The report found weaknesses in Curaçao's key institutions like the public sector, political parties, and media which have resulted in a general lack of trust. Transparency International assessed Curaçao's ability to combat corruption and found these areas were the weakest links. To increase trust, the report recommends guaranteeing accountability, transparency across all sectors of society, and ensuring laws and procedures are properly followed in practice.
Below is a list of consumer reporting companies updated for 2019.1 Consumer reporting companies collect information and provide reports to other companies about you. These companies use these reports to inform decisions about providing you with credit, employment, residential rental housing, insurance, and in other decision making situations. The list below includes the three nationwide consumer reporting companies and several other reporting companies that focus on certain market areas and consumer segments. The list gives you tips so you can determine which of these companies may be important to you. It also makes it easier for you to take advantage of your legal rights to (1) obtain the information in your consumer reports, and (2) dispute suspected inaccuracies in your reports with companies as needed.
FIGHTING CORRUPTION IN SOUTH ASIA: BUILDING ACCOUNTABILITY Dr Lendy Spires
Hardly a speech is delivered in South Asia without mention of the need to fight corruption in the region. Yet despite the lofty promises, corruption is on the rise. This report shows how a serious lack of political will on the part of governments to make laws work, means that government action to fight corruption is largely ineffective. The report draws on the findings of in-depth research on anti-corruption efforts in Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and SriLanka, which analysed almost 70 institutions across the six countries.
While none of the institutions assessed were found to be free from corruption risks, this report focuses in particular on the judiciary and anti-corruption agencies as critical actors in the fight against corruption. It highlights common challenges in the region and presents the governments of South Asia with a clear set of urgent priorities which need to be addressed in order to translate their anti-corruption rhetoric into concrete action.
The key findings of the report are:
1. Citizens find themselves unable to access key information on how their governments are performing in order to hold them to account.
2. The lack of meaningful protection for whistleblowers means that the chances of detecting wrongdoing by those in positions of power are slim.
3. Widespread political interference in the critical work of anti-corruption agencies and the judiciary makes them ineffective in keeping a check on government.
This situation presents serious challenges for the rule of law in the region. Some laws are inconsistent with international standards, while others are not equally enforced and independently adjudicated. As a result, corruption and other crimes are not effectively and impartially investigated or punished. This creates an atmosphere where the corrupt continue to get away with abusing their positions for their own personal gain at the public’s expense. Nevertheless, there have been some positive developments in the fight against corruption over the last 10 years. Most significantly, all six countries in this study have ratified the UN Convention against Corruption. However, there is still a long way to go to turn these commitments into meaningful action. The analysis presented here suggests a worrying reluctance on the part of the governments concerned to enable citizens to help shape the decisions that affect their daily lives.
The right to information:
A long way to go Citizens continue to face challenges in realising their right to information. When citizens’ right to know is denied, they are less able to hold decision makers to account for their actions. Comprehensive Right to Information (RTI) legislation is in place in Bangladesh, India and Nepal and has recently been passed in Maldives.
Dr haluk f gursel, keeping tax supported officials around the globe accountableHaluk Ferden Gursel
Private Citizens, eager for accountability, are asking for a transparency in the changes in income and assets/fortunes of politicians and high level civil servants, accumulated while they are at the service of community.
Public opinion does not tolerate the illicit enrichment and conflict of interest, while on duty. For example, to obtain assurances of lack of fraud and corruption by politically exposed persons (PEP) is on the rise everywhere. A PEP is defined as someone who, through their prominent position or influence, is more susceptible to being involved in bribery or corruption. In addition, any close business associate or family member of such a person will also be deemed as being a risk, and therefore could also be added to the PEP list.
Below is a list of consumer reporting companies updated for 2019.1 Consumer reporting companies collect information and provide reports to other companies about you. These companies use these reports to inform decisions about providing you with credit, employment, residential rental housing, insurance, and in other decision making situations. The list below includes the three nationwide consumer reporting companies and several other reporting companies that focus on certain market areas and consumer segments. The list gives you tips so you can determine which of these companies may be important to you. It also makes it easier for you to take advantage of your legal rights to (1) obtain the information in your consumer reports, and (2) dispute suspected inaccuracies in your reports with companies as needed.
FIGHTING CORRUPTION IN SOUTH ASIA: BUILDING ACCOUNTABILITY Dr Lendy Spires
Hardly a speech is delivered in South Asia without mention of the need to fight corruption in the region. Yet despite the lofty promises, corruption is on the rise. This report shows how a serious lack of political will on the part of governments to make laws work, means that government action to fight corruption is largely ineffective. The report draws on the findings of in-depth research on anti-corruption efforts in Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and SriLanka, which analysed almost 70 institutions across the six countries.
While none of the institutions assessed were found to be free from corruption risks, this report focuses in particular on the judiciary and anti-corruption agencies as critical actors in the fight against corruption. It highlights common challenges in the region and presents the governments of South Asia with a clear set of urgent priorities which need to be addressed in order to translate their anti-corruption rhetoric into concrete action.
The key findings of the report are:
1. Citizens find themselves unable to access key information on how their governments are performing in order to hold them to account.
2. The lack of meaningful protection for whistleblowers means that the chances of detecting wrongdoing by those in positions of power are slim.
3. Widespread political interference in the critical work of anti-corruption agencies and the judiciary makes them ineffective in keeping a check on government.
This situation presents serious challenges for the rule of law in the region. Some laws are inconsistent with international standards, while others are not equally enforced and independently adjudicated. As a result, corruption and other crimes are not effectively and impartially investigated or punished. This creates an atmosphere where the corrupt continue to get away with abusing their positions for their own personal gain at the public’s expense. Nevertheless, there have been some positive developments in the fight against corruption over the last 10 years. Most significantly, all six countries in this study have ratified the UN Convention against Corruption. However, there is still a long way to go to turn these commitments into meaningful action. The analysis presented here suggests a worrying reluctance on the part of the governments concerned to enable citizens to help shape the decisions that affect their daily lives.
The right to information:
A long way to go Citizens continue to face challenges in realising their right to information. When citizens’ right to know is denied, they are less able to hold decision makers to account for their actions. Comprehensive Right to Information (RTI) legislation is in place in Bangladesh, India and Nepal and has recently been passed in Maldives.
Dr haluk f gursel, keeping tax supported officials around the globe accountableHaluk Ferden Gursel
Private Citizens, eager for accountability, are asking for a transparency in the changes in income and assets/fortunes of politicians and high level civil servants, accumulated while they are at the service of community.
Public opinion does not tolerate the illicit enrichment and conflict of interest, while on duty. For example, to obtain assurances of lack of fraud and corruption by politically exposed persons (PEP) is on the rise everywhere. A PEP is defined as someone who, through their prominent position or influence, is more susceptible to being involved in bribery or corruption. In addition, any close business associate or family member of such a person will also be deemed as being a risk, and therefore could also be added to the PEP list.
Corruption in develeoping countries challenges & responseShahid Hussain Raja
Although corruption is not an exclusively Third World phenomena as corruption exists both in developed and developing countries in different forms and degrees yet its pervasiveness in the developing countries cannot be denied.
This presentation is an attempt to gauge this pervasiveness in the developing countries, find out its causes and lay down a framework for its minimization, if not total eradication
Whistleblowers' law to fight corruptionM S Siddiqui
The regulators like ACC, Ombudsman and other agencies may encourage whistle blowing by establishing support structures and programs for policy implementation and penalizing violations of the rights and obligations of parties to whistleblowing.
Bangladesh has passed "The Public Interest-Related Information Disclosure (Protection) Act, 2010" but has hardly used it to fight against corruption.
The law is kept in the safe custody of the administration and used in compliance reports to UN only. This is not a secret document. A mere publicity of the existence of the law can create an unfavorable atmosphere for the corrupt persons and encourage the whistleblowers to blow a whistle in case of corruption.
Dr haluk f gursel, verifying the accountability of public servantsHaluk Ferden Gursel
Private Citizens, eager for accountability, are asking for a transparency in the changes in income and assets/fortunes of politicians and high level civil servants, accumulated while they are at the service of community.
Public opinion does not tolerate the illicit enrichment and conflict of interest, while on duty. For example, to obtain assurances of lack of fraud and corruption by politically exposed persons (PEP) is on the rise everywhere. A PEP is defined as someone who, through their prominent position or influence, is more susceptible to being involved in bribery or corruption. In addition, any close business associate or family member of such a person will also be deemed as being a risk, and therefore could also be added to the PEP list.
The national anti corruption conference 2014Lwazi L.
The purpose of the National Anti-Corruption Conference 2014 is to lobby for multi-sectoral collaboration and standardisation in the fight against corruption in South Africa. The Conference provides an opportunity for high-level
government and business representatives, as well as civil society, to examine best practices for combating corruption with a particular focus on; promoting transparency and integrity in organising sport and other major events and
establishing cutting-edge measures for governments and business to combat corruption.
Disclosure of information about government actions and spending puts government and public officials under the constant watch of the public, allowing them to track what resources are spent, who contracts are awarded to and so on.
When designing proactive disclosure systems or voluntary disclosure has five principles governments should follow. Information needs to be: available, findable, comprehensible, low cost or free, up-to-date and relevant.
Speech by Ambassador Andrea Matteo Fontana, EU Delegation to Jordan, launching ceremony of the SIGMA report on "Integrity risk assessment in the Jordanian Procurement System", 30 January 2017.
Corruption in develeoping countries challenges & responseShahid Hussain Raja
Although corruption is not an exclusively Third World phenomena as corruption exists both in developed and developing countries in different forms and degrees yet its pervasiveness in the developing countries cannot be denied.
This presentation is an attempt to gauge this pervasiveness in the developing countries, find out its causes and lay down a framework for its minimization, if not total eradication
Whistleblowers' law to fight corruptionM S Siddiqui
The regulators like ACC, Ombudsman and other agencies may encourage whistle blowing by establishing support structures and programs for policy implementation and penalizing violations of the rights and obligations of parties to whistleblowing.
Bangladesh has passed "The Public Interest-Related Information Disclosure (Protection) Act, 2010" but has hardly used it to fight against corruption.
The law is kept in the safe custody of the administration and used in compliance reports to UN only. This is not a secret document. A mere publicity of the existence of the law can create an unfavorable atmosphere for the corrupt persons and encourage the whistleblowers to blow a whistle in case of corruption.
Dr haluk f gursel, verifying the accountability of public servantsHaluk Ferden Gursel
Private Citizens, eager for accountability, are asking for a transparency in the changes in income and assets/fortunes of politicians and high level civil servants, accumulated while they are at the service of community.
Public opinion does not tolerate the illicit enrichment and conflict of interest, while on duty. For example, to obtain assurances of lack of fraud and corruption by politically exposed persons (PEP) is on the rise everywhere. A PEP is defined as someone who, through their prominent position or influence, is more susceptible to being involved in bribery or corruption. In addition, any close business associate or family member of such a person will also be deemed as being a risk, and therefore could also be added to the PEP list.
The national anti corruption conference 2014Lwazi L.
The purpose of the National Anti-Corruption Conference 2014 is to lobby for multi-sectoral collaboration and standardisation in the fight against corruption in South Africa. The Conference provides an opportunity for high-level
government and business representatives, as well as civil society, to examine best practices for combating corruption with a particular focus on; promoting transparency and integrity in organising sport and other major events and
establishing cutting-edge measures for governments and business to combat corruption.
Disclosure of information about government actions and spending puts government and public officials under the constant watch of the public, allowing them to track what resources are spent, who contracts are awarded to and so on.
When designing proactive disclosure systems or voluntary disclosure has five principles governments should follow. Information needs to be: available, findable, comprehensible, low cost or free, up-to-date and relevant.
Speech by Ambassador Andrea Matteo Fontana, EU Delegation to Jordan, launching ceremony of the SIGMA report on "Integrity risk assessment in the Jordanian Procurement System", 30 January 2017.
1. Published On: Tue, Jun 25th, 2013
Politics | By Fernando Pico
Transparency International’s Curaçao Study
Highlights Weaknesses In The Public Sector,
Political Parties And Media
BERLIN, WILLEMSTAD - There is a general lack of trust in Curaçao’s key institutions, the anti-
corruption group Transparency International said in a report published today.
This is a major obstacle for strengthening the foundations of this new country and will limit the success
o f any programme addressing corruption and promoting good
governance.
Curaçao’s National Integrity System assessment — a study of the island’s most important institutions
for fighting corruption, promoting transparency, increasing accountability and good governance — was
undertaken over the past year and found the public sector, political parties and the media were the
weakest links in the island’s ability to combat corruption.
To increase the level of trust it is necessary to ensure proper procedures and instill integrity into the
country’s institutions. This means guaranteeing adequate accountability provisions that include
whistleblower protection mechanisms, and by enhancing transparency across all sectors of society.
“Corruption is not an isolated phenomenon and fighting it requires all institutions, sectors and people
working together to stand up and put an end to impunity for corruption. Effective prevention of
corruption is the responsibility not just of leaders but of all citizens of Curaçao”, says Alejandro
Salas,Transparency International’s Regional Director for the Americas. “People need to know their
rights and hold their elected politicians accountable.”
The National Integrity System assessment reveals that political parties in Curaçao do not function well
2. in all aspects. There is a potential risk of dominance of party discipline over governance both among
members of Parliament as well with the Executive. This can hinder the independence of both
institutions and, worryingly, blurs the separation of power as laid out in the Constitution. In addition,
the legislature does not make full use of the oversight instruments at its disposal to hold the Executive
to account.
In contrast to political parties, the judiciary, the Ombudsman and the supreme audit and supervisory
institutions score relatively well in the Curaçao National Integrity System assessment. The research
shows that they are largely independent and considered adequately resourced. Thus, they have the
potential to create an effective system of checks-and-balances over the public, private and social sectors
of the country and serve as a key defense against those that repeatedly get away with acts of corruption.
However, this potential is undermined by weaknesses identified in other sectors and areas.
The study illustrates broad concerns about some sectors that should promote integrity. An example of
this is the media. While the legal framework provides an environment which is conducive to the
development of a diverse media landscape, the reality is that there are not enough trained journalists,
especially investigative journalists. The content of media reports is at times influenced by the fact that
many media companies are heavily dependent on private financiers and the advertising market for their
income. Requirements to ensure the integrity of media employees are scarce. This undermines the
independence and the accountability of the media.
Transparency International’s Curaçao National Integrity System assessment clearly shows that although
the legislative framework is fairly strong on the island, there are some considerable gaps between law
and practice in many areas, such as the Parliament and the Executive. In numerous cases,existing
legislation is not applied consistently in practice, and those who are responsible for the execution of the
laws, or are required to comply with them, do not always know how to do so. This is particularly true
with regards to transparency, where much of the information which is legally required to be made
public, such as implementation reports, personnel decisions, and other administrative decisions, are
not consistently or systematically published.
Based on the findings of the Curaçao National Integrity System assessment, Transparency International
recommends the following:
Curaçao must ratify the United Nations Conventions against Corruption as a matter of urgency and
develop an action plan to ensure its implementation and enforcement.
All sectors of society must strive to increase the levels of transparency in their activities, internal
procedures and funding sources. Given the pivotal role played by political parties in the Curaçao
National Integrity System, the transparency of political party financing requires particular attention.
The Government should prioritize funding and capacity building of law enforcement agencies to enable
them to effectively conduct investigations and follow-up on cases put forward by Curaçao’s oversight
agencies (the judiciary, the Ombudsman and the supreme audit and supervisory institutions).
The Executive must work to ensure greater independence and accountability of the public sector. This
entails ensuring that principles of proper administration are followed and that all internal mechanism to
ensure accountability and integrity are in place. Compliance with these mechanisms must be monitored
and sanctions imposed where necessary.
Transparency International is the civil society organization leading the fight against corruption.
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