(E-145/01)
July 7, 2001
OAS
SPONSORS ANTI-CORRUPTION FORUMS
IN CENTRAL AMERICA
Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua are
hosting a series of international forums designed to examine how to
effectively combat corruption and unlawful practices in the Americas.
The forums are sponsored by the Organization of American States.
In
a message to the participants, OAS Secretary General César Gaviria cited
the Inter-American Convention against Corruption as part of "a bigger
navigational chart" for collective action. "The OAS views the
war against corruption as a process and a comprehensive policy," said
Gaviria, who stated that "while we do not feel laws are sufficient to
tackle the problem, we do believe they are an important vehicle for moving
toward that goal."
Against the backdrop of the OAS Anti-corruption Convention adopted
in 1996, these forums seek to bring
national laws in line with the Convention itself.
Gaviria said the objective of this new initiative is prevention
"which, as we all know, is the most effective weapon against the
problem."
The forums are part of an innovative thrust to help member states
implement measures called for under the anti-corruption treaty. The program is being pursued in close collaboration with
government and academic institutions in each Central American country,
under the auspices of United States cooperation programs.
Costa
Rica hosted the first forum on July 5, and Guatemala the following day,
with Honduras hosting on July 9, El Salvador July 11 and then Nicaragua
July 12. For each event, the host country's President or Vice
President has been scheduled to join representatives from the political
sectors as well as the private sector and civil society
Jorge García
González, Director of the OAS Department of Legal Cooperation and
Information, explained that experts from the five countries had spent the
last few months studying legislation in each country as they relate to
conflict of interest laws; access to information; income declaration by
public officials; systems to protect
those who report acts of corruption; and mechanisms
for civil society participation in preventing corruption.
Twenty-three member states have ratified the Inter-American
Convention against Corruption so far.
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