Transparency International and the UNCAC Coalition strongly condemn the move by Azerbaijan and Turkey to exclude five civil society organizations from participating in the 10th session of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) Conference of the States Parties (CoSP). The conference, starting today in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, runs until 15 December 2023. The UNCAC recognizes that civil society plays a key role in preventing and combating corruption. Still, this role can only be realized if they have the freedom to operate safely, independently and free from undue restrictions, including in international fora. Transparency International and the UNCAC Coalition call for objections to be overturned, highlighting that the arbitrary process used to exclude civil society organizations from the UNCAC CoSP is inconsistent with the Convention and with UN values and standards. Further, we call on State Parties to reform the objection procedures for future CoSPs to prevent its abuse and ensure a timely decision that safeguards civil society participation.
