Nominations invited for anti-corruption awards

The Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Awards has opened nominations for this year’s edition, welcoming submissions from all around the world to nominate organisations, groups and individuals of any nationality, demonstrating a significant commitment and contribution towards the prevention and control of corruption.  Last year the Award received more than 150 nominations from 50 countries. Seven winners were selected across all four categories, recognising outstanding achievements including the impeachment of two national leaders in Central America and Europe. The winners shared a total of $1mn. The Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Awards were established in 2016 by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center (ROLACC) in support of the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and its anti-corruption mandates. This year’s nominations can now be submitted across four key categories: Lifetime/Outstanding Achievement, Academic Research and Education, Innovation, and Youth Creativity and Engagement. More information about the award and the nomination process can be had from www.aceaward.com.By highlighting exemplary models and promoting excellence and creativity in anti-corruption, the Award serves as a means to motivate industry thought-leaders. It acts as a platform to identify, recognise, honour and reward those who have shown vision, leadership, creativity, enthusiasm in, and commitment to tackling corruption, as well as the capacity to inspire others to replicate similar efforts. This year, the Award will once again help shine a light in the fight against corruption and applaud global achievements.The Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Awards were announced by HE Dr Ali Bin Fetais al-Marri, UNODC Regional Special Advocate for the Prevention of Corruption, at the 8th Annual Conference of International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities in Russia. The annual Awards were inaugurated at a ceremony at the Hofburg Palace, Vienna in 2016 and acknowledged outstanding contributions and strides towards the prevention of and the fight against corruption around the world. They were presented in support of the anti-corruption mandate of the UNODC, specifically, the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. Organisations, individuals and groups from Europe, Asia, Central America and Africa were recognised at the ceremony that coincided with International Anti-Corruption Day. The winners were presented their awards by the then United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.  To celebrate the inaugural Awards and International Anti-Corruption Day, a commissioned sculpture by Ahmed al-Bahrani, a contemporary Iraqi artist and sculptor, was also unveiled at the United Nations Office in Vienna.