31 October 2024, Vlasic, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) – At the end of August, business associations, government representatives and companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina engaged in a workshop aimed at preventing corruption by fostering business integrity in the country. The workshop was held under the leadership of the BiH Agency for Prevention of Corruption and Coordination of the Fight Against Corruption (APIK) and was supported by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The new BiH Anti-Corruption Strategy for 2024-2028 includes objectives to enhance business integrity as one of its key goals. This pilot workshop was a timely opportunity to bring together national, regional and international experts on business integrity to discuss good practices and promote cooperation between the public and private sectors on corruption prevention.
The strategy was one of several topics covered at the event, which gathered over 25 participants. Others included the implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and its provisions for the private sector, an analysis of existing anti-corruption laws and policies, collective action approaches and Principle Ten of the United Nations Global Compact.
Discussions during the workshop revolved around key measures to further strengthen business integrity, such as internal corruption prevention mechanisms, resources and capacities, educational opportunities for business integrity training for smaller companies and providing support to businesses and chambers of commerce.
Recommendations made during the event will inform the implementation of the BiH Anti-Corruption Strategy, which envisages action to strengthen public-private partnerships and foster a culture of integrity in the private sector. Going forward, relevant regional anti-corruption authorities and UNODC plan to organize a regional conference on corruption prevention in the private sector, including interlocutors from Western Balkans countries, to advance regional cooperation and encourage the exchange of good practices.
Preventing and countering corruption is a key objective of the UNODC Programme for South-Eastern Europe. UNODC supports the efforts of institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina to prevent corruption and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions.
This activity was supported through the project “Uniting Leaders for Business Integrity”, funded by the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
