Anti-Corruption Starts with Education

“Fighting corruption is not only fighting bribery, as it also includes achieving peace and justice and sustainable development. Education is very important to fight corruption because success is achieved, when youth say no to corruption”,
-Dimitri Vlassis, Chief of the Corruption and Economic Crime Branch, United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC, Vienna), Secretary of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).

During the inaugural session of the International Anti-Corruption Masterclass Series (IACMA), organized by the Rule Of Law and Anti-Corruption Center (ROLACC) in cooperation with the University of Sussex, The UNCAC Implementation Review Mechanism: Process, progress, impact, prospects.

“We don’t care if a country is small or big and developed one; because all countries for us are like a chain, and when one of its links is weak, then it will affect other partners.”

Dr. Dimitris Ziouvas, Convenor of IACMA, Reader in Criminal Law and Compliance at the University of Sussex, discussed the mission of IACMA: empowering responsible leaders, education for justice and ethics, and rethinking public policy.

“The International Anti-Corruption Masterclass (IACMA) offers to professionals and the general public in Qatar and the Middle East region a unique opportunity to learn about compliance and corruption risk management; to understand the threats posed by corruption and to both join and lead the fight against corruption.

“IACMA is where theory meets practice for justice, sustainable development and towards QNV 2030”
Dr. Dimitris Ziouvas.

Director of Research and Studies at ROLACC, Dr. Reem Alansari, gave a brief about ROLACC’s mission: established under Emiri resolution No 94 of 2013; the Center works in cooperation with national, regional and international institutions to enhance the Rule of Law, Good Governance and to combat corruption. ROLACC is partnered with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Since its inception, ROLACC has worked towards strengthening of the Rule of Law and the fight against corruption, in accordance with international standards and considering national specificities: by building specialized knowledge, providing and facilitating education and training on legal and technical frameworks to combat corruption for specialists and practitioners across sectors at national, regional and international level. Assisting concerned Arab States in creating international cooperation requests to facilitate the recovery of stolen assets. In addition, organizing the Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award, in support of the mandate of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Moreover, overseeing the Master of Laws (LLM) Program in Corruption, Law, and Governance, in cooperation with Sussex University. Finally, offering insight into these issues with a particular focus on the problems being encountered in the Arabian Gulf region.