(Suva, Fiji) 1 September 2025 – The fight against corruption in the Pacific region took center stage last week as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) joined forces to bring Pacific government anti-corruption focal persons, civil society, journalists and Parliamentarians together prepare a united Pacific message for the world’s biggest anti-corruption meeting — the 11th Conference of States Parties (COSP) to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
In December 2025, 191 UNCAC-signatory nations will gather in Doha, Qatar for the 11th Conference of States Parties (COSP) to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).
The Pacific’s contribution to this global effort is anchored in the Teieniwa Vision, endorsed by 18 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in 2021, and outlines a regional roadmap toward a corruption-free Pacific. The Vision aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
This Pacific Pre-Conference of State Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), held at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji, aimed to amplify efforts towards a united stance against corruption in the Pacific.
PIF Secretary General Baron Waqa opened the Pacific Pre-COSP Forum stating that: “Across our Blue Pacific Continent, good governance is built on trust. Trust that institutions are fair, that leaders act in the public interest, and that resources are used for the good of our people.”
Initiated in 2020 during the first Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Conference, hosted by Kiribati with the support of UNODC and PIFS, the Teieniwa Vision crystallizes Pacific unity against corruption. This collaborative vision seeks to strengthen cooperation among Pacific Island countries (PICs) and aligns their actions with the UNCAC review recommendations. All 14 Pacific Island countries, plus PIF members Australia and New Zealand, are signatories to UNCAC.
“The Teieniwa Vision speaks clearly to this challenge. It reflects our region’s shared commitment to integrity, accountability, and a future free from corruption,” said Secretary General Baron Waqa. “We reaffirm our commitment to the UNCAC. But that commitment must be lived through Pacific-led responses, grounded in culture, shaped by context, and guided by the values we share across our region.”
UNODC, the custodian of the Conference of the States Parties to UNCAC, continues to be actively involved in assisting PICs to implement the Convention, fostering cooperation, and supporting their participation in the UNCAC Implementation Review Mechanism.
The Pacific Pre-Conference of State Parties serves as a platform to reinforce the commitment to the Teieniwa Vision, promoting its operationalization. This meeting facilitated dialogue on Teieniwa Vision implementation, providing updates on the Priority Implementation Matrix and assessing needs.
“As the 191 UNCAC countries prepare to address possible reforms to how the COSP is operated, in Doha in December, Pacific stakeholders called for more active engagement with civil society, journalists and Parliamentarians, to realise a whole-of-society commitment to addressing corruption. This built on the Call to Leaders that civil society and journalists presented to leaders at the Pacific Forum Leaders Meeting No.53 in Tonga last year,” said Mrs Marie Cauchois, UNODC Pacific Head of Office – Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser. She added: “This isn’t just about preparing for Doha. It’s about building momentum for 2026 and beyond.”
Papua New Guinea UNCAC Focal Point, Mrs Josephine Pitmur, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Justice and Attorney General, told participants: “PNG has supported the inclusion of civil society Shadow Reports in our UNCAC Reviews and PNG will again include CSOs and Youth in our official COSP delegation.”
Young leaders made their voices heard. “We are not time bombs—we are fireworks,” said Ms. Regina Lepping, Secretary of the Solomon Islands Chapter of the Pacific Youth Forum Against Corruption. “Youth make up over 60 per cent of Solomon Islands’ population – youth must be part of the conversation from the beginning, not just during celebrations.”
In addition to national COSP preparations, country focal points also advanced discussions on a draft Small Island Developing States (SIDS) resolution, and identified opportunities to showcase the Pacific’s innovative and diverse mosaic of anti-corruption initiatives.
The conference marked a pivotal step in advancing the Teieniwa Vision and reaffirming the region’s collective commitment to a corruption-free future. With support from the New Zealand Aid Programme and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, UNODC continues to assist Pacific nations put anti-corruption commitments into practice and ensure the Teieniwa Vision becomes reality.