Eleventh Session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption
15-19 December 2025 | Doha, Qatar
Statement by International IDEA
Excellencies, distinguished delegates,
International IDEA believes that combating corruption is essential to restore public trust in political institutions and processes, and thus to achieving resilient, inclusive democracies.
As an intergovernmental organization with a sole mandate to support democracy worldwide, International IDEA contributes to global anti-corruption efforts through our long-standing expertise in political finance – the area underpinned by Article 7.3 of the Convention. Our comparative data, analytical tools, and lessons from country-level technical assistance show a clear pattern: political finance transparency is indispensable for safeguarding the integrity of political decision-makers, managing conflicts of interest, enabling voters to make informed choices, and empowering civil society to play its essential watchdog role.
This session of the Conference marks a historic moment. For the first time, a resolution calling for strengthened political finance transparency has been formally tabled and discussed among States Parties to the UNCAC.
We commend the leadership of the co-sponsoring countries – Norway, Mongolia, and Ghana, all Member States of International IDEA, as well as Albania – for bringing this initiative forward. We strongly endorse this resolution and encourage all States Parties to support this effort as well.
The resolution would establish a much-needed global benchmark for countries seeking to reinforce their anti-corruption frameworks by improving the rules and institutions that govern money in politics. Key elements include:
- Independent oversight bodies equipped with clear mandates, sufficient authority, and adequate resources.
- Regular reporting and timely public disclosure of financial information by political parties, candidates, and related actors, including prompt online publication.
- Robust restrictions on high-risk funding sources and mandatory disclosure of the beneficial ownership of legal donors.
- Effective safeguards to prevent the misuse of public funds in election campaigns.
- Comprehensive measures to counter foreign interference, including the financing of online and social media campaigns.
- Strengthened international cooperation among oversight and regulatory authorities.
Adoption of this resolution would be an important step towards the objectives of transparency and accountability in politics, and in the global fight against corruption. We also urge the UNODC Secretariat to continue to prioritize political finance as a core component of corruption prevention under the Convention. International IDEA stands ready to support the Secretariat and all States Parties in implementing stronger political finance frameworks. Together, we can ensure that democracy is not for sale.
Thank you.
