Ashraf Khodjaev
Corruption is a threat that undermines the foundations of all humanity, all societies, strikes at the economy, destroys the principles of the rule of law, and sharply reduces the public’s trust in the state’s policies, hindering the development of democratic institutions.
In other words, corruption is a factor that complicates the implementation of state laws and international norms in the field of human rights, which serve to ensure the rights and freedoms of individuals. The scale of corruption negatively impacts economic progress not only in developing countries but also in developed ones.
Uzbekistan and Qatar stand out for their anti-corruption policies aimed at creating an effective system for combating corruption by eliminating the causes and conditions that contribute to corrupt actions, as well as encouraging any initiatives aimed at creating societies free from corruption.
In this context, the international award of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of Qatar, for outstanding achievements in the fight against corruption is highly regarded. This award aims to promote the principles of transparency and integrity, eradicate corruption, which poses a serious threat to the future of nations, their progress, and the well-being of their peoples.
The seventh awards ceremony for the winners of the international Amir Prize took place in Uzbekistan on December 19 of this year, with the participation of the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. This forum gathered more than 2,000 participants from over 30 countries around the world.
During the ceremonial event, the Leader of Uzbekistan emphasized that today Qatar is becoming a center of global cooperation and diplomacy, as evidenced by the successfully held high-level events such as the World Cup, the International Conference on Least Developed Countries, the World Exhibition “Expo Doha – 2023,” and numerous other international initiatives.
According to the results of the 2023 Global Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International, the State of Qatar received a score of 58 on this index, which allowed it to rank second in the Gulf and the Arab world. The country has enacted a law on unified economic accounting, which has led to increased transparency and financial accountability, and amendments have been made to the Criminal Code to expand the types of crimes in light of new forms of corruption.
In 2011, the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority was established in Qatar with the aim of ensuring control, transparency, and integrity in public positions, as well as combating corruption in all its forms. In other words, the State of Qatar is considered an effective country in the fight against corruption globally since its accession to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.
As noted by the President of Uzbekistan, the establishment of a global award in the field of combating corruption, which is one of the most pressing issues in a rapidly changing world, and the holding of the award ceremony on all continents deserves wide recognition.
At the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan is implementing systemic legal and institutional reforms in the fight against corruption, closely cooperating with the UN, OECD, and other authoritative international organizations. The Law on Counteracting Corruption has been adopted, and a corresponding Agency has been established, which is vested with special powers.
To enhance the effectiveness of the fight against corruption, on June 21, 2024, the President of Uzbekistan signed a decree “On Measures for the Implementation of a System of Continuous Knowledge Improvement for the Population and Public Servants in the Field of Counteracting Corruption.”
In recent years, the legal and institutional foundations for the prevention and counteraction of corruption in Uzbekistan have been improved. At the same time, there is a need to elevate the system of fostering an intolerant attitude towards corruption among the population and public servants to a new level, to instill in them a “vaccine of integrity,” as well as to enhance knowledge and skills in the field of combating corruption in accordance with the demands of the time.
The document will implement a system for the continuous enhancement of knowledge among the population and public officials in the field of combating corruption. To this end, it has been established that an electronic platform called the “Virtual Academy for Combating Corruption” will be introduced starting from January 1, 2025.
In order to strengthen efforts in the fight against corruption, the Head of Uzbekistan has proposed the initiative to develop and implement a National Strategy for Combating Corruption until 2030, the establishment of a Regional Research Center on Corruption Issues for the exchange of experience and enhancement of dialogue, and the conduct of scientific research with the active involvement of non-governmental non-profit organizations. At the same time, Qatar is making tremendous efforts to combat corruption in accordance with the National Vision of the state for the period up to 2030.
Overall, the measures mentioned will undoubtedly contribute to ensuring the rule of law and combating corruption in accordance with international standards and the aspirations of both countries.
