Head of Integrity: Saudi Arabia's firm commitment to combating corruption and holding corrupt individuals accountable
His Excellency Mazen bin Ibrahim Al-Kahmous, President of the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha), affirmed from the United Nations headquarters in New York the unwavering commitment of the wise leadership – may God support them – to a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and to holding perpetrators accountable, regardless of their position. This came during the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s chairmanship of the Second Global Conference on Harnessing Data to Improve Corruption Measurement, jointly organized by Nazaha, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA).
Vision 2030: A radical transformation in the integrity system
These Saudi assurances come within the context of the major transformations the Kingdom has witnessed since the launch of Vision 2030, whereby the Saudi leadership has placed combating corruption as a fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable development and attracting investments. The Kingdom has adopted decisive policies that have strengthened the principles of transparency and accountability, not only through the criminal prosecution of corrupt individuals, but also through developing the legislative and procedural framework to close loopholes that could lead to corruption, making the Saudi experience a model to be emulated in the region.
International partnership to develop measurement standards
The conference, held from December 2nd to 4th, witnessed broad international participation, with over 100 countries and 22 international organizations represented, including the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This global gathering aimed to discuss precise and innovative mechanisms for measuring corruption rates. Al-Kahmous explained that accurate measurement of the phenomenon is the cornerstone for building effective policies based on evidence and reliable data, rather than relying on personal impressions.
From the Vienna Principles to New York: Saudi Leadership
This conference is an extension of the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to lead the international movement against corruption. In 2023, Vienna, Austria, hosted the first edition of the conference as part of the global “Integrity” initiative, which resulted in the “Vienna Principles for a Global Methodology for Measuring Corruption.” These principles established an international framework that takes into account the legal and political differences between countries and focuses on high-risk sectors such as government procurement, reflecting the Kingdom’s pivotal role in shaping the international integrity agenda.
The importance of data in promoting transparency
The conference included the launch of new indicators to measure the effectiveness of countries' efforts in combating corruption, and the introduction of interactive global dashboards. This step is of paramount importance on both the economic and political levels, as this data helps governments and international organizations identify and address areas of weakness, thereby contributing to increased trust between governments and their people, and supporting global economic development efforts by creating safe and transparent investment environments.
