Wednesday, May 20, 2009

CEOs call for greater adherence to UN anti-corruption Convention


In an unprecedented move, chief executives from some of the world’s leading companies have called on governments to more effectively and robustly implement the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

In a letter to UN 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 praised the Convention, describing it as “an essential instrument in the fight against corruption”, but they underlined the need for the establishment of an implementation review mechanism at the next Conference of States Parties to be held in Doha in November 2009.

“Especially now, in a period of deep financial and economic turmoil, an effective implementation review mechanism is essential. The economic crisis will inevitably place severe strains on worldwide competition, threatening an erosion of ethical standards that will be hard to reverse”, they warned.

See full Press Release.