Johannesburg
3 April 2007
Global Forum V has provided the space for government and civil society
organisation voices from over the world to be heard on the very difficult issue
of preventing and combating corruption.
When he opened Global Forum V yesterday, the President of the Republic of
SA, Thabo Mbeki, reminded us that corruption is a multi-faceted, systemic and
institutional global phenomenon, involving all sectors of society in both
developed and developing countries.
It distorts human values, exacerbates market inefficiencies, undermines
democracy, its institutions and ethos, engenders citizen frustration with
elected and appointed officials, seriously erodes confidence in the process of
governance and is detrimental to the effective and efficient delivery of goods
and services to those most in need.
Specific anti-corruption instruments are important but effective
anti-corruption strategies, President Mbeki said, must address unfettered,
unchecked globalisation which creates an environment in which corruption
flourishes, where the wealthy and powerful prey on the vulnerable. Effective
global anti-corruption strategies have to be linked to a global agenda that
promotes pro-poor sustainable development.
Even as we hone our strategies to prevent and combat corruption, President
Mbeki urged us to promote sustainable growth and development, as well as
ecological and environmental sustainability and to address the glaring unequal
division of wealth at the global, regional and national levels.
In my opening address to delegates, yesterday, I urged that we, gathered at
this forum, "become the change we want to see."
I also called for greater co-operation around asset recovery and for the
development of new systems to measure corruption and efforts to combat it.
Delegates reflecting regional perspectives of anti-corruption measures
elaborated further on the key messages from President Mbeki.
Ghanaian Attorney General and Minister of Justice Joe Ghartey said that
Africa's fight is now coming to the fore as individual states and the African
Union uphold freedom, peace, justice and dignity. The prevention and combating
of corruption is essential to Africa, Minister Ghartey said.
He said this period is a new dawn for Africa - to build strong and enduring
democracies using the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)
mechanisms such as self-monitoring and peer review systems and for saying no to
corruption.
But to be successful, the fight against corruption must be backed by
political will and genuine determination � it involves us all because we all
benefit from a corruption-free society. The majority is saying no to corruption
and although this will be a long and sustained fight, Africa is determined to
win it, Minister Ghartey said.
Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany Harro Adt's message from the
G8 countries was that this is a necessary global fight as increasing
trans-national activities lead to increasing trans-corruption. All countries
needed to provide information and strengthen co-operation between them. The
forum, Ambassador Adt said, would be helpful in providing information for the
future.
Ciodosbaldo Russian, Controller-general of Venezuela (and representing the
Organisation of American States) pointed out that countries had to bring on
board the tax havens so that corrupt officials could be extradited. There was
also a need for repatriation of funds in a manner which furthered the progress
of the countries entitled to these funds.
Former hosts and delegates participating in the theme workshops of this
forum have voiced similar sentiments but with different emphases, depending on
their particular experiences.
Deputy Director Joseph Gangloff, heading the United States' delegation to
this conference used a striking analogy to illustrate what we need to do
achieve the goal to which we have committed ourselves by ratifying the United
Nations (UN) Convention Against Corruption.
"There is a saying that a rising tide lifts all boats," said deputy director
Gangloff.
He continued: "Our collective vision � carried through the Global Forum
process and leading to the UN Convention � has been that rising tide, lifting
our communities closer to the ultimate goal of government without
corruption."
Minister Kim of Korea, also a former Global Forum host referred to an
African saying to capture our common destiny as humans � "if you want to go
first, go alone but if you want to go far, go together with your friends."
Deputy Minister Navaro, representing former host Brazil spoke frankly about
how his country had had to face corruption head-on.
Regional perspectives and workshops on the five themes of Global Forum V
provided for more in-depth sharing of successes and problems. Some of the
issues which came up were:
* the importance of access to information
* harnessing information age technology such as the internet to empower
people
* the important role that civil society should play in very concrete
anti-corruption activities such as whistle-blowing; organised labour is well
placed to play this role
* the need to protect whistle-blowers
* the importance of asset recovery and the difficulties still being experienced
with this
* peer review as a mechanism to ensure compliance with conventions.
For enquiries, please contact:
Lewis Rabkin
Cell: 082 497 3220
Issued by: Department of Public Service and Administration
3 April 2007
