This week world leaders gather in New York at UN General Assembly Special Session against corruption. Among the Lithuanian delegates are also Žydrūnas BARTKUS, Director of the Special Investigation Service (STT), and Egidijus RADZEVIČIUS, Deputy Director of the STT, who participate in a virtual format. In addition, Lithuanian experience in launching its “Integrity Academy” to participants from the whole world will be shared by Rūta KAZILIŪNAITĖ, Deputy Director of the STT, at one of the side-events of UNGASS 2021.
The special session of the General Assembly on challenges and measures to prevent and combat corruption and strengthen international cooperation takes place from 2 to 4 June 2021 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, pursuant to General Assembly resolutions 73/191 and 74/276 as well as decision 74/568 entitled “Special session of the General Assembly against corruption”.
„The first-ever special session of the UN General Assembly against corruption sends a strong signal of an international community to combat corruption. I am also glad that close cooperation of Baltic anti-corruption agencies and their best practices in combatting corruption are of particular interest to audience from various regions of the world“, said Mr. Bartkus, Director of the STT.
The special session will provide an opportunity to galvanize the political will of governments and the international community as a whole in advancing the fight against corruption. Governments will be able to take stock of global efforts and commitments and identify solutions to common challenges in preventing and combating corruption. The special session will also contribute to driving forward the efforts of countries to fully and effectively implement the UN Convention against Corruption, including by, inter alia, sharing best practices and lessons learned.
More information about UNGASS 2021: www.ungass2021.org.
Starting on 1 June, around 40 events on the sidelines of UNGASS 2021 will be held online, covering such topics as corruption in the health sector, gender equality and anti-corruption efforts, stolen-asset recovery, whistle-blower protection, and the launch of the GlobE Network an initiative that promotes quick and efficient global cross-border cooperation to end corruption.
One of the side-events is a session organized by Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish anti-corruption authorities on public integrity and regional perspective.
"The UN special session is a unique opportunity to address the issue of corruption at the international level. With the growing public awareness of the damage, that corruption is doing to citizens and society, the need to ensure the transparency and integrity of public officials and state institutions is more important than ever. One of the possible solutions is such initiatives as the Lithuanian "Integrity Academy", said Ms. Kaziliūnaitė, STT Deputy Director.
In this side-event, the global perspective on enhancing integrity will be given by the UNODC Senior anti-corruption adviser Mr. Tim Steele. The three countries, coming from one region, will share three different activities, which address the enhancement of public integrity each in their own unique way. Latvia will share how the internal control system for public institutions works. Poland will share its extensive expertise in conducting e-learning courses for public officials. Lithuania will present the concept behind the Integrity Academy and the progress achieved since its launch in 2020.
Side event’s video in Youtube is available here.
For the list of side events and the agenda go to: ungass2021.unodc.org
