In recent years, several U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement actions have involved the Middle East, including the United Nations Iraq Oil-for-Food scandal. There is also a growing commitment by several countries in the Middle East to investigate and prosecute corruption, and to proliferate new bribery laws, including the UK Bribery Act; these actions are quickly changing the way global entities approach compliance.
The two-day conference from 30-31 January focused on how to combine the efforts of the public and private sector to tackle corruption and the corrosive abuse of power, which destabilizes communities’ social fabric, particularly in more vulnerable post-conflict regions. Participants agreed that corruption is a complex economic, political and social challenge that threatens democracy and sustainable development and the rule of law.
The KRG delegation met with officials from the Abu Dhabi Accountability Authority and Chief Compliance Officers from many global companies who are leading the way to minimizing bribery risks, and informed them about the KRG’s Good Governance & Transparency Strategy. The KRG strategy, which was launched in July 2009, endorses and adopts many key elements contained in the UNCAC, such as establishing codes of conduct for public officials, increasing transparency in government operations including procurement and public finances, the prevention of corruption in the private sector, strengthening of civil society, and implementing robust audit and enforcement mechanisms.
(Source: KRG)
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