Washington -- "No nation is immune
from corruption," according to Acting Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State for International Crime Elizabeth Verville.
In a USINFO webchat December 12, Verville
and other State Department experts discussed ways the U.N.
Convention Against Corruption will prevent and reduce corruption
worldwide. The convention is "a historic achievement
of the international community and an important tool for
improving the conditions for economic and social development
worldwide," said Gerald Anderson, deputy assistant
secretary of state for economic and social policy in the
Bureau of International Organization Affairs.
Corruption limits opportunities and reduces
competition, according to Andrew Haviland, deputy director
of the State Department's Office of Monetary Affairs. Haviland
said nations must work with the private sector to set standards
of conduct. The convention is an important part of this
collective effort, he said.
There is a relationship between corruption
and poverty, Haviland said. "Corruption can hurt all
segments of society, but tends to be most harmful to the
poor," Haviland said. Corruption places high financial
demands on countries with limited resources, he said.
The U.N. convention calls for governments
to prevent corruption and to improve law enforcement cooperation.
It requires countries to criminalize corrupt behaviors such
as bribery, embezzlement and money laundering. Nations are
expected to prevent corruption by ensuring that financial
management systems are transparent, developing anti-corruption
strategies, instituting codes of conduct, establishing appropriate
accounting standards and allowing public access to information.
"The convention commits parties to
take action on a wide range of fronts," Verville said,
"thus recognizing that the fight against corruption
requires a comprehensive response."
The convention is based on the belief that
good governance and reducing corruption can improve economic
growth and development and reduce poverty, Anderson said.
The U.N. document has been signed by 140
nations and ratified by 80, including the United States.
Representatives of these nations, including Verville, are
currently meeting in Dead Sea, Jordan, to develop a process
for promoting implementation of the convention. (See related
article.)
The officials also discussed the roles individuals
can play in the fight against corruption.
Although the convention may seem far removed
from everyday life, Anderson said, it does provide insights
on how individuals can fight corruption. The average person
can help by refusing to take or give bribes and by encouraging
others to behave the same way. "Progress takes time.
But it does not happen unless individuals take action,"
Anderson said.
"Each person should adhere to the highest
standards of personal integrity in his or her daily dealings,"
Verville said. "If everyone did that, we would not
need treaties."
The transcript
of the webchat is available on USINFO. For more information
on U.S. policy, see Bribery
and Corruption and the eJournal USA Transforming
the Culture of Corruption.
Michelle Austein
USINFO Staff Writer
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