How can countries step up action against foreign bribery? This session explores new momentum in global enforcement, from joint UK–France–Switzerland efforts to OECD insights and how fines and settlements can support anti-corruption and development.

This special event takes place in hybrid format at the 11th Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention Against Corruption in Doha, Qatar. It is co-organised by the Basel Institute on Governance, OECD and Stolen Asset Recovery (StAR) Initiative.

Speakers

• Elizabeth Andersen, Executive Director, Basel Institute on Governance (moderator)
• Jean-François Bohnert, Head of the French National Prosecution Office (Parquet national financier)
• Julia Fromholz, Head of the Anti-Corruption Division, Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs (DAF), OECD
• Emma Isaac, Joint Head of Fraud, Bribery and Corruption, Serious Fraud Office, UK
• Marcelo Pontes Vianna, Secretary for Private Sector Integrity, Officer of the Comptroller General, Brazil
• Matthias Portmann, Federal Prosecutor and Chief Operating Officer, Office of the Attorney General, Switzerland

Details and online registration

• Date and time: Tuesday 16 December: 16:30–17:20 AST | 14:30–15:20 CET
• Location: Room 1, Sheraton Doha Grand Resort and Convention Hotel
• Register for virtual participation

Further details

Tackling foreign bribery and related corporate misconduct is a core commitment under UNCAC and international standards such as the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention. It also benefits enforcing countries by safeguarding fair competition and helping companies resist bribe demands.

Settlements and fines in foreign bribery cases can be significant. Some of the largest US enforcement actions under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act have reached billions of dollars.

States have long been called on to increase enforcement of foreign bribery laws. With the new US guidance on foreign bribery enforcement, should other states redouble their efforts to step up? That means not only increasing enforcement of foreign bribery laws, but also making investigative, judicial and potential asset sharing processes more efficient, effective and fair.

This session will examine how governments can seize this moment to show leadership in the global fight against corruption, including:

• The UK–France–Switzerland alliance to tackle international bribery and corruption.
• OECD insights on national efforts to combat foreign bribery.
• How fines and settlements from foreign bribery cases can be put to productive use – from returning funds to victims to supporting development and fair competition in affected countries.

The aim of the panel is to galvanise states into both increasing and improving foreign bribery enforcement, including by examining what happens to proceeds of settlements and fines.

Background reading

• UK, France and Switzerland announce new alliance to tackle bribery and corruption threat (Joint press release, May 2025)
• Using corrupt proceeds to fight corruption: Rethinking how Switzerland uses illicit profits from foreign bribery (Working Paper by Andrew Dornbierer)
• Compensating the victims of foreign bribery: UK legislation, practice and recommended reforms (Working Paper by Sam Hickey)