[ap-intact] INFO: Pacific Anti-Corruption Updates (11 Dec 2015) -- Kiribati, Tonga, Tuvalu, PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu

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

A few more ways that UNDP-UNODC supported International Anti-Corruption Day (9 December) through small grants provided by the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project:

Kiribati Children’s Campaigner’s Network (KCCN). Anti-Corruption Day awareness-raising event, featuring youth and women who have taken on the role as anti-corruption champions, speakers from key Ministries responsible for anti-corruption and the launch of the Promise to End Corruption Campaign - where aspiring MPs were invited to sign up to the Promise to End Corruption campaign, ahead of the Kiribati National Elections scheduled for 31 December. Other activities included the Break the Corruption Chain Dance competition, karaoke competition, Snap 12 corruption pictures competition and the youth video competition on Break the Corruption Chain.

Tonga Youth Network (TYN). “Social Experiment” activity, which aimed to raise awareness both in the capital city and rural areas on how corruption robssociety. This activity built on their ongoing Corruption Robs Youth campaign, which UN-PRAC provided seed funding for. In partnership with MPs, CSOs and the relevant Government Ministries, TYN hosted a series of talk back shows leading up to, and on 9 December, designed and disseminated anti-corruption posters and flyers, including for the rural areas, and actively promoted their work using social and local media, to engage a wide audience.

The Tuvalu Government, in partnership with Tuvalu Association for Non-Government Organisations (TANGO) and Tuvalu Media Department. One-day workshop on 9 December for stakeholders, which discussed the way forward for Tuvalu after UNCAC accession. Led by the Attorney General’s Office, in partnership with TANGO and the Media Department, the workshop also hosted a series of talk back shows on UNCAC and anti-corruption in general, during the week of 9 December.

PNG:

PNG ranked most corrupt. Papua New Guinea is ranked 145 out of 174 countries perceived to have high levels of public sector corruption in the world. http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2015/December/12-10-16.htm

Opposition says contracts going to ministers' company. The Papua New Guinea opposition has slammed the government for awarding a major road contract to a company it says is owned by cabinet ministers. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/291549/png-opposition-says-contracts-going-to-ministers'-company

Solomon Islands:

Corruption day competition winners. Transparency Solomon Islands announced the lucky winners of the international anti-corruption day short essay and poetry competition. http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/national/9156-corruption-day-competition-winners

Vanuatu:

Vanuatu Has ‘Integrity Crisis’.
Transparency International Vanuatu says it remains gravely concerned about what it dubs the integrity crisis which has seen 15 of the country's politicians convicted and 14 jailed. http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2015/December/12-09-03.htm

MPs banned from public office. A court in Vanuatu has banned 15 convicted politicians from holding public office for ten years. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/291506/vanuatu-mps-banned-from-public-office

Tonga:

Chief Secretary under fire from media. The Prime Minister's Office and the Chief Secretary in Tonga are being criticised for lacking transparency and good governance. http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/291749/chief-secretary-in-tonga-under-fire-from-media

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