A four member delegation led by Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption Commission is attending the 7th session of the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) at Vienna International Centre, Vienna, Austria from 6 to 10 November 2017. The delegation consists of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Mission of Bhutan, Geneva, and ACC.
This is the first time Bhutan is participating since the ratification of the Convention by the Royal Government in September 2016. In her Statement, highlighting on the strong political will that Bhutan enjoys in deepening the democratic principles and strengthening anti-corruption measures, the Chairperson emphasized that small country like Bhutan cannot effort to let corruption eat away her limited resources meant for development and societal progress. The Chairperson also informed on the status of first review cycle of UNCAC and peer review of Thailand. More than 1600 participants representing 154 member States, Parliaments, inter-Governmental Organizations, Civil Society, the Private Sector and the Media is attending the Conference.
COSP is the main policymaking body of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. The conference was established to support States Parties and Signatories in their implementation of the Convention and gives policy guidance to United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to develop and implement anti-corruption activities and enhance cooperation among States Parties. The conference meets every second year and adopts resolutions for interventions. Immediately after the ratification of the Convention, the States become part of the Conference, while signatories, non-signatories, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations can apply for observer status at its sessions.