Dr. Muhyieddeen Touq, a key figure in negotiating the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), views corruption as a profound injustice that strips people of their basic rights and undermines both national wealth and individual quality of life. Drawing from his academic background and extensive experience in Jordan’s government, he describes corruption as a deeply rooted social, economic and cultural problem that has grown increasingly complex over time, requiring innovative, collective and sustained efforts to confront it.
Early in his career, Dr. Touq faced resistance when he raised concerns about corruption, with warnings that challenging entrenched practices would be difficult and isolating. Nevertheless, he believed action was necessary, recognizing that corruption was expanding across sectors and could no longer be addressed through isolated or traditional approaches. This conviction guided his decision to engage actively in both national and international anti-corruption efforts.
In the late 1990s, corruption remained a sensitive and often avoided topic, even within international institutions. However, global attitudes began to shift as states increasingly acknowledged corruption as a transnational threat to development, justice and stability. When Dr. Touq became Jordan’s Ambassador to Vienna, discussions about creating a global anti-corruption convention were emerging, prompting him to fully commit to advancing the initiative despite skepticism from some peers.
The negotiation of UNCAC was marked by intense debate and competing priorities among states, particularly around prevention, criminalization and asset recovery. Through prolonged negotiations and careful compromise, these differing perspectives were eventually unified into a single international legal instrument. Dr. Touq recalls the final agreement as a moment of shared achievement, emphasizing that the Convention was designed to serve every country, regardless of its level of development.
While UNCAC established a global framework, Dr. Touq stresses that its effectiveness depends on national implementation and political will. The launch of the Implementation Review Mechanism 15 years ago has supported more than 140 legislative and policy reforms worldwide, demonstrating tangible progress. Since its adoption in 2003, the Convention has gained near-universal participation, with 192 States Parties, and has helped stimulate broader engagement beyond governments.
He highlights the growing role of young people in the anti-corruption movement, noting their creativity, urgency and insistence on being recognized as agents of change today, not in the distant future. As the international community convenes again in Doha for the eleventh session of the Conference of the States Parties to UNCAC in December 2025, the Convention stands as a reminder that while agreements alone do not solve corruption, they create the conditions necessary to turn shared principles into practical action.
