U.N. convention, denying safe haven to corrupt officials on agenda
Regional, Politics, 4/27/2005

A June international meeting in Brasilia, Brazil, is expected to bring attention to new ways to implement a U.N. anti-corruption convention and efforts to deny safe haven to corrupt officials, a U.S. State Department official says.

David Luna, director for anti-corruption and governance initiatives in the department's bureau for international narcotics and law enforcement affairs, says the Fourth Global Forum on Fighting Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity (GF IV) should strengthen the political will to implement and eventually enforce the U.N. Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).

UNCAC has been signed by 119 countries and ratified by 21 since the U.N. signing ceremony in Merida, Mexico, in 2003.Ê It addresses issues of prevention, criminalization, international cooperation, asset recovery, and implementation mechanisms.

"The program of the June 7-10 Global Forum in Brasilia will have focused discussion on how governments can pragmatically work together to implement their UNCAC commitments and how best to develop effective strategies for denying safe haven to corrupt public officials, those who corrupt them, and their assets," Luna said in an April 21 interview.

Measuring whether countries are in fact making progress in their fight against corruption is important for keeping those commitments and energizing action, Luna said.Ê Because existing benchmarks and regional mutual monitoring mechanisms are relatively new, he said, it is still too early to assess how effective they are, how relevant they could be on the global scale, as well as their potential efficacy and impact worldwide.

Initial indications are encouraging, but robust discussions at the forum should show how to strengthen those mechanisms and shape a global UNCAC anti-corruption follow-up system, he said.

Luna said that GF IV, bringing together ministers, senior policy-makers and good governance experts from around the world, should build upon the work of the three previous fora.

The United States launched the Global Forum on Fighting Corruption in Washington in 1999. The fora have since become biannual events, with the second held in The Hague, Netherlands, and the third hosted by South Korea. The fourth forum will offer an opportunity to promote and build upon a wide array of international anti-corruption efforts and help to facilitate an exchange of best practices.Ê (Materials from the previous fora can be viewed here.)

Combating international corruption remains a high priority for the Bush administration. The president has incorporated the fight against corruption in numerous national security and foreign policy initiatives -- including the Millennium Challenge Account, the G8 anti-corruption and transparency initiative, the 2002 National Security Strategy, the Global War on Terrorism, and efforts to promote reform and freedom in the Middle East.

"There has been a tremendous demand by countries to work collectively on fighting corruption," Luna said.

A manifestation of this demand is an anti-corruption initiative launched in 2004 by leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum. Another is a program called the "Good Governance for Development for Arab States" launched early in 2005 by 16 Arab countries assisted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the U.N. Development Program, the Arab League, the European Union, the United States and other multilateral and bilateral donors, he said.

Not only governments but also civil societies around the world have become more aware of the essential role good governance and public integrity play in advancing democracy and fostering economic growth and development, he said.

"In some parts of the world from Georgia to Ukraine, from China to Lebanon we are beginning to see how knowledge of anti-corruption norms and measures is making a difference," Luna said.Ê "What we are seeing is clamor by the citizens of those countries to improve governance, to fight corruption, and to bring greater accountability to government officials and public financial management systems."

In many parts of the world, as new leaders come into office and pursue a reform agenda, they often have to deal with state treasuries emptied by former corrupt leaders. One of the main priorities for them then is to go after corrupt despots and stolen assets, Luna said.

On the GF IV agenda, he said, there will be a specific session devoted to recovering stolen assets and denying safe haven to corrupt officials.

The United States and its Group of Eight (G8) partners have promoted denial of safe haven not only for corrupt public officials but also for those who corrupt them and their assets.Ê The G8 Anticorruption Initiative focuses on assisting partner countries to increase transparency and thereby to use public resources wisely.Ê Luna said that these G8 efforts will primarily focus on transparency in public budgets, including revenues and expenditures, government procurement, the letting of public concessions and the granting of licenses.

The G8 comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

GF IV participants also will discuss issues related to international conventions, money laundering, public procurement, electronic government, conflicts of interest, the role of civil society, and other aspects of anti-corruption and good governance.Ê In addition, the forum will feature special panels on cooperation among different branches of government, improvement of integrity in border and fiscal agencies, political financing and other issues.

Previous Stories:
  Prosecutor charges for corruption managers of the oldest charity in Morocco   (4/12/2005)
  Morocco adopts UN convention criminalizing corruption   (4/1/2005)
  Arab ministers discuss draft agreements on corruption   (12/19/2003)
  UN to set an example in fighting corruption   (10/18/2003)
  Work completed on UN treaty to fight corruption worldwide   (10/9/2003)
  UN treaty to fight corruption worldwide should be ready by autumn   (8/13/2003)

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