Yemeni Parliamentarian Honoured with Inaugural International Anti-Corruption Award
Ottawa, Canada – The Honourable Ali Ashal, a parliamentarian from Yemen, has been presented with the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption’s (GOPAC) inaugural International Anti-Corruption Award for his work fighting corruption and promoting oversight in Yemen and around the world. Mr Ashal will now represent GOPAC over the next year as GOPAC Ambassador.
“Mr Ashal’s accomplishments are a shining example of the power parliamentarians around the world can have in their countries and sends a clear message that corruption can be defeated,” said GOPAC Chair Ricardo Garcia Cervantes. “Today we honour Mr Ashal and encourage others to learn from his dedication and to integrate values of integrity, accountability, collaboration and diversity in their work.”
Mr Ashal’s accomplishments in his 15 years as a parliamentarian include introducing the Access to Information Right Law in the Yemen Parliament which passed in 2012. He has also promoted parliamentary oversight in the resource sector including playing a prominent role in the cancellation of an extension that the government intended to grant to American Hunt Co. after the expiration of the original agreement. He joined GOPAC in 2005.
The International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) partnered with GOPAC for the award and has provided a scholarship for the winner to attend the IACA Summer Academy from 2 to 11 July 2015. This programme is designed for professionals looking to expand their knowledge and experience to better counter corruption.
As Mr Ashal is unable to attend the programme, GOPAC and IACA are proud to offer the scholarship to the Honourable Willias Madzimure, a fellow nominee and equally dedicated anti-corruption leader. Mr Madzimure is a parliamentarian from Zimbabwe and has made numerous strides nationally, regionally, and globally to fight corruption, including developing a code of conduct that was used as a blueprint for the Parliament of Zimbabwe’s Code of Conduct.
“Parliamentarians must be at the forefront of the fight against corruption,” said Martin Kreutner, Dean of IACA. “IACA is delighted to be sponsoring this award and looks forward to further fruitful cooperation with GOPAC in the years to come.”
GOPAC is a worldwide alliance of parliamentarians working together to combat corruption, strengthen good government, and uphold the rule of law. Based in Ottawa, Canada, GOPAC has 52 national chapters on 5 continents. GOPAC supports its members’ efforts through original research, global anti‑corruption capacity building, and international peer support. Visit GOPAC on the web at gopacnetwork.org, on Twitter at twitter.com/GOPAC_Eng, and on Facebook at facebook.com/gopacnetwork.
IACA is an international organization and world leading educational institution based in Laxenburg/Vienna, Austria. Through anti-corruption education, research and cooperation, it seeks to empower professionals for the challenges of tomorrow. IACA brings together 64 Parties and 53 Signatories from around the world. Visit IACA on the web at [www.iaca.int]www.iaca.int, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/IACA.Laxenburg, and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/iacalaxenburg.
“Mr Ashal’s accomplishments are a shining example of the power parliamentarians around the world can have in their countries and sends a clear message that corruption can be defeated,” said GOPAC Chair Ricardo Garcia Cervantes. “Today we honour Mr Ashal and encourage others to learn from his dedication and to integrate values of integrity, accountability, collaboration and diversity in their work.”
Mr Ashal’s accomplishments in his 15 years as a parliamentarian include introducing the Access to Information Right Law in the Yemen Parliament which passed in 2012. He has also promoted parliamentary oversight in the resource sector including playing a prominent role in the cancellation of an extension that the government intended to grant to American Hunt Co. after the expiration of the original agreement. He joined GOPAC in 2005.
The International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) partnered with GOPAC for the award and has provided a scholarship for the winner to attend the IACA Summer Academy from 2 to 11 July 2015. This programme is designed for professionals looking to expand their knowledge and experience to better counter corruption.
As Mr Ashal is unable to attend the programme, GOPAC and IACA are proud to offer the scholarship to the Honourable Willias Madzimure, a fellow nominee and equally dedicated anti-corruption leader. Mr Madzimure is a parliamentarian from Zimbabwe and has made numerous strides nationally, regionally, and globally to fight corruption, including developing a code of conduct that was used as a blueprint for the Parliament of Zimbabwe’s Code of Conduct.
“Parliamentarians must be at the forefront of the fight against corruption,” said Martin Kreutner, Dean of IACA. “IACA is delighted to be sponsoring this award and looks forward to further fruitful cooperation with GOPAC in the years to come.”
GOPAC is a worldwide alliance of parliamentarians working together to combat corruption, strengthen good government, and uphold the rule of law. Based in Ottawa, Canada, GOPAC has 52 national chapters on 5 continents. GOPAC supports its members’ efforts through original research, global anti‑corruption capacity building, and international peer support. Visit GOPAC on the web at gopacnetwork.org, on Twitter at twitter.com/GOPAC_Eng, and on Facebook at facebook.com/gopacnetwork.
IACA is an international organization and world leading educational institution based in Laxenburg/Vienna, Austria. Through anti-corruption education, research and cooperation, it seeks to empower professionals for the challenges of tomorrow. IACA brings together 64 Parties and 53 Signatories from around the world. Visit IACA on the web at [www.iaca.int]www.iaca.int, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/IACA.Laxenburg, and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/iacalaxenburg.
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Contact:
Ann Marie Paquet
Director of Communications
GOPAC Global Secretariat
+1.613.366-3164 x 304
annmarie.paquet@gopacnetwork.org