Doha, November 19 (QNA) - The Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani Anti-Corruption Excellence Award (ACE Award) is a global initiative launched by the State of Qatar to battle corruption and boost good governance and transparency.

Reflecting Qatar's local, regional and international anti-corruption efforts, the ACE Award is held annually in collaboration with the United Nations to convey HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's appreciation for advocates manifesting leading roles in fighting corruption and crime.

A brainchild of the State of Qatar, the ACE Award supports development worldwide, highlights exemplary anti-corruption practices globally and elevate awareness of establishing corruption-free communities.

HH the Amir leads the ACE Award annual ceremony, reflecting His Highness's constant keenness to affirm the State of Qatar's full commitment to joint international efforts to confront corruption.

Winners are awarded in five categories: Lifetime/Outstanding Achievement, the Academic Research and Education, Youth Creativity and Engagement, Innovation/Investigative Journalism, Safeguarding Sports from Corruption.

The Lifetime/Outstanding Achievement recognizes and supports individuals who dedicated a whole life of service to anti-corruption or who have produced outstanding local or international contributions to thwarting corruption.

Winners in the Academic Research and Education category are awarded for fighting corruption via research and education mediums that effectively scrutinize and analyze the phenomenon and significantly elevate knowledge and academic awareness about its eradication.

The Youth Creativity and Engagement category focuses on involving younger generations, primarily university students and young employees, in the fight against corruption. Winners in this category are recognized for youth-designed and NGOs-backed projects.

Those who have produced exceptional journalistic projects, particularly investigative ones that uncover corruption locally, regionally or globally will be awarded in the Innovation or Investigative Journalism category.

The fifth category, Safeguarding Sports from Corruption, celebrates individuals and entities with tangible efforts to thwart corruption in sport locally and regionally.

The first round of the ACE Award was held in 2016 in Vienna. The subsequent rounds were held respectively in the UN Office in Geneva (2017), Malaysia (2018), Rwanda (2019), Tunisia (2020), Qatar (2022), and Uzbekistan (2023). A total of 51 activists claimed the award since its inception.

In 2016, HH the Amir honored seven winners in a ceremony held at the Hofburg Palace, Vienna. In the 2017 edition, on behalf of HH the Amir, HH Personal Representative of HH the Amir, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani honored six winners at the UNOG.

HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, along with then Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, and late UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Executive Director Yury Fedotov honored the eight claimants of the 2018 Award at a ceremony held at the Putrajaya International Convention Center in Kuala Lumpur.

In 2019, HH the Amir, along with HE President of the Republic of Rwanda Paul Kagame honored the winners of the fourth edition at a ceremony held at the Kigali Convention Center.

Seven winners claimed the 2020 edition at a ceremony in Tunis.

In 2022, HH the Amir honored seven winners at a ceremony held at the Sheraton Doha Hotel before His Highness along with HE President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev honored nine winners in the 2023 edition at a ceremony at the Tashkent Congress Center.

The ACE Award has cemented the State of Qatar's ongoing local, regional and international efforts and initiatives aimed at backing international organizations concerned with battling corruption. With a keen eye for eliminating corruption and establishing the rule of law as preconditions for sustainable development, the ACE Award has been striving for the implementation of decisive measures stipulated in the UN Convention against Corruption, by honoring exceptional anti-corruption efforts.  (QNA)