Damascus, Oct. 4 (SANA) Syria’s Central Authority for Control and Inspection convened a meeting Sunday in Damascus with a high-level delegation from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to review and update national anti-corruption draft legislation.
The discussions focused on harmonizing domestic legal frameworks with international governance and transparency benchmarks, specifically evaluating draft legislation regarding conflict of interest, illicit enrichment, and witness and whistleblower protection.
Ali al-Harah, head of the authority’s International Partnerships Department, stated to SANA that the joint workshop aimed to align national policies with the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and improve Syria’s standing on global integrity indicators.
Badr al-Banna, UNODC law enforcement and asset recovery coordinator, noted that the consultations support Syria’s efforts toward full accession and ratification of UNCAC, praising the Syrian government’s institutional commitment and openness during the legislative review process.
UNODC crime prevention expert Mohamed Abdel Haq Cherbal described the legislative initiatives as a positive step toward establishing a robust anti-corruption framework, highlighting ongoing work on laws guaranteeing the right to access information and institutional independence.
The meeting follows Syria’s participation, led by Central Authority Chairman Amer al-Ali, in the 11th session of the Conference of the States Parties to UNCAC (COSP11) held in Doha in December.
Kh.A / Mzn
