December 15, 2025 | 05:28 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, emphasized that corruption is not an abstract crime and that it does have victims. In her speech at the opening of the 11th Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (CoSP UNCAC), Annalena stated that corruption has tangible and measurable impacts on human life.
Annalena says that corrupt practices in the construction sector can result in the construction of unsafe buildings that eventually collapse and cause deaths. In the economic sector, rampant corporate bribery leads to wealth concentration among a few, while the economy grows unevenly and loses public trust. "When corruption infects the judiciary system, cases are mishandled, justice is delayed or even denied, and the victims are silenced," said Annalena at the opening of the CoSP11 in Doha, Qatar, on Monday, December 15, 2025.
Annalena emphasized that the prevention and eradication of corruption are the joint responsibility of the member states. She reminded us that the international community did not begin with nothing. Member states, she said, have committed through UNCAC, the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2021, and various recent agreements such as the "Pact for the Future and Declaration on Future Generations."
Annalena concluded that the approach to combating corruption must continually evolve alongside the rapidly changing world. According to her, technological advancements enable financial corruption to easily cross national borders and help criminal networks evade detection. Therefore, she called for the implementation of more adaptive regulatory frameworks and technological safeguards.
The 11th CoSP session, Annalena said, is a moment to strengthen the collective commitment to prevent corruption, while also reinforcing institutions, governance, and public trust. She referred to the session's theme, "Shaping Tomorrow's Integrity," as a call to action. This call to action starts with strengthening oversight and protecting whistleblowers and continues with utilizing technology for transparency rather than exploitation.
In the same forum, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered a video message to the participants. He stated that corruption is not a victimless crime as it triggers conflict, deepens inequality, and depletes resources that should be used to protect humanity and the environment. "Every dollar lost due to economic crime is a dollar stolen from those struggling for a better future," said Antonio.
He also emphasized the role of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, that have the potential to accelerate corrupt practices as well as aid in their detection and prevention. However, he emphasized the need for regulation and accountability, as well as cooperation between the government, the private sector, and civil society.
Antonio referred to the United Nations Convention against Corruption as the main framework for global cooperation. Review mechanisms within the convention, he said, have helped many countries identify gaps and drive reforms. Therefore, agreements on the next stage of these mechanisms are deemed crucial to ensure continued progress in combating corruption.
In closing his message, Antnio reminded that greed that overpowers need is detrimental to all. He urged member states to reaffirm their commitment to fighting impunity, restoring public trust, and building a future that upholds integrity.
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