U.S. Urges Action on Implementation on U.N. Anti-Corruption Pact
Johannesburg, South Africa --The international community should move beyond the discussion phase and direct its resources to implementation of the U.N. Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) because a major international meeting that helped to establish the pact has exceeded original goals, says a U.S. official.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Johannesburg, South Africa --The international community should move beyond the discussion phase and direct its resources to implementation of the U.N. Convention Against Corruption ( UNCAC ) because a major international meeting that helped to establish the pact has exceeded original goals, says a U.S. official.
The Global Forum on Fighting Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity, a biannual gathering of senior government officials and experts, has achieved “far more than its original goals,” said Joseph Gangloff, deputy director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, at the opening session in Johannesburg, South Africa, of the April 2-5 fifth global forum. Those goals included expanding awareness of corruption among governments, increasing international anti-corruption cooperation and promoting strong related standards, he said.
Gangloff co-heads the U.S. delegation to the forum.
“Now, it is time to move beyond the global forum process to focus global resources on the United Nations convention and its implementation,” he said.
The UNCAC, which Gangloff called “the most ambitious international anti-corruption effort” ever, provides the framework for effective global action, according to U.S. officials. The United States believes that a gathering devoted to its implementation – the Conference of the State Parties to the Convention – will elevate the original goals of the global forum to a new level to achieve an effective global action, Gangloff said.
The UNCAC calls for action to prevent, criminalize and prosecute corruption worldwide.
Gangloff said the international community needs to support countries committed to establishing and implementing laws related to all three areas of the convention. He cited African countries as among those that might need such a support.
The Africa Forum on Fighting Corruption, which took place in March, urged African nations to sign and ratify the UNCAC as soon as possible.
South Africa’s president, Thabo Mbeki, who opened the forum, said anti-corruption initiatives must by viewed in the broader context of international anti-poverty and development efforts. He said corruption hampers progress toward the U.N. Millennium Development Goals, which range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education by 2015.
“Everywhere it undermines democracy and good governance, accountability and transparency,” he said. “It also seriously compromises the beneficial operation of economic markets.”
Mbeki said the fight against corruption must use approaches developed in the multilateral setting and involve global cooperation.
Under the theme of “Fulfilling our commitments: Effective action against corruption,” the fifth global forum will address through a ministerial forum and workshops such issues as effective implementation of anti-corruption measures, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, law enforcement and prevention. It also features round-table discussions on the role of civil society, media and banking in the fight against corruption, money laundering and organized crime. U.S. delegates will be participating in many discussions to offer expert experience and listen to concerns of other countries.
The organizers expect around 1,500 delegates from more than 100 countries to participate in the forum. The biannual gathering was initiated in 1999 in Washington by the United States.
For more information, see Bribery and Corruption.
( USINFO is produced by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov ) By Andrzej S. Zwaniecki USINFO Staff Writer
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