Nazaah Wins Chairmanship of International Working Group in UN Anti-Corruption Network

The Public Authority for Combating Corruption (Nazaha) was elected to lead Working Group 3 on Knowledge and Peer Learning within the global GLOBE Network of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), securing an overwhelming majority of 91 percent of the votes cast by representatives of member entities participating in the election.

In a press statement yesterday, Nazaha noted that this victory reflects growing international confidence in the role of the State of Kuwait and its capacity to make a substantive contribution to leading international anti-corruption cooperation efforts.

According to the statement, Anwar Al-Qadiri, Director of the International Cooperation Department at the Authority, emphasized that the election of Nazaha to this international responsibility represents an achievement for Kuwait and underscores the trust and respect it enjoys among international bodies concerned with combating corruption.

Al-Qadiri clarified that the significance of this achievement extends beyond assuming a leadership position within the network; it lies in the nature of the responsibilities the working group will undertake and its role in translating international knowledge and experiences into practical tools that relevant authorities can utilize to confront increasingly complex corruption crimes, particularly transnational offenses.

She pointed out that Nazaha views this responsibility as an opportunity to enhance Kuwait’s contribution to developing joint international efforts, noting that the Authority’s success in leading the working group will be measured by the practical initiatives and outcomes achieved that benefit network members, rather than merely by holding a leadership position.

For his part, Dary Al-Buwaybis, Observer for International Organizations and Conferences at Nazaha, explained that Working Group 3 plays a crucial role in developing guidelines and knowledge materials, as well as exchanging best practices among law enforcement agencies.

Al-Buwaybis added that the group’s tasks also include monitoring emerging challenges, risks, and patterns in corruption crimes, including those linked to modern technologies, virtual assets, and artificial intelligence, and proposing initiatives that contribute to enhancing the efficiency of agencies tasked with combating them.

He affirmed that under Nazaha’s leadership of the working group, efforts will be made to strengthen coordination among member entities and encourage the exchange of successful experiences, as well as to develop knowledge and training initiatives that support the capacities of competent authorities to detect corruption crimes, prosecute perpetrators, trace illicit proceeds, and recover assets.

Al-Buwaybis noted that this achievement gains particular importance given the expanding scope of the GLOBE Network, which comprises 256 anti-corruption entities from 137 countries and provides a platform for direct and secure communication among law enforcement authorities, thereby facilitating faster information exchange and enhancing cooperation in transnational cases.

He stated that Nazaha’s election crowns continuous efforts to strengthen Kuwait’s presence in international forums, highlighting the Authority’s active participation in the Seventh Meeting of the GLOBE Network General Assembly, held in Vienna, Austria, from August 25 to 28. During the meeting, Kuwait showcased its experience in international cooperation and combating transnational corruption crimes, its efforts to enhance beneficial ownership transparency, and its experience in receiving electronic complaints via the “Sahl” application.

The Authority noted in its statement that the Kuwaiti delegation held a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the assembly with representatives of anti-corruption agencies in several countries. These meetings focused on opportunities to enhance cooperation and exchange information and expertise, contributing to expanding the Authority’s international relations and highlighting Kuwait’s experience in this field.