The opening of the Eleventh Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (COSP11) in Doha is a reminder that corruption remains one of the most persistent and damaging global challenges of current times.
With more than 2,500 participants from 170 countries, COSP11 has the scale, legitimacy and urgency needed to move the global anti-corruption agenda forward. At the same time, the real test will not be the number of speeches delivered or resolutions adopted but whether this moment translates into measurable change.
Under the theme “Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity,” the conference rightly acknowledges that corruption today is no longer confined to traditional forms of bribery or abuse of office. As highlighted by speakers including UN Secretary-General António Guterres and COSP11 Chairman H E Hamad bin Nasser Al-Misnad, corruption now intersects with technology, cyberspace and transnational crime.
Al-Misnad stressed that countering corruption requires “high-level commitment, effective international cooperation, and a solidarity of efforts among all sectors,” grounded in respect for sovereignty, equality and non-intervention as enshrined in the Convention. Highlighting emerging challenges, he noted that technological advances, cyberspace and transboundary crimes were further complicating the fight against corruption.
The near-universal reach of the UN Convention against Corruption, now with 192 States Parties, is a major achievement. It signals broad consensus that corruption undermines development, fuels inequality and weakens trust in institutions.
Qatar’s hosting of COSP11, and its emphasis on integrity and good governance in line with its National Vision 2030, places the spotlight on practical outcomes. The negotiation of 11 draft resolutions, alongside discussions on issues such as political financing transparency, youth integrity and the role of artificial intelligence, suggests a willingness to confront both long-standing and emerging challenges.
Equally important is the recognition that anti-corruption efforts cannot remain the exclusive domain of governments.
Civil society, the private sector, academia and young people must be meaningfully involved, not merely consulted.
In a video message, UN Secretary-General António Guterres thanked Qatar for hosting and warned of the far-reaching impacts of corruption.
