More than 520 voices: Civil society sounds a global alarm and calls for a profound reform of the United Nations’ anti-corruption mechanism

On the occasion of COSP11 (the 11th session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption – UNCAC), held from 15 to 19 December 2025 in Doha, Qatar, more than 520 civil society organizations, anti-corruption experts, academics and non-governmental actors published an open letter addressed to the representatives of the States Parties to the Convention. Their objective is clear: to strengthen and reform the UNCAC Implementation Review Mechanism (IRM) so that it becomes more effective, transparent, timely, properly monitored and genuinely inclusive of civil society organizations.

It should be recalled that the World Organization for Security, Anti-Corruption and Criminality (OMSAC) had already announced this civil society mobilization in its report of 29 November 2025, available here:OMSAC – COSP11 Doha 2025

Why is this strengthening being demanded?

🔹 1. Increased transparency of the review mechanism (IRM)

The signatories believe that the Implementation Review Mechanism (IRM) — the process that assesses how States Parties implement the Convention — currently lacks transparency. They notably call for:

• the public disclosure of country review schedules;

• full public access to all review-related documents (reports, submissions, findings and recommendations);

• clear rules and procedures explaining how stakeholders can intervene or provide input.

  
  

Such a level of transparency would allow citizens, journalists, researchers and NGOs to better understand and make use of the review outcomes.

🔹 2. Effective participation of civil society

A central point of the open letter is that civil society must play a more meaningful role throughout the review process. At present:

• the direct participation of non-governmental organizations in national reviews remains limited;

• existing mechanisms do not always allow civil society to intervene or be fully involved in the drafting, monitoring or evaluation of national measures.

  
  

The organizations call for their voices to be formally recognized and systematically integrated at every stage of the process, particularly before evaluations and during the implementation of recommendations.

🔹 3. Speeding up the process and strengthening follow-up

The signatories emphasize that the IRM often operates too slowly and lacks clear follow-up after review conclusions are issued. Specifically:

• reviews frequently take too long to be completed and made public;

• there is no robust mechanism ensuring that recommendations are actually implemented at the national level;

• follow-up on actions taken by States after reviews remains insufficient.

  
  

Civil society calls for a system in which States not only undergo the review process, but also publicly account for the actions taken and progress achieved.

What the open letter calls for

Among the key principles proposed to strengthen the IRM, organizations call for:

• Full transparency – Proactive publication of all review documents and stakeholder engagement modalities;

• Inclusion of civil society – Formal consultation and opportunities for NGOs and experts to intervene in the assessment of national progress;

• Structured follow-up – Mechanisms ensuring that review recommendations lead to concrete and observable actions at the State level.

  
  

Who are the signatories?

The open letter is endorsed by a broad range of stakeholders, including:

• international and regional anti-corruption organizations;

• academic experts and governance specialists;

• journalists’, legal and criminology organizations;

• civil society organizations operating at national and local levels in more than 125 countries.

  
  

These actors represent a wide spectrum of expertise and experience, and their involvement highlights the importance of citizen participation in global accountability processes.

Why this debate is strategic

The UNCAC Implementation Review Mechanism is the primary peer-review platform for assessing States’ efforts to implement the Convention, which covers in particular:

• prevention of corruption within public institutions;

• criminalization and prosecution of corruption offences;

• international cooperation and asset recovery;

• transparency and public accountability measures.

  
  

Strengthening this mechanism could therefore drive concrete reforms at the national level, promote transparent public policies and enhance public trust in institutions — all of which are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In summary

Civil society is calling on UNCAC States Parties to make COSP11 a decisive moment for modernizing and strengthening the review mechanism, so that it becomes more transparent, participatory and effective, capable of delivering tangible results in the global fight against corruption.

What is the IRM?

The Implementation Review Mechanism (IRM) is the official UNCAC mechanism that allows States Parties to assess, through a system of mutual peer review, the implementation of the Convention’s provisions, identify gaps and formulate recommendations aimed at strengthening anti-corruption efforts.

Press & Media Department

Doha – QatarTony Betenberg