Bratislava October 2007 PAR - AC CoP Meeting Anti Corruption Regional Programme Regional Programme

Bratislava October 2007 PAR - AC CoP Meeting The Case for a regional project 1. International AC treaties in force in the countries of the region determine unification of standards and benchmarks. 2. Fight against corruption in democracies in transition in the region presents some similarities

Bratislava October 2007 PAR - AC CoP Meeting 1. AC International legal framework CoE Conventions: –Criminal Law convention on Corruption –Civil Law convention on Corruption –On Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of Proceeds of Crime OECD Convention of Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International business Transaction United Nations convention on Transnational Organized Crime United Nations Convention Against Corruption

Bratislava October 2007 PAR - AC CoP Meeting UNCAC International Cooperation Operational cooperation at the international level among anti corruption institutions -Chapter 4: International cooperation. (Extradition, MLA, Confiscation and Recovery of Assets, Judgment recognition/enforcement, transfer of criminal proceedings, transfer of sentenced persons, law enforcement cooperation, joint investigation and special investigative techniques) -Chapter 5: Asset recovery

Bratislava October 2007 PAR - AC CoP Meeting UNCAC of the Members States to implement the Convention. (Chapter 6: Technical Assistance and Information Exchange – A. 60) International cooperation for developing the capacity of the Members States to implement the Convention. (Chapter 6: Technical Assistance and Information Exchange – A. 60) States Parties shall… –consider affording one another the widest measure of technical assistance, especially for the benefit of developing countries (a. 60) –maximize operational and training activities in international and regional organization –assist one another, in conducting evaluations, studies and research on Corruption –cooperate in providing each other with the names of experts who could assist in achieving that objective

Bratislava October 2007 PAR - AC CoP Meeting UNCAC The role of international organizations State party shall: –consider using sub-regional, regional and international conferences and seminars to promote cooperation and technical assistance and to stimulate discussion on problems of mutual concern (a. 60) –consider developing and sharing with each other and through international and regional organizations statistics, analytical expertise concerning corruption and information, as well as information on best practices to prevent and combat corruption (a 61).

Bratislava October 2007 PAR - AC CoP Meeting UNCAC Developmental prospective (a 62) enhance their cooperation at various levels with developing countries, enhance financial and material assistance and provide technical assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition provide training programmes and modern equipment to developing countries

Bratislava October 2007 PAR - AC CoP Meeting Why a regional project? In many countries of the region corruption has grown in a similar context: Transition > Implementation of a complex set of reforms that entails: –building the basic institutions of the state –creating the foundations of a market economy –transferring wealth from the state to the private sector on a large scale.

Bratislava October 2007 PAR - AC CoP Meeting Why a regional project? Transition - corruption > some elements most of the controlling structures of the communist system formally dismantled but new institutions of accountability slow to emerge. Persistence of culture of State intervention give decisional power to public service. High inflation in the early stages of transition > fall of the real wages in the public sector. > Similar problems to be addressed to limit corruption

Bratislava October 2007 PAR - AC CoP Meeting Existing AC Regional Project ACPN A mechanism for supporting anti corruption institutions. Network of practitioners working in anti-corruption institutions. Activities: highlighting and sharing best practices informing about techniques and ways of implementation of the UNCAC and other international legal instruments Facilitating the establishment of forms of cooperation between agencies in different countries updating the practitioners on new techniques and procedures and special methods for fighting corruption

Bratislava October 2007 PAR - AC CoP Meeting Current AC Regional Activity ACPN Activities finding experts for particular tasks (trainings, assessments, projects) creating a research centre really useful for AC practitioners providing technical assistance for capacity development (new)

Bratislava October 2007 PAR - AC CoP Meeting How to support these activities? A Website containing: –A tool facilitating the sharing of information (mailing list) –A database where to store the information gathered –A web-page for the organization of the Network activities.

Bratislava October 2007 PAR - AC CoP Meeting Technical Assistance (New Project) A new project exploiting synergies of UNDP BRC – UNODC – UNDP Country Offices UNDP BRC Overview of the region ACPN in place Capacity Dev. Team UNODC Specialized Expertise (UNCAC) Toolkits - Methodologies UNDP COs Country experience Existing contacts with institutions and practitioners Presence in the field

Bratislava October 2007 PAR - AC CoP Meeting Goals Equip selected anti-corruption practitioners with the knowledge and technical skills necessary for the enforcement of the UNCAC and other international legal instruments Enhance the capacity of selected anti-corruption institutions to effectively cooperate at the international level and establish better systems for mutual legal assistance

Bratislava October 2007 PAR - AC CoP Meeting Activities 1. Selection of countries and institutions COs activities and interest, Institutions interest 2. Capacity Assessment Workshop / Mission 4. Capacity development activities (international dimension) Study Tours – Staff Exchanges - Experts Visits/ assessment. 3. Response strategy (Action Plan) 5. Follow up (COs) ACPNACPN