Doha, Qatar | 19 December 2025: A major milestone in global anti-corruption discourse was marked at the Eleventh Session of the Conference of the States Parties (COSP 11) with the official launch of the Routledge Handbook of Gender and Corruption (1st Edition) – a groundbreaking volume that redefines how corruption is understood through a gender-responsive lens.
The high-level launch session, held on 19 December in Doha, was jointly organized by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center (ROLACC) and the European Public Law Organization (EPLO), bringing together distinguished scholars, policymakers, and integrity leaders from across the world.
The Handbook offers the most comprehensive and authoritative global analysis to date on the complex relationship between gender and corruption. Moving beyond traditional, gender-neutral approaches, it highlights how corruption affects women differently, how gendered power structures shape corrupt practices, and how inclusive, gender-aware strategies are essential for effective anti-corruption reform.
A Panel of Internationally Recognized Experts
The launch featured an exceptional panel of contributors and thought leaders whose work has shaped global debates on integrity, governance, and justice:
- Ambassador Dr. Uglješa Zvekic, Assessment Advisory Board Member of the ACE Award and Head of the Permanent Observer Office of EPLO
- Professor Maria Kapardis, ACE Award Winner (2019, Academic Research & Education), Professor of Forensic Accounting, Cyprus University of Technology
- Professor Lisa A. Kihl, ACE Award Winner (2022, Safeguarding Sports from Corruption), Professor & Director, Global Institute for Responsible Sport Organizations, University of Minnesota
- Professor Sope Williams Elegbe, ACE Award Winner (2022, Academic Research & Education), Professor of Public Procurement Law, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
- Professor Sunčana Roksandić, ACE Award Winner (2023, Academic Research & Education), Associate Professor of Criminal Law, Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb
- Dr. Yasser Refaie, Director of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center
Speakers emphasized the Handbook’s role as both an academic cornerstone and a practical reference for policymakers, practitioners, civil society, and international organizations seeking to integrate gender perspectives into anti-corruption frameworks.
Advancing the Global Integrity Agenda
The launch at COSP 11 reinforced the growing recognition that sustainable anti-corruption efforts must address structural inequalities and empower women as key agents of change. The Routledge Handbook of Gender and Corruption sets a new benchmark for research and policy dialogue, offering comparative insights, interdisciplinary perspectives, and forward-looking solutions relevant across regions and sectors.
By convening leading global voices around this landmark publication, ROLACC and EPLO reaffirmed their commitment to advancing knowledge, fostering collaboration, and strengthening international efforts to combat corruption through inclusive and evidence-based approaches.
