Topic: 2025 – Criminal Accountability of UN Officials
Country: Bahrain
Delegate Name: Kaitlyn Gruber
Upholding a system that values criminal accountability at all levels of the government is vital for a just and functioning society. Without it there is no reason, besides morality, not to commit crimes. Yet across the globe, systems put in place to ensure justice undergo increasing strain, allowing criminals of many offenses to go unpunished and damaging public’s trust in those same systems intended to protect them. They are used selectively, especially when the question of power comes into play. The issue of those in positions of power, at any level from local to national, only holding others accountable for their actions when its convenient is nothing new, but has been brought into the public eye more so in recent years illuminating deep-seated corruption. Despite the legal frameworks and international agreements designed to punish and dissuade bribery, embezzlement, and abuse of power, impunity remains a persistent issue; officials divert public funds, launder assets, and manipulate systems, often without facing any meaningful consequences. According to the United Nations, corruption is responsible for the loss of roughly 2.6 trillion dollars annually, or about 5% of the world’s GDP. But the problem of accountability runs rampant through the private sector as well, with over one trillion dollars in bribes being given by businesses and individuals every year. This under the table cash flow drains essential resources from necessary public services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure, disproportionately harming the most vulnerable while allowing the top one percent to continue to thrive and walk free. Powerful officials will use their influence to stall or block investigations or exploit loopholes in legal immunity, remaining above the law. Recognizing this crisis, the United Nations has established legal measures to respond. The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) was adopted in 2003 and requires states to criminalize bribery of public officials, embezzlement, money laundering, abuse of function, illicit enrichment, and other related offenses. It is intended to promote preventive measures (such as transparent public procurement, financial disclosures, codes of conduct, and protections for whistleblowers) and mandate international cooperation in investigations and asset recovery. Still, there is a gap between commitment and implementation. The fact that UNCAC was created in 2003 and the issue of criminal accountability still holds true shows that it was not enough to stop the problem. If a nation isn’t interested in implementing and upholding these measures to the greatest possible extent, often because they would regulate the actions of corrupt government officials, then they will just allow such things to fall by the wayside and do the bare minimum. Where anti-corruption agencies lack real independence, and where judicial systems are compromised or underfunded, the most powerful perpetrators continuously evade justice. This gap undermines efforts to recover stolen assets, prosecute abuse, and deter future corruption. Only by closing the impunity loophole for government officials can the damage done be mended, and this begins with a global reinforcement of criminal accountability.
Bahrain is committed to addressing the pressing issue of criminal accountability, a global crisis plaguing every nation to some extent. In Bahrain corruption and failures in criminal accountability have political, social, and institutional consequences. These challenges undermine public trust, weaken the law, and threaten the integrity of governmental institutions. To combat this issue, Bahrain has taken decisive measures. Our national laws, including the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, outline clear penalties for bribery, embezzlement, and misconduct in public office. The National Audit Office publishes annual reports on government ministries and agencies, reflecting our deep commitment to greater financial oversight. Additionally, the Kingdom of Bahrain has introduced the Anti-Corruption and Economic and Financial Crimes Directorate within the Ministry of Interior to investigate misconduct and thus strengthen transparency. Bahrain is also a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), aligning our national efforts with global standards and initiatives to promote governmental accountability. Despite these efforts, challenges remain. Enforcement must be strengthened, and monitoring bodies require more resources to ensure that officials are held accountable primarily by their own nation and not by the UN as a whole, a each nation should be allowed to handle situations of corruption and accountability as they see fit and however best works for the country. Possible removal or UN or other government officials should be considered as an option for more extreme cases. Public awareness of corruption mechanisms could also increase, and judicial capacity must be continually developed to ensure that corruption-related cases are handled impartially.
Going into this committee session, Bahrain would like to see proposals involving stronger international cooperation in financial oversight, legal assistance, and information sharing to track illicit funds. We also hope to see the establishment of clearer accountability frameworks to ensure that government officials must undergo fair, transparent, and consistent standards of justice. However, simply adopting new legal frameworks will not be enough unless they are correctly implemented. For example, even in Bahrain, initial reforms have sometimes faced limitations due to insufficient investigative resources or gaps in inter-agency coordination. Bahrain looks forward to collaborating with other nations to develop innovative solutions and stronger global mechanisms to combat corruption at all levels. Together, we can advance the rule of law, strengthen governmental integrity, and build transparent institutions that uphold justice for a better world.
