International Cooperation

BAK represented at UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) Implementation Review Group

UNCAC country reviews are to enter into their next phase, but how? This topic was once again discussed at the 16th meeting of the UNCAC Implementation Review Group (IRG) at Vienna International Centre (VIC) from 17 to 21 February 2025. The Federal Bureau of Anti-Corruption (BAK) was represented by a three-person delegation.

For the 16th time, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) invited the UNCAC States Parties to a meeting of the Implementation Review Group. The focus was on the organisation of future country reviews. One of the key points was how the impact of anti-corruption laws should be measured.

The Austrian representation assured the UNCAC Secretariat of their full support in the negotiation process. In addition, the partnership with the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) in Laxenburg was emphasised and reference was made to IACA Summer School.

UNCAC country review
Implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) is evaluated through peer reviews, the results of which are summarised in reports, followed by recommendations. Austria has been undergoing the second review cycle since June 2019, which evaluates Chapters II (Prevention) and V (Asset Recovery). Following a self-assessment questionnaire at the end of 2019, Germany and Vietnam conducted a desk review. The results of the country review of Austria are expected in a final report.