Counting on International Cooperation to Fight Corruption

08 December 2011
[Port Moresby, PNG – 8 Dec] Papua New Guinea could strengthen its efforts in fighting corruption by not only prosecuting corrupt people, but also by ensuring that money or resources stolen through corruption are recovered and returned to PNG so that they can be used for development.

Speaking at an event organized by Transparency International to mark International Anti-Corruption Day, the UN Resident Coordinator David McLachlan-Karr emphasized that corruption undermined development and penalised the poor the most. He stressed that money lost to corruption, is money wasted for development.

“Developing countries have long been aware that their scarce and valuable resources are often diverted out of their country for the benefit of an elite few. UNCAC recognizes that it is important to criminalise corruption. UNCAC also recognizes that it is not only essential that corrupt people are prosecuted – it is as important, if not more so, that the actual resources that are stolen are returned. It is these resources that can be ploughed back into building schools for the nation’s children, buying medicines, laying roads and undertaking other such activities in the public’s interest,” said Mr McLachlan-Karr.

Chapters 4 and 5 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) specifically strengthens cooperation between countries to track down corrupt criminals and their assets. PNG became the first country in the region to ratify UNCAC in 2007. Chapter 5 of UNCAC not only provides that other States parties to UNCAC will help to freeze and confiscate assets which may have been stolen through corruption but, these countries must also facilitate the return of the corruptly stolen assets. Mr McLachlan-Karr described this approach to asset recovery as a major breakthrough.

Mr McLachlan-Karr commended PNG for the finalization of its anti-corruption strategy and said that he hoped it would be a trigger for more concerted action to weed out corruption in the community.

“It is a very positive first step that PNG now has a national anti-corruption strategy which officials, the private sector, the community and development partners can work to support, ” he said and offered UN support to the Government of PNG to implement the national anti-corruption strategy.

The Strategy highlights a number of key structural issues which need to be urgently addressed if PNG is to rein in the corruption which placed 154 out of 182 countries ranked as corrupt in Transparency International’s 2011 Corruption Perception Index. Improved leadership, strengthen people and financial management, and strengthened criminal enforcement for corrupt acts are all priorities by the Strategy. An Independent Commission Against Corruption has also been proposed.

In his message to the world on the International Anti-Corruption Day, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also urged governments to include anti-corruption measures in all national programmes that support sustainable development.

“Corruption afflicts all countries, undermining social progress and breeding inequality and injustice. When desperately needed development funds are stolen by corrupt individuals and institutions, poor and vulnerable people are robbed of the education, health care and other essential services. On this International Anti-Corruption Day, let us pledge to do our part by cracking down on corruption, shaming those who practice it and engendering a culture that values ethical behavior,” said Mr Ban Ki-Moon.

In the Pacific there are a total of 6 countries that have acceded to UNCAC. This year, Vanuatu, Cook Islands and Marshall Islands joined PNG, Fiji and Palau as States parties.

ENDS

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