In Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from August 6 to 7, 2024, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) collaborated with Mongolia’s Independent Authority Against Corruption (IAAC) to enhance anti-corruption efforts through partnerships involving government entities, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the media. The workshop, titled “Strengthening the Key Role of Civil Society and Media to Call Out and Prevent Corruption,” aimed to amplify the involvement of civil society and media in combating corruption, highlighting their critical roles in detection and prevention.
Z. Bagannyam, Chairman of the IAAC’s Anti-Corruption Department, emphasized the workshop’s purpose of developing actionable strategies to build on insights from a prior event held in March 2024. Ms. Megumi Hara, a UNODC Crime Prevention Officer, noted Mongolia’s significant reforms aimed at bolstering anti-corruption measures and the importance of engaging civil society and media in these initiatives.
Several key actions were identified to enhance the roles of CSOs and media, guided by the recently adopted National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS). These actions included:
-
Drafting Whistleblower Legislation: Encouraging private sector advocacy to promote legislation that safeguards whistleblowers, enhancing transparency in the private sector.
-
Establishing a CSO Anti-Corruption Network: Drawing inspiration from successful networks in Southeast Asia, participants advocated for creating a Mongolian network of anti-corruption CSOs to facilitate input into the IAAC and ensure broader public engagement in anti-corruption policies.
-
Promoting Anti-Corruption Education: Prioritizing educational initiatives targeting youth and schools was also identified, aligning these programs with international best practices. The importance of involving parents and caregivers to foster a culture of integrity was emphasized.
-
Ensuring Information Transparency: Advocacy for accountability regarding information officers who fail to provide public information was stressed. Additionally, participants acknowledged the necessity for information analysts to ensure high-quality data and clear guidance for the public on making information requests.
The workshop represented a significant step within UNODC’s integrity initiatives, funded by the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). Overall, the event underscored a collective commitment to tackling corruption in Mongolia through enhanced cooperation among various societal sectors, with a focus on transparency, youth engagement, and legislative improvements.
For further details, one can explore UNODC’s broader anti-corruption efforts in Southeast Asia and access NCAC review documents for Mongolia.
