Uncaccoalition.org http://www.uncaccoalition.org/ Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:06:50 +0000 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.uncaccoalition.org/images/M_images/joomla_rss.png Uncaccoalition.org http://www.uncaccoalition.org/ Promoting the ratification, implementation and monitoring of the landmark United Nations Convention against Corruption. Call for the UNCAC Implementation Review Group, UNCAC States Parties and UNODC to Ensure a ... http://www.uncaccoalition.org/en/home/116-uncac-coalition-statement-to-the-uncac-implementation-review-group-for-a-transparent-and-participatory-review-mechanism.html 26 November 2010. The UNCAC Coalition has released a statement at the UNCAC Implementation Review Group (IRG) Meeting calling for the IRG, UNCAC States Parties and the UN Office of Drugs and Crime to ensure a transparent and participatory review mechanism.

The statement calls on the IRG to permit civil society observers at IRG Meetings, in accordance with a recent legal opinion from the UN Legal Office. It also calls on States Parties to provide for and encourage civil society participation in the review process, in the interests of creating a transparent, effective and credible UNCAC review mechanism.

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The UNCAC Coalition, a global network of over 240 civil society organisations in 100 countries, calls on States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to ensure that the newly functioning UNCAC review mechanism is transparent and participatory.

Transparency and the participation of civil society are critical to the fight against corruption globally, as recognised in Article 13 and other provisions of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). Likewise, these are essential for an effective and publicly credible UNCAC review mechanism, as reflected in the Terms of Reference for the UNCAC Review Mechanism which call for a mechanism that shall be ‘transparent, efficient, non-intrusive, inclusive and impartial' (Resolution 3/1 of the Conference of States Parties (CoSP, paragraph II.3(a)).

Civil society observers in Implementation Review Group

We call on States Parties to ensure transparency and inclusiveness in the UNCAC review mechanism through participation of civil society observers in the Implementation Review Group (IRG) which oversees the UNCAC review process and by enabling them to make submissions to the IRG.

Civil society participation is provided for in Rule 17 of the UNCAC Conference of States Parties (CoSP) Rules of Procedure which permits civil society groups to participate in meetings as observers and to make submissions. This rule also applies to the Implementation Review Group. The UN Office of Legal Affairs recently issued a legal opinion which states that:

  • the rules adopted by the UNCAC CoSP shall apply to the IRG, as a subsidiary body of the UNCAC; and
  • the IRG does not have authority to decide upon its own rules of procedure; if the IRG were to seek a different rule on the participation of observers it would have to revert to the CoSP for a decision

We call on the IRG to respect the conclusions of the UN Office of Legal Affairs and apply the CoSP Rules of Procedure.

Transparency and civil society involvement in the review process

Furthermore, we call on States to opt for transparency and civil society participation in individual country reviews. This should include providing information and encouraging the participation of civil society at all stages of the review process, in particular by:

  • UNODC publishing online the list of government focal points to enable civil society to engage with government throughout the review;
  • UNODC publishing online all information relating to the review schedule, including whether countries have authorised a country visit and the schedule of such visits;
  • Reviewed countries agreeing to the prompt publication online of the country responses to the self-assessment checklist;
  • Reviewed countries permitting country visits by review teams and inviting civil society organisations for consultations with the review teams during these visits;
  • Reviewing countries undertaking country visits where agreed to by reviewed countries
  • Reviewed countries allowing UNODC to publish the full country reports online (not only the executive summary) to facilitate collaborative efforts to work towards the recommendations.
  • The IRG and CoSP inviting civil society and the private sector to make submissions at their meetings.

By providing for these elements, States Parties will help to build a credible review process. This will serve the common goal of addressing "the problems and threats posed by corruption to the stability and security of societies, undermining the institutions and values of democracy, ethical values and justice and jeopardising sustainable development and the rule of law". (UNCAC Preamble)

PDF Versions:

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[1] See www.unodc.org/unodc/en/treaties/CAC/IRG-session1-resumed.html See especially paragraphs 11, 12 and 16 of that opinion.

]]> Phoebe Hardefeldt Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:53:44 +0000 Putting G20 anti-corruption commitments into practice http://www.uncaccoalition.org/en/home/161-its-time-to-put-g20-anti-corruption-commitments-into-practice.html Robert Palmer, 7 March 2011. Global Witness and Transparency International have called for swift implementation of the G20’s Anti-Corruption Action Plan. 76 other organisations from around the world, including many UNCAC Coalition members, signed the joint civil society letter sent to the Group of 20 leading economies (G20) on 15 February.

Released last November following the G20 summit in Seoul, the Action Plan sets out a global blueprint for tackling corruption. The Plan covers 11 policy areas, including how to prevent corrupt politicians from accessing the financial system and deny them safe haven in G20 countries, implement the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), return stolen assets and protect whistleblowers. The G20 Working Group has been tasked with turning these broad pledges into concrete actions. It met in Paris on 25-26 February 2011 in the first of three face-to-face meetings planned in the run-up to the French-hosted G20 Summit which will be held in November 2011 in Cannes.

The joint civil society letter makes recommendations on each area covered by the Action Plan, and the key theme is the importance of greater transparency as well as the need for civil society input into the G20 process. Two of the recommendations – registries of the beneficial owners/controllers of companies and trusts; and companies reporting their accounts on a country-by-country basis – would provide investors, citizens and government agencies with crucial information to tackle financial crime and tax dodging.   

]]> Phoebe Hardefeldt Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:39:57 +0000 Funding available for CSO UNCAC compliance reviews http://www.uncaccoalition.org/en/home/164-funding-available-for-cso-uncac-compliance-reviews.html 7 March 2011. TI and the UNCAC Coalition are working hard to make civil society's voice heard in the UNCAC review mechanism. Thanks to a grant from UNDEF there is a small amount of funding for CSOs in countries which will undergo review in year two of the review process to prepare civil society reviews. Applications are due 14 April 2011. Download the application form now! For more information please contact Phoebe Hardefeldt phardefeldt@transparency.org ]]> Phoebe Hardefeldt Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:40:37 +0000 Uprisings in the Arab world: time to address illicit wealth http://www.uncaccoalition.org/en/home/167-uprisings-in-the-arab-world-time-to-deny-safe-haven-for-hiding-illict-wealth.html Maud Perdriel-Vaissiere, 8 March 2011. Corrupt money associated with bribes received by public officials from developing and transition countries is estimated at US$ 20-40 billion per year. Without a doubt, the repatriation of illicit assets could provide much needed funds for development, particularly in the many countries where large numbers of people live in poverty.However, according to the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR) of the hundreds of billions of dollars stolen over the last fifteen years, no more than US$5 billion has been recovered to date. When one thinks that this single figure is equivalent to the reportedly personal fortune amassed by Mobutu Sese Seko, one of Africa’s most corrupt rulers, you can see a lot remains to do to recover stolen assets that can help developing countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

The recent events in Tunisia, Egypt and now in Libya might change the rules of the game. As a matter of fact, they offer a unique opportunity for governments to translate into actions Article 51 of the UNCAC, which makes returning stolen assets a fundamental principle for all states parties. In France, the UK and Switzerland, governments heeded calls to freeze and investigate the assets of ex-president of Tunisia Ben Ali and ex-president of Egypt Hosni Mubarak, their family members and close associates. Similar measures are currently being taken with respect to the assets belonging to Gaddafi and his cronies.

Let’s hope that this reaction to the “Arab revolutions” announces a real shift in the policy framework of receiving countries, so that they take all required measures to enable prompt recovery of stolen assets.  

On 7 March 2011, SHERPA and R'NAC (Réseau National Anti-Corruption) announced the lodging of a request to the Anti-Money Laundering and Suspicious Cases Unit of the Central Bank of the UAE to request the immediate tracing, identification and freezing of any funds and/or other assets belonging and/or related to Mr Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, Mrs Leila Trabelsi, Mr Mohamed Sakhr El Materi and other members and close associates of Ben Ali's family.

Read the UNCAC Coalition statements calling for action on stolen assets here.
]]> Phoebe Hardefeldt Thu, 24 Mar 2011 07:05:10 +0000 First Coordination Committee elections http://www.uncaccoalition.org/en/home/163-first-uncac-coalition-coordination-committee-elections.html

Phoebe Hardefeldt, 15 March 2011. The landmark elections for the first UNCAC Coalition Coordination Committee will be held online from 18 to 22 April 2011. The nomination period has now closed, and 21 candidates have been nominated for the 11 seats open on the Coordination Committee. Based on the nominations, five seats are uncontested - these being the East Asian seat which will be held by TAN, Philippines (represented by Vincent Lazatin); the two European regional seats which will be held by SHERPA (represented by Maud Perdriel-Vaissiere) and Transparency International Macedonia (represented by Slagjana Taseva), and the two International Member Organisation seats, which will be held by Christian Aid (represented by Eric Gutierrez) and Tearfund (represented by Melissa Lawson). In addition, the Coalition secretariat – Transparency International Secretariat (represented by Gillian Dell) – holds a permanent seat on the Coordination Committee. Coalition members can view the candidate profiles, with information about each organisation and their candidate, on the elections page of the website (you will need to login). To allow you to get to know the candidates, each candidate profile has a Q&A section where you can ask questions and find out more about each candidate.  

Voting passwords will be circulated to all members on 4 April 2011 so stay tuned! These will enable members to access the online voting system from 18-22 April to cast their vote. Keep an eye on the Coalition website elections page, where you can find election bulletins and details of the election process.

Composed of 12 members, the Coordination Committee will be the oversight and decision-making body of the Coalition. Eight seats are allocated on a regional basis, two seats go to International Member Organisations, one seat is reserved for Individual Affiliate Members, and the Coalition Secretariat has a permanent seat. Committee members are elected for two year terms, except that five of the Members elected in the inaugural election shall have one-year terms. You can read more about the UNCAC Coalition governance, and the responsibilities and rules of procedure of the Coordination Committee on our website

]]> Phoebe Hardefeldt Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:58:58 +0000