The United Nations Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project (Phase II)
UN-PRAC Project Phase II is a four-year initiative that aims to support Pacific Island countries (PICs) strengthen their national integrity systems to promote ‘clean’ governments and create an enabling environment for trade, business, investment and sustainable development to increase in the region. This, in turn, will enhance the delivery of equitable and highquality services to all Pacific Islanders. The first phase of the project was from 20122016. The project is currently on Phase II from 2016-2020.
UN-PRAC covers 15 countries and territories in the Pacific. They include the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, the territory of Tokelau, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Our stakeholders include Members of Parliament, governments, civil society organizations (CSOs), media agencies, private sector organizations, as well as regional and international organizations.
The goal of this Project is to promote and strengthen measures to prevent and fightcorruption more efficiently and effectively in the Pacific region. This aligns with the purpose of United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and the spirit of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.
Anti-Corruption and the SDGs
A related anchor of UN-PRAC is the SDGs, adopted by the UN Member States. SDG 16 seeks to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Target 16.5 specifically calls on States to substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all its forms, and target 16.6 to develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
Pacific Youth Forum Against Corruption
Formed in 2015 during the Pacific Youth Leaders Forum Against Corruption, the Pacific Youth Forum Against Corruption (PYFAC) is a network of anti-corruption youth advocates from across the region that mobilises youth advocates across the 14 island countries in the fight against corruption.
PYFAC is a joint initiative between the Pacific Youth Council and the UN-Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project.
“The White Outline represents entrance to a safe space created for youths to voice their concerns to fight corruption at all levels in our society.
The tree represents our society. The different parts of the tree like the branches, leaves, stem, roots depict the different institutions in our society that have different parts to play for the tree to grow. So, to keep a healthy and a corrupt-free society as youths we have to fight corruption at all levels, starting from the roots upwards.
The colored windows represent the youths from Pacific island countries with different backgrounds who will and must work together to achieve a corrupt-free society,” Espellin Banga, USP Student.
The Portal (dedicated to my daughter Mayah Woi) Artist: Espellin Banga, USP Student, Vanuatu
against corruption, we can foster a culture of lawfulness, help build accountable and transparent institutions, and enable people everywhere to access opportunities and live healthy and productive lives.”
Yury Fedotov, UNODC Executive Director
“Kiribati is very proud to be a member of this UNCAC family... In our Kiribati Vision for 20 years (KV-20 plan), one of its key pillars aspires to create Kiribati as a corrupt free society by the year 2036. Our National Anti-Corruption Strategy and KV-20 will serve as our Government’s blueprints to set Kiribati, as a small and vulnerable country to any global economic and environmental catastrophes, on a clear and concrete pathway toward realizing the benefits of preventing and fighting corruption.”
His Excellency, Taneti Maamau, President of Republic of Kiribati.
(Source: Kiribati Independent)
“Corruption begets more corruption and fosters a corrosive culture of impunity. The United Nations Convention against Corruption is among our primary tools for advancing the fight. Sustainable Development Goal 16 and its targets also offer a template for action.”
(António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, International Anti-Corruption Day 2018)
Your Team at UNPRAC:
Mihaela Stojkoska Burwitz
UNDP Anti-Corruption Specialist
Email: mihaela.stojkoska@undp.org
Phone: (679) 3312500 Ext 559
Lavenia Rokovucago
Programme Officer
Email: lavenia.rokovucago@undp.org
Phone: (679) 3312500 Ext 560
Maria Lee
Programme Assistant
Email: maria.lee@undp.org
Phone: (679) 3312500 Ext 719
Annika Wythes
UNODC Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser
Email: annika.wythes@un.org
Phone: (679) 3312500 Ext 510
Venina Niumataiwalu
Programme Officer
Email: venina.niumataiwalu@undp.org
Phone: (679) 3312500 Ext 562
“United
Pacific Anti-Corruption Fact Sheet : United Nations Convention Against Corruption
The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) is the first legally binding, global anti-corruption instrument. The Convention was adopted by the General Assembly in October 2003 and entered into force in December 2005. To date, 169 countries plus the European Union have become States parties to UNCAC, representing a ground-breaking commitment to tackle corruption.
UNCAC is unique in its holistic approach, adopting prevention and enforcement measures, including mandatory requirements for criminalizing corrupt behaviours. The Convention also reflects the transnational nature of corruption, providing an international legal basis for enabling international cooperation and recovering proceeds of corruption (i.e. stolen assets). The important role of government, the private sector and civil society in fighting corruption is also emphasized. The Convention includes an implementation review mechanism, whereby each State party is reviewed periodically by two other States parties on its implementation of UNCAC. The Convention also calls on each State party to provide technical assistance and training, and exchange information for the purpose of strengthening implementation.
Prevention
Prevention, as they say, is better than cure. This is also the case in fighting corruption.
By focusing on corruption prevention, the impact of corrupt behaviour can be reduced. For example, effective corruption prevention can: reduce opportunities for tax evasion thus increasing revenues; ensure a more even playing field for the private sector by limiting unfair advantages in winning contracts or achieving business
Corruption suppresses economic growth by driving up costs, and undermines the sustainable management of the environment and natural resources. It breaches fundamental human rights, exacerbates poverty and increases inequality by diverting funds from health care, education and other essential services. The malignant effects of corruption are felt by billions of people everywhere. It is driven by and results in criminal activity, malfunctioning state institutions and weak governance.
Ban Ki-moon
UN Secretary-General
Key Chapters of UNCAC
Chapter II: Preventive measures
Chapter III: Criminalization and law enforcement
Chapter IV: International cooperation
Chapter V: Asset recovery
licenses; and reduce leakage of public funds destined for delivering health and education services or building roads and other critical infrastructure.
As such, the Convention dedicates a chapter to corruption prevention with measures directed at both the public and private sectors. These measures include: developing and implementing anti-corruption policies; maintaining a body or bodies to implement prevention policies and to share anti-corruption knowledge; maintaining proper systems for the recruitment, hiring and promotion of public officials; ensuring transparency in the funding of political parties and candidates; preventing conflicts of interest and maintaining codes of conduct for public officials; enabling the reporting of corrupt conduct; maintaining financial and other disclosures by public officials; as well as enforcing appropriate disciplinary measures.
The Convention also requires: effective systems of procurement, based on transparency, competition and objective criteria in decision-making; transparency, accountability and integrity in managing public finances; transparency in public administration, including providing access to information; the integrity and independence of the judiciary and prosecution services; preventing corruption in the private sector; promoting the participation of civil society and individuals in the fight against corruption; and preventing money-laundering.
Criminalization and law enforcement
While corruption prevention is fundamental, being able to enforce the rules and hold people to account is vital to anti-corruption efforts. The Convention addresses the criminalization of a range of corrupt behaviours including: bribery, embezzlement and misappropriation (in both the public and private sectors);
trading in influence; abuse of functions; illicit enrichment; moneylaundering; concealment; and obstruction of justice.
Effective law enforcement is pivotal to investigating and prosecuting corruption. For this reason, UNCAC provides for a range of enforcement methods including: the freezing, seizure and confiscation of proceeds of corruption; witness and whistleblower protections; maintaining a dedicated law enforcement capability; enabling cooperation with national authorities; overriding bank secrecy provisions to enable the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences; as well as enabling cooperation among national authorities, and also with the private sector. The Convention also provides guidance regarding the liability of legal persons, prosecution, adjudication and application of sanctions, as well as compensation for damage.
Conference of the States Parties to UNCAC
Established to improve the capacity of and cooperation between States parties to achieve the objectives set forth in the Convention, and to promote and review the implementation of the Convention.
Implementation Review Group
Oversees the Implementation Review Mechanism of the Convention which includes identifying challenges and good practices as well as considering technical assistance requirements to strengthen the implementation of UNCAC.
Other Subsidiary Bodies: Working Group on Prevention
Expert Meeting on International Cooperation Working Group on Asset Recovery
International cooperation
Given the transnational dimension of corruption, States parties are required to cooperate in criminal matters relating to corruption and are encouraged to cooperate in civil and administrative proceedings. UNCAC also enables extradition and mutual legal assistance in the investigation and prosecution of corruption offences. The Convention itself can be used a legal basis for international cooperation. Law enforcement cooperation is central to UNCAC, with the Convention addressing joint investigations and the use of special investigative techniques. Other forms of cooperation include the transfer of sentenced persons and criminal proceedings.
Asset recovery
As a fundamental principle underpinning the Convention, it was deemed essential by many developing countries to include provisions to enable the recovery of the proceeds of corruption, or stolen assets. Several provisions focus on how to prevent and detect transfers of the proceeds of corruption, including: the application of enhanced scrutiny to accounts and transactions of politically exposed persons; financial disclosure systems; identification of financial institution customers; establishing a financial intelligence unit; the direct recovery of property; confiscation through international cooperation; special cooperation without prior consent to disclose; as well as the return and disposal of assets. The key message to corrupt officials is that there will be no safe haven in which to hide the proceeds of corruption.
Technical assistance
States parties are encouraged to provide a range of technical assistance, including specialized training, financial and human resources, research and information sharing, to developing countries. UNODC and UNDP manage a joint project to support Pacific Island Countries in implementing the Convention.
For more information, contact the team at UN-PRAC.
Pacific Island States Parties to UNCAC
Country Date of ratification/ accession Papua New Guinea 16 July 2007 Fiji 14 May 2008 Palau 24 March 2009 Vanuatu 12 July 2011 Cook Islands 17 October 2011 Marshall Islands 17 November 2011 Solomon Islands 6 January 2012 Federated States of Micronesia 21 March 2012 Nauru 12 July 2012 Kiribati 27 September 2013 Tuvalu 4 September 2015 Niue 3 October 2017 Samoa 18 April 2018
“Corruption which is represented in red is the abuse of power which can be addressed when people stand as one in unity (white). The brown hand depicts people reaching out to belong somewhere and become who they are supposed to be,” USP Student and Artist, VP.
Abuse of Power Artist: VP, USP Student
“The offence of corruption and bribery cannot and must not be condoned and should instead be treated with the utmost and indeed absolute disgust it warrants. The public, Ni-Vans and foreigners alike, must understand that offences of this nature, if allowed to take root, will quickly become endemic and be extremely difficult to bring under control, if not eradicated.”
Justice Mary Sey, Supreme Court, Vanuatu.
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“Corruption and hypocrisy ought not to be inevitable products of democracy, as they undoubtedly are today” – Mahatma Gandhi, Activist and Leader of India’s Independent Movement, India.
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“If something can corrupt you, you’re corrupted already”
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– Robert Nesta Marley, Musician, Jamaica
“This paintings viewed by others would have different meanings and interpretations. I had an idea that evolved (at least in my mind) into various concepts and ideas. I will let you find and interpret what my painting means to you,” USP Student and Artist Joseph.S.Hereniko
Faiaksia.
Eternal Artist: Joseph.S.Hereniko
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“I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.” -Mahatma Gandhi, Activist and Leader of Independent Movement, India
“Corruption is the enemy of development, and of good governance. It must be got rid of. Both the government and the people at large must come together to achieve this national objective.”-Pratibha Patil, President (2007-2012), India.
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“Corruption has its own motivations, and one has to thoroughly study that phenomenon and eliminate the foundations that allow corruption to exist.”-Eduard Shevardnadze, Politician, Georgia.
“People power must be combined with good governance to bring about real, deep and lasting change. This combination can achieve almost everything from eliminating corruption to ending malnutrition and illiteracy.” Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, India.
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“Love thyself last, cherish those hearts that hate thee; Corruption wins not more than honesty.”
-William
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Shakespeare, Playwright,actor and Poet, England.
Between the lines
Artist: Telstar Jimmy
“Between the lines depicts how corruption makes us cross boundaries. Leading to destruction and degradation. Reading between the lines is also controversal in this period of time as values are changing,” USP Student and Artist Telstar Jimmy.
By: Espellin Banga
The Southern Cross: We are the Ocean
Our livelihood depends on it
A symbol of our voyage through time and space
It’s who we are and what has brought us all this far
It will guide us in this fight against corruption
Southern Cross Artist: Espellin Banga
“When I saw corruption, I was forced to find truth on my own. I couldn’t swallow the hypocrisy.”- Barry White, Musician, United States of America.
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“The fight against corruption is not bound to high-profile arrests and high-profile investigations. The fight against corruption is successful if you prevent corruption taking place in the first place.”- Ahmed Chalabi, Deputy Prime Minister (2005-2006), Iraq.
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“We must fight against negativeness - especially bureaucracy, corruption and wastefulness.”Nong Duc Manh, Politician, Vietnam.
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“When you don’t take a stand against corruption you tacitly support it.” - Kamal Haasan, Politician, India.
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A Thousand Nines
Better roads to ease your workload and so, they were told. Give us a thousand nines
We’ll have it done in no time With the city miles away
The dusty village track was a dismay
Papers were signed
Each villager devoted their time
For a thousand nines could change their lives
Men spoke of buying cars
Kids imagined travelling by bus
Women reaching the market on time
A dream come true for all wives
Trees cleared, only barren land awaiting the road plan.
Several trucks, bulldozers and diggers
Yes- it was so near!
A thousand nines and reality were crystal clear.
Days passed and soon weeks
Not a single truck to be seen
Months later at the village hall
The blame game was on
They turned to the chief and said:
“You signed it first, so did we all”
Alas! the contract was fake
Their Paradise, now a waste
“Who do we trust?”
“Government and companies, some are full of lust!”
A thousand nines left an imprint of scars
The villagers learnt the hard way
They demanded papers, had their say
Corruption was the enemy
They agreed not to entertain
Roadworks were completed without losing a thousand nines
Though it took another company and time.
The villagers agreed:
“Honesty is the best policy
Better meek then greed”
No longer were they blind
A thousand nines were a pain That changed their lives
By: Miliana Iga, PYFAC - FIJI
Corruption
In all its glory
Pretends to share
When it doesn’t Pretends to care
When it doesn’t
Can it be avoided
Yes it can
By: Broderick Mervyn, PYFAC - FIJI
If you make the move
“Civil society plays a strategic role in combating corruption through the provision of checks and balances, and improving accountability in public and private sector.” – Vani Catanasiga, CSO Advocate, Fiji.
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“There is no compromise when it comes to corruption. You have to fight it.”- A. K. Antony. Politician, India.
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“Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions. When there is no sharing of power, no rule of law, no accountability, there is abuse, corruption, subjugation and indignation.”-Atifete Jahjaga, President (20011-2017), Kosovo.
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Split Worlds
Prestigious… preponderant… A pragmatist
Raised to portray perfection… Yet confined To playing a part not of my choice in this Promising world…
And a thousand times heavier than jewels
On skin… lay my talents dormant…
And a thousand times thicker than the Wallet I’m promised for following this path Becomes my skin because this is not my purpose
I am of people absent of purpose playing Rolls of pretense to please… Ploughing in Fields of mediocrity… The spectrum of green Blinds me from the fertile lands that if seen I will only be exiled to
And in the midst of the chatter, comparisons, Commotion do we really cogitate do we truly Communicate… To think beyond oneself
Or are we blinded by fear disguised as practicality
And when our fickle hearts seize to beat
Will we reflect and say yes, we followed our bliss
We searched for it in the depth of oceans
And the crevices of mountains
In the hearts of our neighbours
And lived
Listen to those in the infant stages of wealth
Live as if we’re truly equal
Listen to those who have more
Yet take responsibility of your own life
Listen to each other so dreams never go unheard
Learn the courage to overcome corruption
Learn to live the word that will liberate us
Love
By: Hilda Vukikomoala, PYFAC - FIJI
“Corruption is an obstacle to a fundamental human right to education,” Gareth Sweeney, Transparency International
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“For our oceans to remain alive providing food and livelihoods for millions of people, and playing a critical role in stabilizing our climate, we need a radical transformation of fishing practices. This won’t happen if the current web of secrecy around fisheries is maintained. We need transparency to ensure all involved have the information, the knowledge and the trust needed to ensure the oceans can continue to provide food and livelihoods for generations to come.”
Bunny McDiarmid, Executive Director Greenpeace International
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Villainy
I am 21 and I realise that I am vastly underprepared for life.
I entered the world scared for dear life of the boogieman, Running from shadows in the dark. In constant terror of storm cloudsOf things that I have no control over.
As if the people who spend tax dollars on advertising instead of illuminating pedestrian crossings are not villains to be feared.
As if the people who blame all our problems on colonialism aren’t ignoring the nepotism, misogyny and corruption that exists in our societies.
As if Pacific people were so weak and feeble that all that we are and will ever be is a consequence of colonialism.
As if kindness is some sort of transaction you clock your kindness hours and there is suddenly a balance that is owed to you in cheques payable.
As if women and children are not more likely to be attacked by someone that they know and love.
As if I am not guilty of stereotyping.
As if we have no hand in the pain that exists in our world.
Ursula, the boogie man and hades are real, But not as real as you or me.
We cannot kill the monster until we are willing to see it dead in the eyes Its tinted glasses – its long dark hair – its crooked smile Until we are willing to see it cloaked in our own skin. It is far too easy to turn a blind eye when the monster bears a striking resemblance to us.
By: Ernest Gibson, PYFAC - FIJI
Chicanery
There is no end
It is a cycle
A regenerative being
That feeds upon itself
A concoction of anger,
Revenge, power
Weakness, love
And hate
A raging fire
Consuming the conscience
Pride is its fuel
And there is no end
However, it begins
All the time
A seed planted
In feeble minds
Fertilized by greed
Rain is inconsistent
But one thing is certain
Its harvest
The list is endless
It covers our world
It is the dark cloud
Above our homes
There is no end
In the hunger for power
There is no end
When the objective is domination
Let it echo throughout the world
And in the minds
Of all Honesty is power Let it prevail
By: Hilda Vukikomoala, PYFAC - FIJI
UN-PRAC
United Nations Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project
