conflict and transition contexts is one of the major priorities for development actors. One in four people in the world are affected by conflict. Corruption is identified as a major factor in derailing political and economic transitions, undermining state capacity and legitimacy, exacerbating poverty and fueling grievances linked to conflict. Often in such contexts, the immediate focus on peace building and state-building comes at the expense of promoting integrity, transparency and accountability in the governance process. Lack of emphasis on transparency and accountability in state-building processes could create opportunities for corruption and limit gains possible from peace. |
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IntroductionCorruption is not gender neutral; it has different impacts on both women and men. Considering that women often face social, cultural, political and institutional discrimination, they encounter even more repression and social exclusion in a corruption-ridden society. Therefore, anti-corruption measures need to be gender responsive to facilitate gender equality and women’s empowerment. Recent studies have showed that empowered women, who have an opportunity for participation in decision-making, are powerful actors that can contribute to the fight against corruption. |
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The United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC or the Convention) was adopted by the UN General Assembly resolution 58/4 of 31 October 2003 and entered into force on 14 December 2005. It is the first global agreement on measures against corruption, which legally binds States Parties, on an equal footing to implement the convention.
UNCAC is a global standard for fighting corruption and corruption risk mitigation. It encompasses a comprehensive collection of measures and approaches to prevent and combat corruption. The almost universal adoption of UNCAC by State Parties has confirmed not only that corruption is a globally recognised problem across developed as well as developing countries, but also that Member States are placing anti-corruption firmly on their agendas. UNCAC substantive content is clustered in six main chapters including: prevention, criminalization, law enforcement, international cooperation, asset recovery and technical assistance.
The Mechanism for the Review of Implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption was adopted at the third session of the Conference of State Parties (CoSP) to the UNCAC, held in Doha from 9-13 November 2009, as a body or mechanism to assist the State Parties in the effective implementation of the convention.