Evolving corruption risks and need to strengthen collective action in sharp focus at high-level OSCE anti-corruption conference this week

Representatives of participating States, OSCE field operations, international organizations, civil society, academia and youth groups explored the impact of evolving corruption risks and how to strengthen collective action across the region at the OSCE’s International Anti-Corruption Day Conference on 10 December 2025. 

In their opening remarks, OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities Bakyt Dzhusupov, and First Deputy Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Tea Jaliashvili, emphasized the urgency of reinforcing institutional safeguards and advancing systemic reforms to uphold democracy, public trust, and long-term resilience.

Secretary General Sinirlioğlu explained how “[the OSCE’s anti-corruption] work strengthens our collective security. Within our societies, anti-corruption efforts yield strengthened institutions, improved service-delivery and greater domestic stability. Externally, anti-corruption efforts are critical to dismantling criminal networks which threaten security across borders.”

Underscoring the importance of shared responsibility in addressing corruption, OSCE Co-Ordinator Dzhusupov said, “Preventing and combating corruption requires a whole-of-society approach – and having governments, parliaments, civil society, academia and international organizations gathered here is just one way we seek to hold ourselves to account and to build resilience across the OSCE region.”

The conference featured a series of panel discussions examining emerging challenges and opportunities in anti-corruption efforts. Success stories from OSCE field operations and executive structures showcased the whole-of-OSCE approach to anti-corruption in strengthening governance frameworks, enhancing institutional resilience, and addressing the links between migration, governance and public trust. Read more in the Keeping the Momentum: OSCE Anti-Corruption Impact Stories from late 2024 publicationreleased at the Conference.

A new Whole-of-OSCE Anti-Corruption Programming Strategy 2025–2027 was also presented. Developed by the OSCE Anti-Corruption Focal Points Network, the Strategy provides a unified framework to align objectives, clarify institutional roles and guide the development of activities that translate the OSCE’s anti-corruption commitments into practical, measurable and impactful results.

Sessions also focused on how artificial intelligence can support oversight mechanisms and improve transparency, with discussions led by civil society, journalists, and leading academics specializing in ethics and technology. Lawmakers, policy specialists and integrity experts also examined the role of conflicts of interest and lobbying in democratic systems.

A dedicated panel on youth engagement in preventing corruption featured remarks from OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Special Representative on Youth Engagement, Lucija Tacer Perlin, who spoke of efforts by public institutions to be more representative and responsive to critical issues of concern to youth, including corruption. The panel highlighted the experiences of young anti-corruption volunteers from Moldova who are engaged with the country’s National Anticorruption Center to promote education and prevention efforts to build a culture of integrity; along with youth participants from OSCE’s Youth Crime Prevention Initiative in Central Asia, who have developed innovative initiatives to tackle drivers of crime and corruption among youth.

Throughout the event, speakers highlighted good practices, structural challenges and innovative approaches to strengthening integrity across all levels of governance. The discussions emphasized the importance of co-operation, contextualized support, gender-responsive approaches, and data-driven adaptation as essential components of sustainable anti-corruption reform.

The Conference is an annual event jointly organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). Insights gathered during this conference help to inform the OSCE’s ongoing anti-corruption efforts and will guide implementation of the Organization’s new Programming Strategy. 

By fostering collaboration across governments, institutions and communities, the OSCE continues to support participating States in building transparent, accountable and resilient societies.