OAS Phase I Questionnaire Responses: TI Contributions to the Follow-Up Mechanism

TI is coordinating a regional initiative in the Americas in relation to the Follow-Up Mechanism which aims to:

• promote the full implementation of the terms of the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption by each State Party.
• provide a civil society perspective to ensure a more realistic assessment of the implementation and enforcement of the Convention by each
  State Party.
• promote awareness of the essential role of civil society as essential in the fight against corruption in the Americas.

The Americas Conventions Programme is assisting TI-Chapters and other local civil society organizations with the preparation of responses to Phase I questionnaires. The completed questionnaires will play an important role in OAS monitoring and will be publicized and posted on the Conventions website.

TI and its National Chapters have also contributed to monitoring in the past.

OAS/UN Convention Report Card

TI is developing an Americas Conventions Report Card to monitor regional progress in the implementation of OAS and UNCAC provisions in four priority areas; namely public contracting, public integrity, private sector and civil society participation. This Report Card will be produced on a regular basis in order to provide a clear and media-friendly assessment of Convention implementation by a range of countries in the areas selected. Thus, it will serve as a powerful advocacy tool for national civil society campaigns on the chosen topic areas and, more generally, for civil society efforts to bring pressure to bear in favour of convention implementation.

Americas Guide to the OAS and UN Anticorruption ConventionsThe Programme is preparing an advocacy guide for civil society on the OAS and UN Conventions (also including reference to the OECD Convention and other anti-corruption commitments relevant for the Americas), combined into one document, and published in English, Spanish and possibly Portuguese.

TILAC Conventions WebsiteOn 27 April 2005, TI launched a new website in English and Spanish about anti-corruption conventions in the Americas, including the Inter-American Convention against Corruption of the OAS, the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention. The new website aims to gather, exchange and disseminate systematically and regularly updated information, existing tools and resources, activities and news related to the anti-corruption Conventions which will be available in Spanish, English and possibly Portuguese. The website summarizes the content of the different conventions, their associated monitoring mechanisms as well as civil society’s role in the drafting, ratification, follow-up and promotion of the conventions. Visitors to the site can also find regularly updated news articles related to the conventions. It also serves as an online community, bringing together individuals and organisations dedicated to maximising the potential of these Conventions in fighting corruption.

TI Algeria Workshop and other activities to Promote AU Convention and UNCAC ratificationIn November 2003, TI Algeria organised a workshop to promote the Algerian government’s ratification of the African Union Convention and the UNCAC. Speakers at the well-attended workshop included a representative of the President’s office and TI specialists on the two conventions. Apart from this meeting, TI-Algeria has been in regular contact with government authorities to promote ratification and implementation of the two conventions. Moreover, they have engaged in a range of awareness-raising activities, including articles in the press, radio programmes and production of a newsletter on the subject. TI-Algeria has also coordinated with officials and deputies working on the Algerian draft law against corruption, which was recently submitted for vote to the National Assembly.

On the occasion of the next International Anti-Corruption Day, on 9 December 2005 TI Algeria will convene a meeting aiming to discuss adaptation of Algerian national legislation to meet the obligations under UNCAC and the African Union Convention.

TI Morocco and TI Guatemala Explanatory Guides (in French and Spanish respectively) to Promote UNCAC ratification
In order to explain and generate support for ratification of the UNCAC in Morocco and Guatemala, the TI National Chapters in those countries each prepared a booklet targeted at NGO activists, the media and members of the public. Copies of the booklets were distributed to a wide range of organisations.

TI Sri Lanka Workshop to Promote UNCAC implementation
The Sri Lankan government was among the first to ratify the UNCAC. On 9 December 2004, the first international anti-corruption day, TI Sri Lanka organised a public discussion of the UNCAC and of the steps required for implementation of the Convention.

TI National Chapter Activities to Promote UNCAC on UN Anti-Corruption Day
TI National Chapters have been actively engaged in efforts urging governments to ratify the Convention. One focus for their activities was the first ever UN Anti-Corruption Day held on 9 December 2004. The date is significant because the UN Convention against Corruption was opened for signing in Merida, Mexico in on 9 December 2003. In particular, national Chapters in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecuador, Italy, Morocco, Palestine, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Zambia were especially active on the day in advocating for their governments to ratify or implement the Convention with workshops, issuing press releases and carrying out other awareness-raising activities. The TI Secretariat supported these activities by producing a range of materials including a flyer on the UNCAC, a TV spot and a web page devoted to UN Anti-Corruption day. Other National Chapters engaged with their governments on the issue and participated in seminars and other less high profile activities.