The first day of the Conference of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE CSCE) on "Fighting Corruption, Defending Democracy: the role of national parliaments" was concluded.
In the context of the session on the role of national parliaments in preventing and fighting corruption, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the OSCE Ministerial Council on Fighting Corruption, Ms. Anita Ramasastry pointed out that corruption is a complex phenomenon, whose different manifestations are linked to war, pandemic and climate change and underlined the leading role that parliaments and parliamentary institutions should play in preventing and fighting corruption.
The Executive Secretary of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) Ms. Hanne Juncher noted that the existence of state commitment, the adoption of a national strategy, and the cultivation of a culture of zero tolerance for corruption are important ingredients in fighting corruption.
The Head of the Corruption and Economic Crime Section of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Ms. Brigitte Strobel-Shaw, in an online intervention, referred to the work of that Office in the area of anti-corruption, including the identification of best practices. She also noted the need to align national legislation with international standards, pointing out that most of the weaknesses in the fight against this phenomenon are due to legislative gaps. OSCE Chairperson and Special Representative on Combating Corruption Ms. Irini Charalambidou stressed that parliaments should effectively use all the tools arising from their legislative and supervisory role to ensure that the state is free from corruption, in cooperation with all relevant bodies, international organizations, civil society and the media. (In the second session, key policies and best practices for preventing corruption and enhancing transparency and accountability were discussed. Roby Senderowitsch, pointed out that corruption is a symptom of various phenomena that coexist in societies and stressed the importance of adopting policies that promote transparency and accountability. He also stressed the importance of political will and appropriate mechanisms to ensure the implementation of the laws and measures adopted.
The Head of the Department of Democratisation of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODHIR), Mr. Konstantine Vardzelashvili, referred to the work carried out by ODHIR in cooperation with state institutions and other international organisations. He stressed in particular the importance of the adoption of a workable and accessible Code of Conduct by parliaments, including practical measures for its implementation. Jon Vrushi, pointed out that in the context of anti-corruption action, there is a need for transparency in the data relating to the financial statements of elected officials and the reports of lobby groups, for strengthening oversight and monitoring institutions, and for supporting and empowering the media, civil society and whistleblowers.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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