From 19 to 23 May 2025, the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) participated in the 34th session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), held in Vienna, Austria. This session centered on the theme: “Addressing new, emerging and evolving forms of crime, including crimes that affect the environment, smuggling of commercial goods, and trafficking in cultural property and other crimes targeting cultural heritage.”
The CCPCJ, along with the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), convenes annually for regular sessions and intersessional meetings to deliberate on key issues related to crime prevention and criminal justice.
Intervention of IACA Dean During General Statements
During the session, Professor Slagjana Taseva, Dean and Executive Secretary of IACA, delivered a statement highlighting the Academy’s contributions to international cooperation in combating corruption and related crimes. Professor Taseva emphasized that “corruption undermines the effectiveness and efficiency of national institutions” and underscored the importance of “developing and implementing science- and evidence-based anti-corruption strategies, as well as educational and training programmes, to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
Professor Taseva presented IACA’s recent activities, including its Global Programme on Measuring Corruption, and ongoing research projects focusing on corruption typologies in the business sector, humanitarian aid, and sport. She also referred to the Academy’s Master's programmes and plans to launch a Ph.D. programme.
The Dean concluded by expressing IACA’s readiness to enhance its collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on anti-corruption initiatives and voiced hope that the CCPCJ will continue to support the Academy’s diverse activities.
IACA Side Event on “Integrity and Anti-Corruption in Sport : Modern Challenges and Good Practices”
On the sidelines of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) organized a side event titled “Integrity and Anti-Corruption in Sport: Modern Challenges and Good Practices,” moderated by Prof. Slagjana Taseva. The panel featured three experts - Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Alkaabi from IACA, Mr. Francisco Portugal from INTERPOL’s Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Centre (IFCACC), and Mr. Alban Zohn from the CSCF Sport Integrity Group.
The event addressed a range of pressing issues, including the different forms of corruption that impact the sport sector, the risks these pose to its integrity, and practical measures for combating them. Emphasis was placed on the critical role of international cooperation in dismantling corruption networks, supported by concrete examples of successful cross-border initiatives. The discussion also brought attention to the rapidly evolving landscape of e-sports, highlighting growing vulnerabilities due to a lack of awareness and limited communication between game publishers and public authorities.
The panel concluded by emphasizing the vital role of sport in bridging divides across national, ethnic, and religious lines, and underscored the importance of protecting it from criminal activities to preserve its unifying potential.
