The opening ceremony of the 6th plenary meeting of the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities (GlobE Network) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime was held on Tuesday in Baku.
Kamran Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General, read out President Ilham Aliyev’s address to the event participants.
Addressing the event, Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan has emerged as an important international hub for hosting global initiatives in recent years. “Last year alone, Azerbaijan hosted the UN COP29 Climate Conference and the 29th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Prosecutors (IAP). We also successfully organized several key events, including a high-level session on law enforcement’s role in combating environmental crimes. As an active member of the GlobE Network, Azerbaijan places high value on this platform,” he said.
Prosecutor General Aliyev highlighted the critical role played by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in creating and developing the initiative.
In her remarks, Brigitte Strobel-Shaw, Chief of the Corruption and Economic Crimes Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), described cooperation as the strongest network in combatting corruption. She underscored the importance of this platform in establishing links between relevant authorities.
Mazin Bin Ibrahim Al-Kahmous, President of the Saudi Arabia Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, emphasized that combating cross-border corruption crimes can only be possible through joint and concerted efforts of law enforcement authorities fighting corruption around the world under the umbrella of the UN GlobE Network.
“Today we are discussing critical issues. In the coming days, we will reflect on the achievements of the GlobE Network. I must emphasize that the documents of the GlobE Network represent our shared commitment,” said Boni de Moraes Soares, Vice-Chair of the GlobE Network Steering Committee.
Nasser Abaalkail, Chair of the GlobE Network Steering Committee, underlined that if corruption knows no borders, this should further strengthen commitment to the principles of justice. “Since its inception in June 2021, the GlobE Network has brought together relevant authorities from all regions of the world,” he added.
Following the opening ceremony, the agenda of the plenary meeting was adopted.
More than 300 representatives from over 120 government agencies representing 92 countries, including 21 prosecutors’ offices, 53 independent anti-corruption agencies and 16 international organizations, are participating in the event in person, with more than 60 participants joining online. The event is also attended by nearly 50 senior officials representing law enforcement agencies from different countries.
The key objectives of the meeting are to discuss organizational issues, host thematic discussions, and enable the sharing of experiences on how the GlobE Network helped members to advance corruption cases, to offer operational tradecraft and knowledge sessions, and to provide an opportunity for the members of the GlobE Network, its observers and other participants to engage in formal and informal bilateral and multilateral meetings on operational and strategic issues.
The plenary session includes more than 100 speeches in panels, sessions and parallel events on the confiscation of funds obtained as a result of corruption, direct recovery of acquired assets, stopping suspicious transactions in financial transactions, international cooperation on the rapid freezing of bank accounts in criminal proceedings, raising public awareness in combatting corruption and other topics.
Additionally, a special session and side events on the fight against environmental violations will be held as part of the plenary meeting on the initiative of the Prosecutor’s Office of Azerbaijan within the framework of the Year of the Constitution and Sovereignty, as well Azerbaijan’s COP29 Presidency.
The meeting will also feature numerous bilateral meetings and the signing of memoranda of mutual cooperation.
The international event will last until May 23.