Doha: The Eleventh Session of the Conference of the States Parties (COSP11) to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) concluded in Doha on Friday with a call to maximize the potential of AI systems to address corruption and economic crime.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the world's largest anti-corruption gathering adopted the "Doha Declaration 2025: strengthening international cooperation and technical assistance and seizing the opportunities provided by artificial intelligence systems in preventing and combating corruption." This declaration emphasizes the importance of using technology responsibly and enhancing international cooperation in the fight against corruption.
As corruption and financial crimes become increasingly sophisticated, law enforcement and justice systems need to adapt to these evolving threats. The 'Doha Declaration 2025' encourages States to leverage digital technologies, including AI, to strengthen cross-border cooperation in corruption cases and to improve the accuracy, efficiency, and objectivity of efforts to measure corruption risks.
The declaration also promotes the use of technologies developed by expert networks, such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities (GlobE Network), to facilitate the secure and rapid exchange of information. Timely information sharing is critical in corruption cases, where delays can undermine investigations and jeopardize outcomes.
John Brandolino, the Acting Executive Director of UNODC, stated that the new Doha Declaration, focusing on artificial intelligence, is an important recognition of this technology's impact and a meaningful step toward fully realizing its potential in preventing and combating corruption. The Conference also featured input from the UNODC YouthLED Integrity Advisory Board, which called for meaningful inclusion of young people in anti-corruption frameworks and strong follow-up action to the commitments made at the Conference.
Ayotunde Aboderin (Nigeria), Esma Gumberidze (Georgia), and Rachida El Rhdioui (Morocco) addressed the Conference, urging for opportunities for young people to lead and influence decisions. They emphasized the importance of including young voices in shaping outcomes.
The Conference adopted eleven resolutions on various topics, highlighting the complexity of challenges the world faces today. These resolutions focus on enhancing transparency in political funding, strengthening the integrity of children and young people through education, the role of corruption in facilitating other crimes, and the future of the United Nations Convention against Corruption peer-review mechanism, among others.
Additionally, twenty-one companies joined the newly launched Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (COSP) Private Sector Platform, co-led by UNODC and the UN Global Compact. This collaboration mechanism allows companies to contribute to the implementation of the Convention and strengthen private-public partnerships.
The Parties to the Convention also decided to hold the COSP12 in Uzbekistan. The UN Convention against Corruption is the only global, legally binding instrument against corruption, with 192 Parties committed to preventing and criminalizing corruption, promoting international cooperation, recovering stolen assets, and improving information exchange. Since 2010, the Implementation Review Mechanism has facilitated reforms in 146 countries.
UNODC supports countries in implementing global anti-corruption commitments, building accountable institutions, and reducing opportunities for corruption. The Conference of the States Parties (COSP) is the main decision-making body of the UN Convention against Corruption, convening every two years to support Parties in implementing the Convention and adopting policy decisions that shape global anti-corruption efforts. Chairman of Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) Abdulaziz Al-Ibrahim led the country's delegation to the gathering.