March 8-9 2023, Doha Qatar - This year, the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) is in its 20th year of journey. Much has progressed, but the challenge of effectively implementing the convention remains a question. Guided by the need to further engage parliament and parliamentarians in UNCAC and to explore possible areas where legislators and legislative institution can fully maximize their potential to strengthen the convention implementation effectively, the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) and UNITAR are organizing a Parliamentary Dialogue on UNCAC. The Dialogue aims to explore perspectives, practices, lesson-learned from parliament in several areas, including how parliamentarians can improve their oversight role and establish specific parliamentary measures to implement the convention's provisions effectively. 

The Dialogue will address the underlining issues of parliament and parliamentarians' engagement with UNCAC. In specific, it will explore the following:  

1. The current and potential future parliamentary initiatives and innovations that can support the effective implementation of UNCAC.  
2. The avenue(s) available for parliaments and parliamentarians to be fully engaged, informed, and aware of the UNCAC implementation gap at international and national levels.  
3. The lessons learned and experiences parliaments and parliamentarians have for effectively supporting the implementation of specific UNCAC provisions. 

UNCAC at 20: The Role of Parliament. 

It will highlight the urgency for parliament and parliamentarians to support the effective implementation of UNCAC. The topic also addresses ways to strengthen parliamentary roles and how parliament and parliamentarians are aware of the UNCAC review mechanisms and its findings. It is expected to facilitate more shared and good parliamentary practices, innovation, and lessons learned among the parliamentary community regarding their involvement in global governance.  

Parliament and People: addressing the emergencies.  

The Dialogue elaborates on the relationship between the parliament and parliamentarians and the people they represent. It explores various parliamentary initiatives to engage the public in the fight against corruption and protect their rights, especially during times of emergency. Parliamentarians will be invited to share their implementation progress and practices on engaging the public to report, prevent and fight corruption as guided by the UNCAC provisions on public reporting (10), participation of society (13), and protection of reporting persons (33).  

The above practices and how the parliament exercises its functions are critical to holding the government accountable. The last few years have illustrated how parliament has to adapt its functions, including pandemic oversight, in unprecedented situations. Participants are also invited to share good practices and discuss actions in ensuring that legislative oversight remains in place even during emergencies or future crises, especially concerning public finances (article 9 UNCAC).  

March 8-9, 2023

(UTC+3) 

09:00-10:00 Opening of the Dialogue

10:00-12:30 1st Dialogue: UNCAC at 20: The role of Parliament

Intermission

13:30-16:00 2nd Dialogue: Parliament and People: Ad