Many say globalization creates atmosphere in which corruption can thrive.
|
|
With strong political will, governments could develop UN convention against corruption by 2003, Third Committee told; Many say globalization creates atmosphere in which corruption can thrive (C)1994-2001 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD RDATE:15102001 Continuing their debate on crime prevention, criminal justice and international drug control issues, several members of the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian, Culture) this afternoon described national, regional and international efforts to stem corrupt practices. Corruption, they said, was a formidable global problem that violated and undermined public trust. Many said the spread of globalization — which opened up borders, liberalized trade and increased the flow of commerce and capital between States — also created an atmosphere in which corruption could thrive. In the era of globalization, the delegate of Indonesia said, it was important to have a binding document on the international level. His Government supported the convening of an intergovernmental open-ended expert group to prepare draft terms of reference for the negotiation of a future legal instrument against corruption. By working together and showing strong political will, Member States could develop the United Nations Convention against Corruption by 2003, he predicted. Indonesia, he continued, was doing its part in winning back the trust of its public by attempting to extract the cancer of corruption from society. The President of Indonesia requested that all Cabinet Members report on all their wealth to a Government commission. This small step was to become the starting point for a much larger effort for social change. Further, there were about 7,000 high-ranking officials who were obliged to complete forms concerning wealth and submit them to the commission. The Government hoped it would set an example for other nations to follow. The representative of Venezuela supported sanctions at the international level to dissuade corrupt practices. That Government played a crucial role in the adoption of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption. Others said that corruption exacted high costs from often limited public budgets, which in turn diverted revenues away from social development programmes. It was these programmes, according to others, which could ultimately steer poorer, drug-producing nations on a path toward sustainability. There was a clear link, said the representative of San Marino, between poverty and the increase in drug production and trafficking. In some developing countries, drug cultivation was the most profitable activity. There were no economic means to convert those crops into viable and legal produce. Poor countries needed to be provided with alternative that would allow them to achieve better living standards without having to carry on illegal and immoral activities. Also participating in the discussion were representatives of Jamaica (speaking on behalf of Caribbean Community (CARICOM)), China, Algeria, Sudan, Brazil, Slovakia, Israel, Czech Republic, Pakistan, and Guatemala. The Committee will meet again tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. to continue its consideration of issues related to crime prevention, criminal justice and international drug control. Background The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian, Cultural) this afternoon continued its consideration of items related to crime prevention, criminal justice and international drug control. For details, see Press Release GA/SHC/3632 of 12 October. The Committee had before it the Genoa Summit 2001 Communique (document A/56/222-S/2001/736), which was adopted by the Heads of States and Government of the G-8 (major industrialized democracies and representatives of the European Union), held in Genoa, Italy from 20 to 22 July 2001. According to the communique, the G-8 leaders convened their first Summit of the new millennium to discuss the most pressing issues on the international agenda. The document also contained the “Genoa Plan for Africa”, in which the leaders agreed to support African efforts to resolve problems on that Continent. They welcomed the New African Initiative, which provides a basis for a new… More : accessmylibrary.com |