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Special Session of OAS Working Group on Probity and Public Ethics
March 31, 2000Canadian Intervention
Douglas Breithaupt
Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice.Thank you, Madame Chair.
On Canada’s behalf, I would like to convey our appreciation to you for organizing this special meeting of the Working Group, which has in part included the important participation of representatives from other international organizations, the private sector and civil society.
Corruption is a challenge that no country, or Hemisphere, can afford to ignore. It must be addressed, taking into account its many aspects, and efforts promoting good governance are much to be desired. It must be a broad-based effort.
The Organization of American States has already made significant advances in the fight against corruption. The Inter-American Convention against Corruption broke new ground. The Convention is quite comprehensive, as it seeks to promote and strengthen mechanisms to prevent, detect, punish and eradicate corruption, and to promote, facilitate and regulate co-operation among States Parties in this effort. The adoption of the Inter-American Program for Co-operation in the Fight against Corruption has also been an important achievement.
In addition, a particularly helpful and welcome development has been the reconvening of the Working Group on Probity and Public Ethics, under your able guidance, Madame Chair. As a result, the fight against corruption is constantly on the agenda of the OAS and progress can be much assisted by the meetings of the Working Group. Thought can be given on how the Working Group may best organize its work.
What is perhaps most encouraging about this meeting is that it constitutes strong and clear evidence that, within the Organization of American States, there is a continued and heightened state of interest on the part of Member States to make increased progress. Member States are very much looking forward, rather than backward, in dealing with a common foe.
Canada signed the Inter-American Convention against Corruption in Guatamala City at the OAS General Assembly meeting last year. Canada is now actively engaged in working towards the ratification of the Convention. At present, an analysis is under way to determine whether Canada is now in a position to ratify the Convention or whether some legislative changes may be required in advance of ratification. This matter is receiving priority attention.
We thank the Secretariat for its considerable efforts, with the assistance of Member States and the Chair, in finalizing the Questionnaire that has now been distributed to Member States for reply. The process of responding to the Questionnaire should be very constructive. To be most meaningful, consideration should be given to determining how the results may be shared among Member States and what sort of follow-up should be connected with the completion of the Questionnaires. We note from comments made earlier today by the Secretariat that some thought on this matter has already taken place.
As Canada’s Ambassador to the OAS indicated to members of the Permanent Council at its meeting on December 15th of last year, Canada is supportive of a peer review mechanism, or an evaluation system of some kind, that is feasible, appropriate to the OAS, and one that is developed by Member States. We support the development of a practical system of follow-up suitable for our needs within the Hemisphere.
Canada looks forward to participating actively in ongoing efforts within the OAS to make continued progress in the fight against corruption within the Hemisphere.
