The United Nations Global Compact and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) co-hosted the Private Sector Forum (PSF) on the margins of the tenth session of the Conference of the States Parties (CoSP10) to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). The event took place in Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, USA, from 11 to 12 December 2023, marking the 20th Anniversary of the UNCAC.
IGCN participated in this bi-annual event along with other UN Global Compact Local Networks (LN) who are involved in the Anti-Corruption Collective Action (ACCA) project. A dedicated LN Workshop was conducted before the main event, led by Cristina Ritter, Head of Anti-Corruption and Governance, Ana Aranha, Senior Manager of Anti-Corruption Collective Action, and Fabian Espejo, Coordinator of Anti-Corruption Collective Action, all representing the UN Global Compact. This workshop provided a platform for LNs to share best practices, discuss challenges, and present their ongoing initiatives within the ACCA project.
The first day of PSF featured several engaging panel discussions covering crucial topics such as sanctions and incentives, compliance, collective action, and broader issues related to corruption crimes. These discussions brought together experts and stakeholders from the business community, public sector, civil society, academia, and international organizations, fostering a collaborative environment aimed at strengthening business integrity.
Day 2 of the PSF commenced with a recap of Day 1 by the event host, followed by expert panels addressing investment strategies, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), global business integrity, and lessons learned from past corruption scandals in companies. Simultaneously, the UN Global Compact team held an internal meeting with Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the United Nations Global Compact, as well as representatives from Siemens as the project donor: Sabine Zindera (Vice-President Legal and Compliance) and Shawn Teixeira (Director Collective Action). During this meeting, Sanda Ojiambo highlighted the impactful work carried out by Local Networks in the context of the ACCA project, with Cristina and Ana discussing future plans and strategies for ensuring the project’s sustainability.
The PSF was brought to a conclusion with insightful closing remarks from Sanda Ojiambo, highlighting a comprehensive wrap-up of the two-day event. Her reflections encapsulated the essence of the discussions, emphasizing the collective commitment to combating corruption and promoting business integrity. In summary, the UN Global Compact Private Sector Forum proved to be a pivotal gathering, uniting diverse stakeholders in the pursuit of enhanced business integrity.
Call-to-Action from Business to Governments
Leading up to CoSP10, the UN Global Compact initiated a pivotal initiative by launching the Call-to-Action from Business to Governments. This groundbreaking endeavor garnered support from hundreds of signatories, including influential business leaders from around the world, with notable participation from Indonesia.
The Call-to-Action, presented by Sanda Ojiambo during day two of CoSP10, has been successfully approved as a resolution. This resolution will be adopted by governments globally in response to the collective requests made by the business community. Click here to find the final approved resolution.
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all the signatories for their unwavering commitment to urging action on critical matters related to corruption. Your participation and support have played a vital role in amplifying our collective voice. To view the full list of signatories and appreciate the global support, click here.
Let’s continue the collaboration and progress in the collective fight against corruption!
