The role of National Parliaments in preventing and fighting corruption was discussed on Friday during an international conference hosted in Nicosia by Cyprus Parliament with the support of the OSCE PA International Secretariat.
In her keynote speech during a session of the conference OSCE CiO Special Representative for Combating Corruption Anita Ramasastry referred to the new reality that war, climate, pandemic and food security creates to the fight against corruption.
As she said, it is vital that the parliaments have recognised the corruption challenges but now war, pandemic, energy security means that action is needed.
She also said that while debating all these other issues, the issues corruption and good governance should be present as a part of the policy making solutions, not just a specialised, separate debate.She added that corruption is now producing war and makes it hard to secure peace.
Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) Executive Secretary Hanne Juncher, said that even though GRECO appreciates very much the high level of engagement of its member states, the implementation of GRECO’s recommendations can be further strengthened. She spoke of the need for concrete improvements, saying that anything that national parliaments can do to facilitate this, would be highly appreciated. She also stressed the importance of raising awareness on the cost and negative implications of corruption for people lives.
Chief of the Corruption and Economic Crime Branch of the UN competent office Brigitte Strobel-Shaw stressed the need to bring national obligations in line with international obligations. She also said that national parliaments have a central role to play by promoting adherence, enacting legislative measures necessary for the implementation and follow up on recommendations of the country’s reviews.
OSCE PA Vice-President, Special Representative of the OSCE PA on Combating Corruption Irene Charalambides, stressed the role of parliament on voting legislations to fight corruption and holding governments accountable. She also stressed the importance of the role that national parliaments can have in the ultimate control of public finances.
At the same time she said that the media plays an important role in defending democracy and it is the parliament’s obligation to guarantee freedom of the media and to secure the broader possible space for the civil society.
She referred to the negative experience of Cyprus concerning corruption, saying that it is important that national parliaments put their own house in order first.
Charalambides pointed out that corruption does not stop at national borders and that links across borders are common, which makes parliamentary cooperation at regional and global level a very valuable tool.
Source: Cyprus News Agency