1. Introduction
The African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) was adopted in Maputo, Mozambique on 11 July 2003 and came into force in 2006. To date, the Convention has been ratified by 44 Member States of the African Union. Since adoption of the Convention, African states have made significant strides in the fight against corruption including the enactment of national laws and the creation of anti-corruption agencies. In recognition of the vast progress that has been made and cognizant of the need to continually reflect on approaches to end corruption, the African Union designated 11 July as the African Anti-Corruption Day.
This year will mark the fourth edition of the African Anti-Corruption Day under the theme “Fighting Corruption through Effective and Efficient Judicial Systems.” The day shall serve as a basis for all anti-corruption stakeholders to reflect and dialogue on the role of national justice systems in promoting the anti-corruption agenda. The reflections will facilitate the identification and dissemination of the challenges, good practices that an effectiveness of the justice system brings in fighting corruption. An effective justice system is crucial in the fight against corruption hence the need to identify the challenges and constraints that exist in the anti-corruption chain while learning from the best practices in order to recommend effective ways for stronger collaboration.
Member States, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, the media and citizens across the continent and in the diaspora are called upon to join forces in commemorating the day. The day shall be celebrated under the auspices of the African Governance Architecture (AGA) with the technical support from the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption.
2. Objectives
The main goal of the African Anti-corruption day is to give prominence to the fight against corruption through the commemoration of the adoption of the AUCPCC as a mechanism for fighting corruption in Africa.
3. Expected outcomes
The 2020 anti-corruption day will provide a platform to highlight the actions taken to build a Common African position for the recovery of assets and also to promote dialogue and reflections on the role of national judicial systems in promoting the anti-corruption agenda on the African continent. The reflections will facilitate the identification and dissemination of the challenges, good practices that an effective justice system brings in fighting corruption.
4. Methodology
Due to the prevailing challenges presented by the COVID-19 Pandemic such as restrictions on physical large gathering of people as well as stay home orders, the 2020 Anti-Corruption Day will be celebrated virtually through a series of webinars. There will be a series of events in the first week of July as runner up to the Anti-Corruption Day. During its 3rd Annual Anti-Corruption Dialogue held in Kigali, Rwanda, the Board and representatives of National Anti-Corruption Authorities unanimously adopted the theme ‘Fighting Corruption through Effective and Efficient Judicial Systems” as an area which it shall focus its efforts on in 2020 including the African Anti-Corruption Day. However as an organ of the AU, the Board will also align the commemoration of the day to the 2020 African Union wide theme as well as the prevailing challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic by focusing on the demand for accountability and transparency in the utilization of resources earmarked for the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this regard, a series of panel discussions will be held via Zoom on the following topics;
Principal webinar
1) Fighting Corruption through an effective and efficient judicial system.
Other supporting webinars
2) Anti-corruption Reforms: A viable strategy to silencing the guns in Africa.
3) Transparency and Accountability in the management of resources in dealing with COVID-19 pandemic.
4) Enhancing the Role of the Youth in fighting Corruption.
5. Key Messages
i. An effective and efficient justice system is a catalyst to the achievement of Agenda 2063
ii. An accountable and transparent justice system is a key pillar of good governance
iii. I support strong collaboration between the justice system and anti-corruption actors as a means to eradicate corruption in my community
iv. An effective and efficient judicial system is crucial in the fight against corruption
v. Adequate resourcing of the judiciary is a critical enabler in the fight against corruption
6. How to participate
You can participate in the celebration of the African Anti-Corruption Day by:-
i. Joining the webinars on 10th and 11th July 2020
ii. Organizing creative activities in your community to mark 11 July while taking into account COVID-19 restrictions;
iii. Urging your country to ratify, implement and report on its compliance with the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption;
iv. Raising awareness on the negative impact of corruption in your community;
v. Reporting cases of corruption within your respective Countries to the relevant Anti-Corruption Agencies;
vi. Promoting anti-corruption champions and publicizing stories of success in fighting corruption;
vii. Using the communication tools on publications and at events;
viii. Sending a message to your networks about the campaign;
ix. Tweeting about the day using the hashtag #AfricaAgainstCorruption and tagging @AUABC_; and
x. Committing to an accountable and transparent lifestyle.
For more information or to share your ideas, please contact the Secretariat of the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption on AUABCRegistry@africa-union.org
