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Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE Passes Motion Endorsing GOPAC
A motion endorsing the work of GOPAC was recently passed as part of the Washington Declaration of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Proposed by GOPAC AML Chair, Roy Cullen (MP, Canada) the Washington Declaration, including the GOPAC motion, will be forwarded to the governments of all OSCE participating States, as well as partner States and international parliamentary institutions and other international organizations. To read the Washington Declaration http://www.oscepa.org/admin/
getbinary.asp?FileID=106
New GOPAC Newsletter
The latest edition (Vol. 4 Issue 1) of GOPAC News is now available. The News includes articles by GOPAC members and friends focusing on such issues as Anti Money Laundering, the fight against corurption in Singapore and the Global Principles.
Anti Money Laundering Seminar in the Dominican Republic
The GOPAC Secretariat, in partnership with the Parlatino Commission on State Security, Prevention of the DrugTrafficking, Terrorism and Organized Crime and the International Compliance Association, presented a one day workshop on Anti Money Laundering and Combatting the Financing of Terrorism to members of the commission on December 2nd in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. For a full report CLICK HERE.
Armenia Establishes a National Chapter
Read the statement of Artur Baghdasaryan, President of the National Assembly of Armenia, on the occasion of the creation of an Armenian National Chapter of GOPAC. Please note that the statement is only available in English at this time. CLICK HERE To see the full report CLICK HERE.
Press release on new members joining in the Public Association "Kyrgyz parliamentarians against corruption"
In the end of November 2005, five members of the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of the Kyrgyz Republic (Kubat Baibolov, Temir Sariev, Melis Eshimkanov, Taiyrbek Sarpashev and Askar Salymbekov) established the Public Association "Kyrgyz parliamentarians against corruption" (KPAC), which main goal is the further integrating of parliamentarians efforts in combating against corruption, promoting principles of transparency and accountability in government, strengthening the role of the Parliament in this work. More ...
National Chapter in Kyrgyzstan Launched
A national Chapter of GOPAC was launched in the Kyrgyzs Republic on International Anticorruption Day, December 9th, in Bishkek. Deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh, representatives of executive and judicial state bodies, business circles, NGOs, mass media, public and international organizations were invited to participate in the round table. The Chapter is chaired by Hon. Kubatbek Baibolov, the deputy of the Jogorku Kenesh of Kyrgyz Republic and receives technical support from the OSCE - Bishkek office. Click here for the press release.
APNAC Annual General Meeting Held in Accra, Ghana
The African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC) Regional Chapter held its Annual General Meeting this past November in Accra Ghana. 19 of the 22 countries represented by the chapter were in attendence at the three day meeting. Click here for a full report.
APNAC Uganda Holds a Workshop on the AU Convention
APNAC Uganda, inpartnership with TI Uganda, held a one day workshop in August on theAfricanUnion Convention on Conbatting Corruption and Related Offences. The workshop was attended by 67 participants drawn from Donor Organisations,Networks, Government Agencies, Media related organisations, Members ofParliament, International Organisations, and a Consortium of indigenousorganisations, the Press; and was officially opened by Hon. lady Justice FaithMwondha, the Inspector General of the Ugandan Government. Click here to readthe full report.
National Chapter in Jordan Launched
A group of serving and former parliamentarians have set up the Jordanian branch of GOPAC. During the launch ceremony in early September, the founders declared the mission and makeup of the new entity, which is headed by Deputy Lower House Speaker Mamdouh Abbadi.
Deputy Lower House Speaker Abbadi said the Jordanian branch comprises nine incumbent and former members of the Lower House and two senators. For more information please contact Khalil Gebara at KGebara@transparency-lebanon.org
European Parliamentarians Against Corruption Call for Accelerated Ratification of UN Anti-Corruption Convention
The European chapter of the Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption, is calling on European governments to ratify the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, or UNCAC.
See the press release
Ghana National Chapter Launch
Elections were held on July 15, 2005 by members of APNAC Ghana to select a nine-member executive for the Ghana Chapter. A launch of the Ghana branch is planed to coincide with an activity by the Ghana Integrity Initiative later in the month. To view an executive membership list for the Ghana National Chapter click here.
South East Asian Chapter Officially Launched in the Philippines
The South East Asian Chapter of GOPAC held its first meeting March 31st to April 1st in Manila, Philippines. Over 20 parliamentarians from the region were in attendence where a declaration, constitution and work plan were approved. The program agenda may be viewed at seapac1.tripod.com/activities.htm For more information on SEAPAC please contact the SEAPAC Chair Senator Edgardo Angara at edgardo_angara@hotmail.com
Kuwaiti parliamentarians set up anti-corruption unit
The Kuwait chapter of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) was launched by nine MPs and eight former lawmakers. The chapter becomes the third anti-corruption unit of GOPAC in Arab parliaments, after the Palestinian Authority and Yemen. For more information on the chapter and this event click here.
GOPAC Arab Region Website
GOPAC-Arab Region has posted a website at http://www.transparency-lebanon.org/GOPAC/ GOPAC%20Conference.htm The website includes information on the founding of GOPAC-Arab region and its activities.
Yemen National Chapter Launched
A group of parliamentarians from the Republic of Yemen's House of Representatives recently formed a national Chapter of GOPAC. The Yemen Chapter is being supported by NDI-Yemen. For more information please contact Carlo Binda (carlo.binda@ndiyemen.org)
Members of European Parliament to Establish a Regional Chapter
Three Members of the European Parliament, Edith Mastenbroek (NL-PES), Bill Newton Dunn (UK-ALDE) and Carl Schlyter (Sweden-Greens) launch GOPAC-Europe, the European chapter of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC). For more information on the chapter and this event click here
APNAC Launches Website
The African Regional Chapter has recently launched its website at www.apnacafrica.org. The website is intended to be a platform for APNAC MPs to share their knowledge and experiences in fighting corruption. The website is available in both French and English
SEAPAC Launches Website
The South East Asian Regional Chapter has recently launched its website at http://seapac1.tripod.com. This website is intended to be a portal for parliamentarians from South East Asia interested in joining forces to fight corruption and promote good governance
STATEMENT (Dec 9, 2005)
On the Occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day
OTTAWA, CANADA – On this 2nd International Anti-Corruption Day, The Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) recognizes that the fight against corruption is only beginning.
The Chair of GOPAC, John Williams, a Member of Parliament in Canada, made the following remarks.
"Parliament and Access to Information: Working for Transparent Governance" by Toby Mendel. WBI Working Paper, Series on Contemporary Issues in Parliamentary Development (2005).
This report, edited by Toby Mendel, is the result of a Study Group organised by the World Bank Institute and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Associations. The report discusses the work of the group and its conclusions which, in particular, notes the central role of Parliament and its Members in giving effect to the right of access
to information, as well as the importance of access to information to Parliamentarians in the performance of their duties. To read the report:
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/WBI/Resources/Parliament_and_Access_to_
Information_with_cover.pdf
New Report on International Financial Reporting Standards for Extractive Industries Available
Publish What You Pay coalition partners, Global Witness, Save the Children UK, CARE International UK, CAFOD, the Open Society Institute and Transparency International UK have come together to publish the report "Extracting Transparency: the Need for an International Financial Reporting Standard for the Extractive Industries" (September 2005). The report argues that country-by-country reporting by oil, gas and mining companies on commercial performance, reserves, taxes and other benefits paid to governments, is essential information for investors, analysts and all other users of company financial statements when making investment decisions about extractive companies. This information is also vital to citizens who are concerned with the management of this important global industry. Full Report available at http://www.publishwhatyoupay.org/ifrs/pdf/extracting_transparency.pdf
Transparency International Releases the 2005 Corruption Perception Index
Berlin based Transparency International has released its annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) a composite survey, reflecting the perceptions of business people and country analysts, both resident and non-resident. The CPI ranks countries from those with the least perceived corruption to those countries with the most perceived corruption. To see the ranking http://www.transparency.org/cpi/2005/cpi2005_infocus.html
IMF Guide on Resource Revenue Transparency
Following a three-month consultation period, the IMF has published its Guide on Resource Revenue Transparency. It is available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Chinese on the IMF website (http://imf.org/external/
pubs/ft/grrt/eng/060705.htm) in PDF Format
Lessons from AntiCorruption Parliamentary Networks
GOPAC Program Manager, Meaghan Campbell, and Frederick Stapenhurst of the World Bank Institute have written a paper entitled "Lessons from AntiCorruption Parliamentary Networks" based on the GOPAC experience. To read the paper... click here
Lessons not Learned: Problems with Western Aid for Law Reform in Postcommunist Countries
Wade Channel, an independent consultant specializing in legal reform in transition countries, has written a paper for the Carnegie Endowment on legal reform assistance in post-communist counties, where he explores core problems and mistaken assumptions of foreign legal aid. To read the article click here.
National Agency to Combat Corruption Established in the Kyrgyz Republic
President’s Degree No. 476 “On Immediate Actions against Corruption” anticipating the establishment of the National Agency of the Kyrgyz Republic for Preventing Corruption and a special supervising body – National Council for Combating Corruption has been signed on 21 October 2005 in order to increase effectiveness and coherency of anticorruption policy, to develop fundamentally new approaches to fight against corruption and ensure systematic measures aimed at prevention of corruption. To read the press release CLICK HERE
Huguette Labelle Elected Chair of Transparency International
Huguette Labelle, a respected Canadian with a broad background in development issues, has been elected Chair of Transparency International, the global coalition against corruption. She replaces Peter Eigen, who founded the TI movement and has served with distinction throughout the organisation’s 12-year history. Eigen will assume the Chair of Transparency International’s Advisory Council. To see press release http://transparency.org/pressreleases archive/2005/2005.11.14.chair.html
Report for 51st Annual CPA Meeting Available
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has made available the Reports and Presentations from the 5st Annual CPA Conference which took place in Fiji in 2005. GOPAC member Gary Breitkreuz (MP) was present and participated in the workshop on Fighting Corruption: What Can Parliamentarians Do? CLICK HERE for a full list of the reports and presentations. Please note that the site is only available in English.
Practical Approaches to Anti-Corruption Reform in Russia" An Interview with Georgi Satarov INDEM Foundation
Georgi Satarov, founding member and, since 1997, president of the INDEM Foundation in Moscow, Russia in his interview with the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) talks about the institutional problems in Russia that lead to corruption. To read the interview click here: http://www.cipe.org/pdf/publications/
fs/070605.pdf
CPDI Pakistan Demands Transparency in Parliamentary Committees
The Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives, Pakistan has demanded all the chairs and members of parliamentary committees to implement transparent procedures in the course of considering legislative bills and exercising parliamentary oversight on government departments. To read the press release CLICK HERE.
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