African Anti-Corruption Day 2025 : “Promoting Human Dignity in the Fight Against Corruption”

The African Union adopted 11th July as the African Anti-Corruption Day to commemorate the adoption of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) or the Convention. To date, Forty-Eight (48) Member States of the African Union have ratified the Convention and have proceeded to put in place measures to tackle corruption such as criminalizing corruption through various legislation, establishing institutions as well as engaging in corruption prevention initiatives. 

To commemorate the adoption of the AUCPCC, the African Union declared 11th July as the African Anti-Corruption Day. For 2025, the day will be commemorated on the theme, “Promoting Human Dignity in the Fight Against Corruption”.

The Constitutive Act of the African Union and the African Charter on Human and People’s rights recognize respect for human dignity and the promotion of human and peoples’ rights as essential principles of governance and unity on the continent. Further, the objectives and principles of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption have embedded the respect for human rights, the rule of law, and transparency as fundamental elements of human dignity. Furthermore, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, enshrines the concept of human dignity as foundational to human rights and freedoms by affirming that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”
Given this reality, human dignity must be both the foundation and the goal of anti-corruption efforts. This requires that:

• Prevention measures prioritize inclusivity, social justice, and equitable access to public resources, ensuring that no group is left behind due to corruption.
• Investigations into corruption are conducted with fairness, integrity, and full respect for the rights of all persons involved—whether victims, witnesses, or suspects.
• Prosecutions are carried out impartially and under the rule of law, with safeguards against abuse of power, political persecution, or selective justice.
• Respecting human dignity also means protecting whistleblowers, empowering citizens to speak out against corruption without fear, and ensuring that justice serves both accountability and restoration.

As the African continent commemorates this year’s African Anti-Corruption Day under the theme “Promoting Human Dignity in the Fight Against Corruption,” it is an opportune moment to reaffirm that anti-corruption is not simply a legal or institutional process, it is a human-centered imperative that demands empathy, fairness, and respect for the rights and dignity of all.

The celebration of African Anti-Corruption Day 2025, under the theme “Promoting Human Dignity in the Fight Against Corruption,” aims to:

1. Reinforce the centrality of human dignity in anti-corruption strategies across the continent by promoting people-centered approaches in the prevention, investigations, and prosecution of corruption.
2. Raise awareness among citizens, especially vulnerable and marginalized groups, about their rights and the importance of demanding transparency, accountability, and dignity in public service delivery.
3. Encourage Member States to align their national anti-corruption frameworks with the provisions of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and other relevant human rights instruments.
4. Celebrate progress and share best practices in integrating human dignity in anti-corruption efforts through legal reforms, citizen engagement, institutional integrity, and social accountability mechanisms.
5. Provide a platform for engagement and solidarity among governments, civil society, anti-corruption agencies, development partners, faith-based organizations, academia, media, and the private sector in advancing dignity-based anti-corruption initiatives.
6. Encourage the protection of whistleblowers and victims of corruption and promote legal and psychosocial support mechanisms that uphold their dignity and safety.
7. To recognise the importance of Anti-Corruption Measures in promoting Human Dignity and Justice for Africans and People of African Descent.

Joining the conversation in the Webinar;

• Urging your country to ratify, implement and report on its compliance with the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption;
• Raising awareness on the negative impact of corruption in your community;
• Reporting cases of corruption within your respective Countries to the relevant Anti-Corruption Agencies;
• Promoting anti-corruption whistleblowers and publicizing stories of success in fighting corruption;
• Using the communication tools on publications and at events;
• Sending a message to your networks about the campaign;
• Tweeting about the day using the hashtag #AfricaAgainstCorruption and tagging @AUABC_; and
• Committing to an accountable and transparent lifestyle.

The African Anti-Corruption Day commemorations will be held virtually on 11th July 2025. All resources for the event shall be availed on the website and social media accounts of the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption. There shall be a continental webinar hosted by the AUABC. The webinar shall feature a keynote presentation and panel discussions on the Theme.

Key Messages
i. Corruption is a Violation of Human Dignity
ii. Anti-Corruption is a Human-Centered Effort
iii. The AUCPCC is a Call to Action
iv. Corruption Deepens Inequality and Injustice
v. Empowering Citizens is Key to Upholding Dignity
vi. Protecting Whistleblowers is Protecting Dignity
vii. The Fight Against Corruption is a Collective Responsibility
viii. Let Us Reaffirm Our Commitment to Upholding Human Dignity.

• African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption
• Governance Treaties
• Assembly Special Declaration on Illicit Financial Flows
• 2018 as the African Anti-Corruption Year
• Nouakchott Declaration on the African Anti-Corruption Year

• The draft Common African Position on Asset Recovery

https://zoom.us/j/95409867712?pwd=T4Fk9VYwMc52uOMVHSwEyIlrxMYGra.1

ID: 954 0986 7712
Passcode: AUABC2025

1. A shared understanding and recommendations among stakeholders on the importance of integrating human dignity into anti-corruption efforts and strategies.
2. A roadmap for promoting human dignity in the fight against corruption within the African Union framework.
3. Strengthened collaboration and coordination among stakeholders on anti-corruption and human rights issues.
4. Commission of a study on the nexus between Corruption and Human Rights in Africa.

English - Statement by the Chairperson
English - Key Note Address (CHRAJ)
English - African Women Anti-Corruption Network Statement
French - Statement by the Chairperson
Arabic - Statement by the Chairperson