The Eighth Session of the UNCAC Implementation Review Group (8th IRG)
Vienna, 19-23 June 2017
6th Briefing for NGOs, 22 June 2017
Image: Creative Commons, Flickr / theclyde
The Implementation Review Group (IRG) Briefing for NGOs each June is a pendant to the main IRG meeting that has a session in June each year. This June 2017 the IRG will be holding its 8th session together with the 6th session of the IRG Briefing for NGOs.
Implementation Review Group
The 8th session for the Implementation Review Group (IRG) for the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) will take place from 19-23 June 2017 at the UN Office in Vienna. The three main agenda items are a review of the implementation of the Convention, the performance of the review mechanism, and technical assistance to enhance countries’ implementation efforts.
Exclusion of NGO observers
The IRG sessions are open to UNCAC signatory states and intergovernmental organisations. So far civil society organisations have not been permitted to participate as observers, due to opposition from a small but influential group of countries. This is problematic because it is inconsistent with international human rights standards, with Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals and with transparency and participation standards in the Convention itself.
Instead of including civil society representatives in its meetings, since 2011the IRG holds a one-day Briefing for non-governmental organisations (NGOs). During these briefings, UNODC provides representatives of civil society organisations with information on the status of the review process and review discussions, and there is also an opportunity for those representatives to ask questions and make presentations on key issues to the government representatives who also attend the meeting.
6th IRG Briefing for NGOs, 22 June 2017
On 22 June 2017, the IRG will hold its 6th NGO Briefing.
- The agenda of the NGO Briefing can be found here
- The brochure for the NGO Briefing can be found here
Invitations are limited to NGOs that were registered for the Conference of States Parties session preceding the IRG session:
As part of the Briefing, the UNCAC Coalition is organising three thematic panel discussions on the following topics.
- Taking the review mechanism to the next level;
- New principles to guide asset management and return; and
- The effectiveness of global standards to fight money laundering.
Panellists will include representatives from civil society, governments and intergovernmental organisations.
Following the IRG meeting, presentations from the panellists will be uploaded to this page.
Written submissions by NGOs
NGOs are permitted to make written submissions to the IRG of up to 1500 words, but they may not contain evaluations of country implementation of UNCAC. This year, the following written submissions have been made by:
- UNCAC Coalition statement: Making UNCAC Work: Coalition Statement to the 8th Session of the UNCAC Implementation Review Group Meeting
- UNCAC Coalition statement: Recommendations to the International Expert Meeting on the management and disposal of stolen assets
- UNCAC Coalition statement: A Guide to Transparency and Participation in the UNCAC Review Mechanism
- Transparency International statement: Transparency and Participation in the International Meetings of Anti-Corruption Review Mechanisms
- Transparency International statement: Under the Shell: Ending Money Laundering in Europe
Oral statements
During the Briefing for NGOs, organisations are invited to make oral statements on key issues for the UNCAC.
- Manzoor Hasan, Chair, UNCAC Coalition
- Gillian Dell, Transparency International
Presentations
As part of the Briefing, there were three panel discussions on critical topics for the UNCAC and NGOs. Where available, presentations are also provided below. These panels include:
- Panel 1 – Realising potential: Taking the review mechanism to the next level
- Panel 2 – Effective, accountable and transparent asset return: The need for guiding principles
- Panel 3 – Are global standards effective in fighting money laundering?
- Laure Brillaud, Transparency International EU, Under the Shell: Ending Money Laundering in Europe
- Christine Clough, Global Financial Integrity, Corruption, Money Laundering and Transnational Crime
- Tanja Santucci, UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Findings from the First Cycle: UNCAC Country Reviews
See the full 2017 NGO Briefing Agenda here.