[ap-intact] INFO: Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (17 April 2015) – Youth Forum, Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands

-
[Facilitator’s note: Thank you to Annika Wythes, Luisa Senibulu, and Samita Singh of the joint UNDP-UNODC Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project for sharing these updates.]

Pacific Youth Forum Against Corruption poster. The poster at right was developed from the winner of the Pacific Youth Forum Against Corruption “Capturing Corruption Photo Contest”, an initiative of the joint UNDP/UNODC UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project, in partnership with the Pacific Youth Council. The winning entry was submitted by Daniel Fisher of the Cook Islands. The photo contest was part of the lead up to the Youth Forum.

See also: Pacific youths selected as winners of ‘Capturing Corruption’ photo contest.

Fiji: Corrections boss in FICAC spotlight. The Fiji Corrections Service says the country's anti-corruption watchdog is investigating its chief, Lieutenant Colonel Ifereimi Vasu. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/271263/fiji-corrections-boss-in-ficac-spotlight

Fiji: Call for restrictions on NGOs to go before next election. The international group which observed Fiji's election last year has called for revisions in a law restricting civil society groups. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/271308/call-for-restrictions-on-fiji-ngos-to-go-before-next-election

Fiji: Opposition in 'wonder' over MP resignation. Fiji's opposition says it's concerned about the sudden resignation of the former health minister. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/271157/fiji%27s-opposition-in-%27wonder%27-over-mp-resignation

PNG: Report on MPs performance out soon. Transparency International Papua New Guinea is due to release its second Parliament Performance Report next month. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/271329/report-on-png-mps-performance-out-soon

PNG: Social media law could chill free speech. Punishing social media use could remove an essential check and balance on abuse of power in Papua New Guinea, warns the Pacific Freedom Forum. http://www.pacificfreedomforum.org/2015/04/say-no-to-png-social-media-law-pff.html

PNG: Corruption hotline nets hundreds of possible cases of graft. An anonymous text message line has uncovered 250 cases of potential corruption in the Papua New Guinea's Department of Finance. http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/program/pacific-beat/png-corruption-hotline-nets-hundreds-of-possible-cases-of-graft/1436464

Solomon Islands: Lands Minister vows to fight corruption. The Minister of Lands, Housing & Survey (MLHS) has told Parliament he will work hard to get rid of corrupt practises within the Ministry. http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/6571-lands-minister-vows-to-fight-corruption

Popular posts from this blog

Middle East & North Africa - Ukraine - Sri Lanka

-
Corruption fuels ongoing conflict. The Middle East and North Africa has been in a decline on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for years. The region is also ranked as the "least peaceful region" according to the Global Peace Index. Transparency International (TI) argues that corruption, conflict, and security are profoundly intertwined. TI: https://www.transparency.org/en/news/cpi-2022-middle-east-north-africa-corruption-fuels-ongoing-conflict   [Opinion] Ukraine's corruption purge is setting the stage for private investment-driven recovery. Corruption is regarded as a key threat to the Ukrainian economy, depriving public budgets and discouraging foreign direct investments (FDI). The current administration has taken strong anti-corruption action, and the country has witnessed a significant increase in FDI in recent years, says author. DevDiscourse: https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/business/2353089-ukraines-corruption-purge-setting-stage-...
Read more

The Pacific - Nepal - Eastern Europe & Central Asia

-
[Blog] How are perceptions of corruption in seven small Pacific countries? Larger Pacific Island neighbors are often garnering the lion's share of attention both from researchers and policy makers. How are the experiences of corruption in countries like Tuvalu, Tokelau, Niue, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), The Cook Islands, Palau, and Nauru? DevPolicy Blog: https://devpolicy.org/perceptions-of-corruption-in-seven-small-pacific-island-countries-20230223/   [Opinion] Two decades of new anti-corruption law in Nepal: Why it missed its mark. According to a Nepalese journalist, the Anti-Corruption law and Prevention of Corruption act of 2002 laid the foundation for numerous investigations, scandals, and court cases. To a large extent, they did however fail to enable significant conviction and return of assets. Online Khabar: https://english.onlinekhabar.com/anti-corruption-law-missing-target.html   [Blog] Growing security risks and authorit...
Read more

Global - Sub-Saharan Africa - Turkey & Syria

-
Invisible Trillions review: Global capitalism operates beyond the rule of law and threatens democracy. Raymond W. Baker's new book "Invisible Trillions" argues that "secrecy has become as important for corporations as transparent and taxable profits used to be". "Only radical improvements across the globe in financial transparency and accountability, and in regulatory capacity and integrity, can break this cycle of political decay and despair". The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/invisible-trillions-review-global-capitalism-operates-beyond-the-rule-of-law-and-threatens-democracy-199311   [Blog] The dynamics of violent extremism in sub-Saharan Africa. There is no better environment for the expansion of violent extremist groups than a vacuum in state authority. These groups begin to compete with the state and may even be initially attractive to communities weary of years of lawlessness, corruption, and chaos according to autho...
Read more