The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is one of the driving forces behind the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC), which convenes its 5th Global Conference in Manila from January 30 to February 2, 2013.
UNDP and GOPAC have been partners for almost a decade, with the UNDP Bureau for the Arab States funding the launch of GOPAC’s regional arm, the Arabian Parliamentarians Against Corruption (ArPAC) in 2004.
In the last few years, UNDP has taken a two-pronged approach to support ArPAC—training members on various anti-corruption themes, and providing assistance in drafting legislation related to freedom of information and ill-gotten wealth.
On a global scale, UNDP has tapped its vast network of lawmakers and leaders to raise awareness about GOPAC. They have sponsored three national workshops—in Burkina Faso, Timor Leste and Morroco—for GOPAC members, members of parliament and civil society.
This year, UNDP is sponsoring an ArPAC representative to attend the 5th GOPAC Global Conference in Manila. The event brings together 600 delegates from 86 countries all over the world, including members of parliament, leaders in industry and civil society and non-government organizations.
UNDP Country Representative Toshihiro Tanaka is one of several distinguished speakers at the 5th Global Conference. Tanaka will discuss the Effective Implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). The UNDP-GOPAC Assessment Tool for Parliamentarians will be launched during the conference.
“The UNCAC is one of our greatest weapons in combating widespread corruption in the world today,” said GOPAC Chairperson-Elect Senator Edgardo J. Angara. “We must make sure that our parliamentarians, who exercise oversight powers, will be able to make the most of this tool.”
Sharing the twin principles of anti-corruption and parliamentary strengthening, UNDP and GOPAC expect to the seeds of their long-term cooperation to bear much fruit in the Philippines, the Arab region and the rest of the world.
