The Seventh Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC/COSP7) starts today in Vienna. K-Monitor has applied for an observer role, however a state vetoed our participation.

Although it is primarily a gathering of state representatives, NGOs can attend the plenary as observers, give statements and organize side events. It is a great opportunity to see who is doing what against corruption and how the implementation UNCAC can be enforced more effectively. K-Monitor as a leading Hungarian anti-corruption group, that has been working as a local research country correspondent for the European Commission’s Anti-corruption Report and was actively engaged in the country’s OGP procedure applied to participate as an observer. The recovery of assets and cooperation of NGOs and governments were the main topics we were interested in.

We were surprised when organizers informed us in October that a State Party has raised an objection to our participation.

This is an unusual step, especially since Article 13 of UNCAC provides for participation of non-governmental organisations in anti-corruption efforts. According to our information no other NGO application was blocked at COSP7. Therefore K-Monitor has requested information on this case from the relevant office of the Hungarian Ministry of Interior. According to their mail, “after coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Representation in Vienna and the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office, no objection was made [by the MoI] until the given deadline” and they have no further information on this issue. Strange answer, isnt it? So was it someone else on behalf of the government, or was it submitted after the deadline? After further inquiry other sources informed us that it was our government who did not want us to be at the event.

Whoever has objected our participation, this is not only an unfriendly gesture but also the violation of Article 13 of UNCAC.

K-Monitor requested a decision of the plenary on this issue based on the rules of procedure.