Between 16 and 20 May 2022, the 31st session of the United Nations Commission of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) takes place. CCPCJ is one of the two functional commissions of the ECOSOC and acts as the principal policymaking body of the United Nations in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice. IACA’s delegation to the CCPCJ is led by Mr. Thomas Stelzer, Dean and Executive Secretary of IACA.
Addressing the session, Mr. Stelzer said that “corruption undermines the rule of law and obstructs the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Corrupt systems impede access to justice. This is why, the full implementation of UNCAC and the achievement of the anti-corruption targets of Sustainable Development Goals are both essential to building an international order based on the rule of law.”
Stressing the role of IACA in global efforts to fight corruption, Dean Stelzer said that “through various IACA’s capacity-building activities, anti-corruption practitioners around the world are provided with necessary tools to strengthen anti-corruption efforts in their societies and their respective industries. Particular attention is paid by the Academy to assisting anti-corruption professionals in Least Developed Countries.”
Mr. Stelzer also referred to the 3rd edition of the International Anti-Corruption Summer School, which concluded last week. This joint IACA-UNODC activity organized for participants from Eastern Europe is meant to build ethical skills and mindsets in students and young individuals and to raise awareness among them of the values and principles of integrity, ethics, and anti-corruption. Previous editions were organized online in 2021 for students and young people from Least Developed Countries in Africa and Asia. A fourth edition is planned to be implemented this autumn in Asia.
The Dean of IACA also mentioned two global dedicated scholarship programmes, established by IACA, – to empower women in Least Developed Countries through anti-corruption education and training; and to assist foreign service officials, international organizations and NGO staff in Least Developed Countries in fighting corruption through education and training.
In the margins of this session of the CCPCJ, on 19 May 2022, 12:15 – 13:05 (Vienna time) IACA is going to organize a side-event on “Power of Pen: Investigative Journalism and Anti-Corruption.” This event aims to expand the understanding of modern, fair, and ethical journalism through the eyes of leading professionals. The side event can be joined here.