11th session of the Conference of the States Parties (CoSP11) to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC)

From 14 to 19 December, Emma Grigoryan, representing Armavir Development Center NGO, participated in the 11th session of the Conference of the States Parties (CoSP11) to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), held in Doha, Qatar. This participation was made possible with the financial support of the European Union, in particular the “Resilient, Open and Accountable Democracies for the Eastern Partnership (Road4EaP)” Action, co-funded by the OGP and the EU.

ADC’s engagement began on 14 December, during the Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Preparatory Day, which brought together civil society representatives from different regions to coordinate positions, exchange experiences, and identify key advocacy priorities ahead of the official Conference sessions. The preparatory day provided an important space for CSOs to reflect on common challenges related to a number of topics, including civic space, access to information, and meaningful participation in anti-corruption processes.

During the official sessions of CoSP11 (15–19 December), ADC actively followed the plenary and various panel discussions focused on prevention, transparency, international cooperation, and the role of non-state actors in strengthening anti-corruption systems. These discussions highlighted the growing recognition that sustainable anti-corruption reforms depend on inclusive governance models and long-term collaboration between states and civil society.

As part of the Conference of States Parties, Emma Grigoryan delivered a statement on behalf of Armavir Development Center and civil society in general, emphasizing the importance of institutionalizing public participation within anti-corruption frameworks.

In its intervention, Emma Grigoryan underlined that experience from different national contexts, including Armenia, demonstrates that anti-corruption reforms are stronger when civil society engagement is not occasional, but embedded in formal platforms, clear procedures, and predictable timelines. The statement highlighted the relevance of this approach for the UNCAC Review Mechanism, stressing that meaningful civil society involvement throughout the entire review cycle – from self-assessment to follow-up – contributes to more credible, accurate, and forward-looking outcomes.

Drawing on examples from local governance, such as participatory budgeting and public monitoring of procurement, as well as the Multistakeholder mechanism within the Open Government Partnership Initiative, Emma emphasized that when participation is linked to real decision-making and supported by clear rules, it strengthens accountability and public trust.

The statement concluded by reaffirming civil society’s readiness to cooperate with States Parties, bringing practical experience, community-level insights, and long-term commitment to integrity, in order to make the UNCAC Review Mechanism a living tool for learning and improvement.

ADC’s participation in CoSP11 reinforced its commitment to promoting inclusive governance, transparency, and civic participation at both local and national levels and supporting approaches that place cooperation, participation, and accountability at the center of effective anti-corruption systems.