Bangkok--28 Jan--UNISBKK United Nations Anti-corruption Conference will be held on 28 January to 1 February 2008 in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia. The Conference will be opened by Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia. The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) was adopted in October 2003 and came into force on 14 December 2005. So far 140 States have signed it and 170 have ratified it to become full-fledged States Parties. The anti-corruption Convention requires States to: prevent corruption(by establishing anti-corruption bodies, enhance transparency in the financing of election campaigns and political parties, strengthen integrity in the public service, transparency and accountability in public finance, public procurement and the judiciary); make corruption a criminal offence— not only bribery and the embezzlement of public funds, but also trading in influence and the concealment and laundering of the proceeds of corruption. The Convention also covers private sector corruption; cooperate to fight corruption. Countries are bound by the Convention to render specific forms of mutual legal assistance, facilitate extradition, and support the tracing, freezing, seizure andconfiscation of the proceeds of corruption; return stolen assets. Asset recovery is a fundamental principle of the Convention. The Convention contains innovative measures that oblige countries to return stolen assets to their rightful owners. Bank secrecy laws should no longer be an impediment to justice. Mutual legal assistance can cut through red tape to collect the evidence needed to catch the guilty and recover stolen assets. Media are also encouraged to take advantage of the side events which will be conducted during the Conference. This includes a special programme Artists for Integrity which will take place on the 28 January. This involves a number of well-known public figures who will take part in a public forum on corruption and what can be done to fight it, including; actress Famke Janssen (Goldeneye, X-men Trilogy), director, writer and producer Terry George (Hotel Rwanda, In the Name of the Father); author David Liss (A Spectacle of Corruption, the Coffee Trader), musician Eric Wainaina (‘Kenya Only’, ‘Nchi ya Kitu Kidogo’), CNN’s Jim Clancy; and singer Cesar Lopez (inventor of the ‘Escopettara’ — a machine gun converted into a guitar). A peer-to-peer media forum will also enable journalists from developing countries to discuss with colleagues from international broadcasters like the BBC, CNN and the International Press Institute, the challenges of covering corruption and ways of strengthening integrity in the media. All plenary meetings and special events will be open to the media.Facilities such as Wi-Fi and internet access will be available to the media throughout the event from 25th January. Media wishing to cover the event should apply online by completing the registration form available at http://www.unic-jakarta.org/UNODC.html and return to media.accreditat[email protected] along with the supporting documents. Copy of valid Press ID, Letter of assignment, and photocopy ofvalid passport (foreign media outside Indonesia), Visa (foreign media outside Indonesia). To download the complete agenda for the Conference please visit: http://www.unic-jakarta.org/downloads/Programme-Bali08%20(UNODC).pdf Until Sunday, 27 January 2008, the completed application form with accompanying documents can be sent by e-mail to: Mr. Adila Arief Officer-in-Charge / Media Accreditation Officer United Nations Information Centre — Jakarta E-mail: [email protected] CC to media.accreditat[email protected] Mobile phone: (+62) 08111 891 736