On 1 May 2009, Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) from some of the world's leading companies took the unprecedented step of calling on Governments to implement the United Nations Convention against Corruption. In a letter to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the CEOs threw their support behind the world's only universal anti-corruption instrument, stating that it "holds the promise of curbing corruption and creates a level playing field for all participants in the global economy". They described the Convention as "an essential instrument in the fight against corruption", but underlined the need for the establishment of an implementation review mechanism at the next Conference of the States Parties, to be held in Doha in November 2009.

The Secretary-General asked Antonio Maria Costa, UNODC Executive Director, to transmit the CEOs’ letter to all the State Parties. "I deeply appreciate the leadership demonstrated by the corporate community in this critical matter," said the Secretary-General, in response to the letter by the CEOs. "The business advocacy for an effective review mechanism and the growing number of States adopting and implementing the Convention are evidence of a shared commitment to tackling corruption."

The CEOs’ letter, together with Secretary-Generals letter to Mr. Costa, was issued as an official document of the Conference of the States Parties and brought to the attention of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Review of Implementation, which is negotiating the terms of reference of the implementation review mechanism.

In his response to Secretary-General, Mr. Costa emphasized the rising number of commendable initiatives that demonstrate “the convergence of public and private efforts to tackle corruption”. The Global Forum VI on Fighting Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity, which will be held back-to-back with the upcoming Conference of the States Parties in Doha in November 2009, will offer an excellent occasion to further foster anti-corruption public-private partnerships. “I hope that the corporate community will seize this opportunity to engage more forcefully”, Mr. Costa concludes.

The Global Forum VI, to be held on 7 and 8 November under the banner “Strength in Unity: Working together against Corruption”, will consist of opening and closing plenary sessions and six roundtables, where public and private leaders of the world will forge new alliances. Multilateral and bilateral assistance providers will discuss with corporate leaders means and ways to reduce corruption in the country where they operate, recognizing that corruption is a threat to the investments of both. In an attempt to turn crises into opportunities, the Global Forum will chart strategies to revamp integrity and propriety in the current financial climate. Other topics on the agenda include education on ethical values; successful partnerships in defense procurement; effectiveness of e-procurement and public-private responses to corruption in vulnerable sectors.

The conclusions of the Global Forum VI will be brought to the attention of the Conference of the States Parties where, from 9 to 13 November, States that have signed or ratified the UN Convention against Corruption will take stock of global anti-corruption progress and devise solutions to strengthen their efforts.

The Global Forum VI, to be staged back-to-back with the largest political anti-corruption conference, is an excellent opportunity for public and private leaders to align strategies, priorities and actions, while featuring the private sector as an increasingly prominent ally in the global anti-corruption campaign.

The Government of Qatar, host of the Global Forum VI, will soon launch a website with the necessary substantive and logistical information.

For more information, please contact Maria Adomeit, Associate Expert in Crime Prevention, Corruption and Economic Crime Section or Giovanni Gallo, Crime Prevention Expert, Corruption and Economic Crime Section, Division for Treaty Affairs, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.