The event that aims to build and foster partnerships through the creation of regional platforms for accelerating the implementation of UNCAC, leveraging capacities and knowledge to identify viable reform priorities and practices in support of Sustainable Development Goal 16, takes place in Cape Town, South Africa, within the scope of the Global Program Against Corruption, of the United Nations Regional Office on Drugs and Crime, the Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and following the actions arising from the Conference held in October 2019 in Livingstone, Zambia, of which Angola was a part.
Approaches around the exploration of thematic areas dominate the event, namely the Recovery of Assets and Goods, Protection of whistleblowers, as well as the strengthening of anti-corruption measures in public procurement, during which participants will address common challenges, good practices and advances made in these thematic areas since the creation of the regional platform.
During the opening ceremony, Francisco Queiroz, the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, who heads the Angolan delegation, said that Angola has made significant efforts in terms of legal diplomas concerning the Fight against Corruption and the Strengthening of Public Contracting Instruments and highlighted the results achieved in the fight against corruption, since this is the fundamental objective of the agenda of President João Lourenço.
The project is considered catalytic, and aims to identify gaps in existing initiatives to implement UNCAC in target regions, coordinate and complement ongoing work. An important element of the project is building partnerships and creating synergies with other programs and development partners.
Based on the needs analysis, four thematic areas were highlighted as regional priorities. Activities are intended to promote countries' efforts to implement UNCAC in priority areas.
According to Osvaldo Ngoloimwe, Head of the Department of Legal Affairs and Litigation of the SNCP, this is an important milestone that will allow for the broad exchange of experiences and knowledge sharing.
"We hope that from this great event we will be able to learn and gather experiences from other countries, in terms of comparative law, looking at issues related to the protection of whistleblowers, mechanisms for the screening of complaints and the existing regional platform. progress achieved, as well as evaluating the measures to be adopted in the fight against corruption and related crimes in Public Procurement", he said, in a statement to which VerAngola had access, adding that the country will share its experience and the progress made. in these matters.
