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INSULZA: FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION REQUIRES COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, said today that the fight against corruption, to be effective, must be understood as a long-term process and not “something that can be decreed or abolished with a single decision or a magical solution.”

Speaking at the first plenary session of the 12th International Anti-Corruption Conference, taking place in Guatemala, Insulza said a comprehensive anti-corruption strategy must include preventive and punitive measures, at both the national and international level. He called for adopting strategies that reflect the shared responsibilities of the state, the private sector, civil society and the international community.

Insulza highlighted efforts the OAS has undertaken in the past decade to confront the problem of corruption, recalling that in 1996, the regional body adopted the first anti-corruption treaty in the world. Since then, he said, 33 of the 34 OAS countries have ratified it, and 28 states participate in the Follow-Up Mechanism for the Implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (known by its Spanish acronym, MESICIC).

Taken as a whole, the evaluations done through this process “show that institutions do matter, that legal frameworks and public policies do make a difference, and that, in many cases, shortcomings on this front could be contributing to the incidence of acts of corruption.” Such evaluation mechanisms, and the recommendations made to the states through this process, help to ensure that anti-corruption treaties are carried out, “that they are not simply pieces of paper,” he said.

Insulza stressed the importance of modernizing the state to make it more efficient and transparent. Citing some examples, he said that 54% of the countries examined through the MESICIC process were given recommendations to adopt measures expanding access to public information; 82% were urged to improve their analyses of public officials’ assets to prevent and detect potential conflicts of interest; and 85% were advised to develop measures to avoid “revolving door” problems resulting in conflicts of interest after public officials leave their jobs.

“The best impediment against corruption is to be able to rely on efficient, transparent institutions. This holds true for the Executive Branch, as well as the Legislative and Judicial branches and the oversight bodies,” Insulza said. Transparency in the financing of campaigns and political parties is also critical to combat corruption in a democracy, he said, adding, “We have to facilitate a more open and profound debate on this issue that is so crucial for good governance.”

Among other priority areas, the Secretary General stressed the need for countries to strengthen efforts to pursue and punish acts of corruption through internal controls, and to heighten international cooperation in mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and extradition. The private sector is also part of the problem of corruption “and must be part of the solution,” Insulza said. Another fundamental element, he noted, is the participation of civil society and the press in preventing and calling attention to corruption.
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As part of his visit to Guatemala, Insulza held a private meeting yesterday with President Oscar Berger. He also met with Vice President Eduardo Stein, Foreign Minister Gert Rosenthal and other high-level officials.

Reference: E-244/06