GOPAC offers condolences to Haitian people
On behalf of all the members of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC), I wish to express my sincere condolences to the Haitian people, the Haitian govern-ment, the Haitian Parliamentarians, their families and all who have lost family members or have been affected by the tragic earthquake, which has devastated this already fragile country. (January 12, 2010)
International Anti-Corruption Day – Wednesday, December 9th, 2009.
Adopted in 2003, the International Anti-Corruption Day, held annually on December 9th, was instituted to raise awareness of corruption and ways that exist to combat and prevent it. Corruption affects both rich and poor countries therefore it is important to have global awareness and action against it. Treaties such as the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, are positive steps towards the goal of uncovering and preventing corruption. For more information about current events and campaigns, or for ideas for marking International Anti-Corruption Day, see link below.
http://www.unodc.org/yournocounts/
2009 Corruption Perception Index Released.
The 2009 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) has been released by Transparency International. This index provides a measurement of the perceived level of corruption in the private sector in over 180 countries worldwide. The CPI is based on a compilation of 13 different surveys, which provides a score for each country. For more information, or to see individual country results, see link below.
http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2009
La Loi fédérale sur la responsabilité (LFR)
Le 4 décembre 2009, John Williams, fondateur et chef de la direction de la GOPAC, et Karen Shepherd, commissaire au lobbying du Canada, examineront les résultats, mérites et les effets de la Loi fédérale sur la responsabilité (LFR) dans le cadre du colloque Loi fédérale sur la responsabilité : trois ans déjà, organisé par le Groupe canadien d’études du parlement. La LFR, adoptée en décembre de 2006, contient un large éventail de réformes et de modifications aux normes de la responsabilité gouvernementale.
Pour des renseignements complémentaires et un formulaire d'inscription visitez le site suivant : Groupe canadien d’étude des parlements
La declaración de la APEC busca luchar contra la corrupción y mejorar la gobernabilidad y transparencia.
Al cierre de la conferencia de dos días que se celebró en Singapur, el Foro de Cooperación Económica Asia-Pacífico (APEC) hizo pública una declaración intitulada “Crecimiento durable, los nexos de nuestra región” cuya meta es fomentar el crecimiento y la prosperidad en la región Asia-Pacifico. En este documento la APEC indica que tiene la intención de luchar contra la corrupción, mejorar la gobernabilidad y la transparencia favoreciendo prácticas económicas sanas y de cooperación internacional. Además, la declaración alienta a los participantes a ratificar la Convención de las Naciones Unidas contra la Corrupción (CNUCC) contra el crimen organizado transnacional. Consulte la versión completa de la declaración en la página Web siguiente.
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2009/11/15/26/
0301000000AEN20091115000200315F.HTML
World Movement to Hold Sixth Assembly in Jakarta, Indonesia, in April 2010
The Secretariat of the World Movement for Democracy is pleased to announce that the World Movement's Sixth Assembly will take place on April 11-14, 2010, in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Assembly, under the theme of "Solidarity across Cultures: Working Together for Democracy," will bring together more than 500 democracy activists, practitioners, and scholars from all global regions, and will build upon the democracy-promotion strategies developed at previous assemblies held in New Delhi, India; São Paulo, Brazil; Durban, South Africa; Istanbul, Turkey; and Kyiv, Ukraine. Click here for more information. (Article in English only)
G20 pledge to ratify UN Convention Against Corruption at Third Conference of State Parties.
At the conclusion of a two day meeting in Pittsburgh, the G20 released their final statement on fighting poverty. The statement included comments on living standards, mobilization of resources, sustained funding, and clean energy. The report also included remarks regarding the prevention of illicit outflows of capital. The G20 pledged that future work with the World Bank’s Stolen Assets Recovery (StAR) program would be implemented, along with adoption and enforcement of laws against bribery. The declaration also states that the G20 will ratify the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) at the upcoming Third Conference of State Parties, taking place in Doha in November 2009.
http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSTRE58O6SG20090925
3rd Conference of State Parties, November 9, 2009
The 3rd Conference of State Parties opened in Doha, Qatar in order to review implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption. In attendance are over 1000 delegates from 125 countries representing countries who have signed the anti-corruption treaty. To read more about the opening ceremonies of the Conference of State Parties, please see link below.
http://www.cosp3-uncac.pp.gov.qa/news01.aspx
APNAC General Meeting in Zambia, 19-20 September 2009.
The African Parliamentary Network Against Corruption (APNAC) held their biennial meeting in Lusaka Zambia on the 19-20th of September 2009. On the agenda were Executive Committee elections, amendments and adoption of the constitution, and consideration and adoption of a Letter of Understanding between APNAC and GOPAC. Thirty-seven delegate from 15 countries attended the meeting, as well as GOPAC CEO John Williams. Discussions that took place ranged lessons learned and shared experiences of the African chapters to the outgoing chairs statements. The elections resulted in Hon. Given Lubinda of Zambia being appointed chair. Additional information can be found in the final meeting report.
This second issue of the Arab Parliamentary Bulletin covers an interesting period in the Arab region. During the second quarter of 2009, parliamentary elections were held both in Kuwait and Lebanon and went relatively well despite the fears and concerns resulting from the political crises in both countries. More...
In May 2009, Mr. John Williams (CEO, GOPAC) met with CAUPAC members in Baku, Azerbaijan to further discuss the concepts and agenda of GOPAC. There is a strong desire for an anti corruption agenda in Azerbaijan, and some positive steps have been made towards a more transparent and accountable structure. More..
GOPAC Executive Committee Meets in Mexico City
Mexico City, Mexico – June 16-17, 2009 – Members of GOPAC’s (Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption) Executive Committee came to Mexico City, Mexico (June 16-17th, 2009) to conduct its annual meeting.
The meeting was hosted by Diputado César Camacho, Member of the Mexican Camara de Diputados, Chair of GOPAC’s Latin American Chapter and Vice Chair of GOPAC. The event was opened by Diputado César Duarte Jaquez, President of the Mexican Congress. More...
GOPAC’S ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING GLOBAL TASK FORCE
Governments in banking centres like Switzerland and Liechtenstein have said that they will ease strict banking secrecy rules and will exchange information with foreign governments to combat tax fraud and tax evasion. While this is a positive development, it does not address the need to stop the laundering of corrupt money, and the recovery and repatriation of stolen assets.
More...
LEGAL INSTRUMENTS ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE
The Council of Europe has developed a number of multifaceted legal instruments dealing with matters such as the criminalisation of corruption in the public and private sectors, liability and compensation for damage caused by corruption, conduct of public officials and the financing of political parties. These instruments are aimed at improving the capacity of States to fight corruption domestically as well as at international level. The monitoring of compliance with these standards is entrusted to the Group of States against Corruption, (GRECO). Click here to see the Recommendation on Common Rules against Corruption in the Funding of Political Parties and Electoral Campaigns.\
GOPAC’s 3rd Global Conference took place in Kuwait City, Kuwait this past November 2008. The conference brought together over 220 current and former parliamentarians, technical experts and observes on the role of parliamentarians in the effective implementation and oversight of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). The conference was organized in partnership with GOPAC’s Arab Regional Chapter – ARPAC and was hosted by the Kuwait National Assembly under the patronage of Amir H.H. Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
Declaration, Position Statements and Resolutions Added
Click here for complete information.
South Caucasus Parliamentarians: New Regional Chapter
The GOPAC Secretariat would like to extend its congratulations to the founding members of the newly formed South Caucasus Parliamentarians’ Network against Corruption (CAUPAC). On February 5th, 2009 MPs came together to establish the Regional Chapter and elected Mr. Ali Husynov and Mr. Fuad Muradov of Azerbaijan and Mr. Pavle Kubliashvili of Georgia to the Executive Committee. An application has been sent to formally register CAUPAC with the Ministry of Justice. News of the new anti corruption organization was met with much interest and media coverage.