For the 7th year, this 1½-day conference will again bring together those who are responsible for the ethics, compliance or business conduct programmes within their organisations. You will share with your peers practical information and experiences relating to current best practices and explore together some of the problems that are raised in doing business ethically. The meeting follows up on the last conference held in Paris in January 2009. It is an invaluable opportunity to network with a broad peer group of corporate managers working in this field.

Re-scheduled from 11 to 19 January.

Speakers include Eugene McErlean, former internal auditor at AIB, Bernadette Sullivan, former nurse at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Tom Clonan, former officer in the Irish Army and now Irish Times defence correspondent; and John Devitt, Chief Executive of TI Ireland. A panel of renowned whistleblowers will discuss the importance of speaking out in the public interest, and what steps they think need to be taken to promote good faith reporting in Ireland. The meeting will be moderated by RTÉ’s business correspondent Emma McNamara.

Silence has cost thousands of people their lives and livelihoods in Ireland. From the sexual and physical assault of children in the care of the State or the Church, to the gross abuse of financial power by bank executives; the one thing such cases had in common was the suppression of the truth. Those who knew often stayed silent. The victims of abuse and those who spoke out both suffered the consequences.

Transparency International Ireland will launch a new report on safeguards for whistleblowers in Ireland together with international best practice principles for whistleblower legislation at the event.

Co-organized by the African Union Commission and the UN Global Compact, this Forum will convene leaders from the public and private sectors to discuss partnership projects and the achievement of the MDGs on the African continent. This Forum will promote good governance and mobilize the African business community to advance the UN Global Compact's ten principles.
Obs! Event postponed, new date to be announced.

Every January, Asia’s most senior legal and compliance and anti-bribery professionals gather at this leading event to hear from world-class anti-bribery experts and international enforcement agencies, share best practice tips with their compliance colleagues, forge new relationships with in-house practitioners from across APAC, and build their network of professional support.

This year, as well as best-practice strategies for compliance with the FCPA and regional laws dealing with payments to public officials in Asia, we will also provide an in-depth examination of:

• commercial bribery
• dealing with corporate fraud
• managing investigations

Ethical Beacon’s Annual Anti-Corruption Asia Congress truly is the must-attend Anti-Corruption event for Senior Counsel and Chief Compliance Officers with responsibility for Asian operations and subsidiaries.

Improve the State of the World: Rethink, Redesign, Rebuild.
Improving the state of the world requires catalysing global cooperation to address pressing challenges and future risks. Global cooperation in turn needs stakeholders from business, government, the media, science, religion, the arts and civil society to collaborate as a true community. To this end, the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting has engaged leaders from all walks of life to shape the global agenda at the start of the year for the last four decades.
The 2010 programme will focus on the following six areas of inquiry and their global, regional and industry dimensions:

• How to Strengthen Economic and Social Welfare
• How to Mitigate Global Risks and Address Systemic Failures
• How to Ensure Sustainability
• How to Enhance Security
• How to Create a Values Framework
• How to Build Effective Institutions

The programme is continuously updated to reflect the latest developments around the world.

The theme of this year's Assembly of the African Union Commission is: Information and Communication Technologies in Africa: Challenges and Prospects for Development. Considerations will be made regarding several reports on committees, councils, and chairpersons of various groups such as the ICC, NEPAD, Peace and Security Council, and others. The EFA proposal led by the Republic of Sierra Leone will also be discussed.

The idea for this handbook came from the massive humanitarian response to the Asian tsunami, when the huge levels of resources committed by the international community created concern about new opportunities for corruption. Many international development agencies have put in place corruption prevention polices tailored to development programmes, but there was a noticeable gap in policies for preventing corruption in emergencies. Based on extensive research within and beyond the humanitarian sector, as well as detailed input from the humanitarian community itself, this handbook aims to fill that gap. It offers a menu of good practice tools for preventing and detecting corruption in humanitarian operations.

The handbook is primarily:

• aimed at managers and staff of humanitarian agencies, both at headquarters (HQ) and in the field
• directly for those on front line of aid delivery as well as to senior managers who determine organisational culture and values.

The handbook is designed to help anyone working in the humanitarian sector identify and prevent the corruption risks faced by their particular organisation or department, or within a specific programme or role.

The Commission for Social Development (CSocD) is a functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. It consists of 46 members elected by ECOSOC. The priority theme for 2010 is "Social Integration"

Since the convening of the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen in 1995, the Commission has been the key UN body in charge of the follow-up and implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action. As a result of the Summit, the mandate of the Commission was reviewed and its membership expanded from 32 to 46 members in 1996. It meets once a year in New York, usually in February.

Each year since 1995, the Commission has taken up key social development themes as part of its follow-up to the outcome of the Copenhagen Summit. The Commission's Programme of Work contains all documentation of the Commission for each of its sessions since the Summit.

The BIEC is a four day program of lectures and panel discussions featuring leading figures from across the world in economics, politics, civil society and the private sector. Speakers and participants will discuss different perspectives on the recent financial crisis and the international economy.

In particular, the Berlin International Economics Congress will pursue the following specific aims:

• To increase the range of stakeholders taking part in the global debate on the international economy by identifying and defining additional partners from the public sector, the private sector, civil society, and academia
• To explore the relationship between economic interdependence (economic bridges) and global peace and stability
• To assess the benefits and challenges of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and socially responsible investment (SRI) in international relations
• To explore the role of Cultural Diplomacy and Soft Power policies in strengthening multilateral cooperation in the global economy
• To produce clear policy recommendations to decision makers based on inter-disciplinary approaches and perspectives

The following issues will be addressed and explored:

• The New Economic World Order & International Relations
  (Focus: Russia, China, India, Brazil, South Africa, and Indonesia)
• Moving Beyond Copenhagen: Bridging International Economics and Climate Change
  (Focus: The Copenhagen Conference, Economic Dimensions of Climate Change, the Role of Civil Society, Green Technologies)
• The Global Financial Crisis
  (Focus: Causes, Impact, Protectionism and the Challenges Ahead; Case studies of Iceland, Dubai, Latvia, Hungary, and the US)
• Corporate Social Responsibility and Socially Responsible Investment
  (Focus: Multinational Corporations in Africa, Latin America and Asia, the Triple Bottom Line, Business Ethics, CSR Rating Indices)
• Traditional Industries in the Information Age
  (Focus: Real Estate, Tourism, Car and Aircraft Industries, and Agriculture)
• Ethics in Aid and Trade: Incentives and Impacts
  (Focus: Ethical Trading Initiatives, Fair-trade, Ethical Consumerism, The Role of NGOs)

If you would like to attend please apply online here.

"Business as Unusual"

The Sustainabillity Day is a new initiative to share and promote a ‘culture of common purpose’ leading toward new thinking and best practices in corporate sustainability at a global level. The Sustainability Day is a commitment which will be renewed over the years and will consolidate into a peer network for discussion and cooperation over the challenges of sustainability through policies and practices.

The event will draw together the key stakeholders of the sustainability domain from around the world and will be chaired by:

• Fulvio Conti CEO and General Manager of Enel
• Professor Mervyn King of South Africa, author of the King Reports on Corporate
  Governance, president of the Global Reporting Initiative, Supreme Court Judge
  and advisor to the United Nations and the World Bank.

At the event, the Economist Intelligence Unit will present the results of “The Business of Sustainability”, its new research into how companies worldwide are integrating goals of sustainability into their business strategies and practices.

Political financing regulation is a body of principles, rules and procedures through which parties attempt to limit the undue influence of money in politics. In most countries state bodies such as governmental departments, national electoral commissions, specialised financing monitoring bodies were entrusted or created to monitor and enforce political and financial regulations.

The list of corrupt practices experienced in Asia and Europe associated to party and election financing is widely known to decision-makers and the public at large: favouritism and malpractice in public procurement, distortion of privatisation processes, selective licensing, abuse of public resources for campaigning, creation of slush funds in state-owned enterprises and public bodies etc.

This 2-day workshop will look at what can be learned about a self-regulating body by looking comparatively at different regulatory experiences that have evolved across countries in Asia and Europe.

Drawing from different regulatory experiences and multi-disciplinary perspectives in both Asia and Europe, the workshop aims to:

• Examine existing bodies and mechanisms overseeing political financing.
• Discuss the challenges and trends facing political financing today, particularly in Asian and European democratising countries.
• Promote a professional network to discuss and exchange knowledge-based, innovative and integrated methods of strategies and activities regarding political financing.
• Contribute to closer and informal relationship between different national actors in Asia and Europe.

Each year, the High-Level Group brings together Heads of State or Government and some thirty Ministers of Education and of International Cooperation, heads of development agencies and representatives of civil society and the private sector.

Its role is to:

• maintain and reinforce political momentum in favour of EFA
• recommend priorities to accelerate progress
• highlight leading challenges
• leverage more resources for basic education

This report presents a regional overview of accountability and transparency in primary education management in seven African countries. It has been produced within the framework of Africa Education Watch (AEW). AEW is a threeyear programme (2007-2010) implemented by Transparency International (TI) that focuses on governance in the management of public funds in the primary education system.

As part of this programme, TI undertook a large-scale assessment of the effectiveness of decentralised accountability structures. It covered seven countries:

• Ghana
• Madagascar
• Morocco
• Niger
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Uganda.

Countries surveyed were selected based on the presence of a TI Chapter in the country with previous experience working on education. Another criterion was representation of economical and cultural differences.

Experts from the EU and the Member States will analyse the changes brought about by the Lisbon Treaty in the field of criminal justice. The conference will also link this discussion to the recently adopted Stockholm programme and analyse how these two developments are likely to affect future integration in the policy area as well as what new legislative measures might arise in the coming years.
Viviane Reding, the Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, will present her policy vision on the future of criminal justice.
The following issues will be explored:

• The EU’s competences in judicial cooperation in police and criminal matters, such as the possibility to harmonise offences and sanctions;
• Practical consequences of the new decision-making processes, such as the involvement of the European and national parliaments;
• The new role of the Court of Justice;
• Issues concerning the transitional period and when the changes will occur in practice;
• Consequences of opt-outs and opt-ins;
• The protection of fundamental rights and the impact of the Lisbon Treaty on e.g. procedural safeguards in criminal proceedings;
• Changes in the role of Europol and Eurojust;
• The European Public Prosecutor.
  

Languages:
English, French, German (simultaneous interpretation)

Expanding on the unprecedented success of previous summits held in Copenhagen, Stockholm and Brussels, MIS Training Institute EMEA is delighted to bring you the 4th Annual Fraud & Corruption Summit 2010. Taking place in London, the summit will focus on the detection, prevention and investigation of fraud, corruption and financial crime. By attending the summit you will walk away with proven techniques for mitigating fraud and corruption to protect your assets and reputation.

The three-day conference agenda at a glance is as follows:

• Day 1: A Strategic Approach to Fraud & Corruption
• Day 2: Dectecting, Deterring and Frustrating Fraud & Corruption
• Day 3: Prevention and Enforcement: Pragmatic Solutions to Manage Investigative Work, Prosecutions and Recovery

An unrivalled international speaker panel from across business and government sectors will share experiences and successes gained from managing projects and cases involving fraud and corruption.

ACI’s National Conference on the FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT is the event that corporate counsel, compliance officers, outside counsel and accountants rely on for comprehensive, insightful, and practical guidance on critical FCPA compliance issues.

Benefit from the practical perspective of seasoned corporate FCPA compliance executives, get an update on enforcement and policy initiatives from top Government officials and FCPA attorneys, and learn how industry is setting up internal controls to comply in this constantly changing global legal landscape. This year’s agenda includes the latest information on:

• Changes you need to make to your compliance program as a result of recent cases against companies and individuals
• How government agencies evaluate voluntary disclosures
• Deciding whether you've investigated "enough": how much is enough in trying to learn the facts?
• Risks and concerns when a joint-venture partner is a governmental entity
• What your system of fraud risk internal controls needs to accomplish
• Assessing the risks faced by particular companies based on geographic scope, business model, business sector and other factors
• Communicating with government authorities: balancing cooperation with maintaining an effective defense

In May 2010 Amsterdam will once again play host to the world’s largest gathering of leaders, thinkers and doers in the field of sustainability reporting. The Amsterdam conference will convene a debate on how reporting can be used to help build a better future.

Thought leaders from

• business
• finance
• government and
• civil society

will debate the political, strategic and practical choices confronting us.

Expert practitioners will lead workshops and interactive sessions to define the building blocks of more effective reporting.

The IACC is the world premier forum that brings together royalty, heads of state, civil society and the private sector to tackle the increasingly sophisticated challenges posed by corruption. The IACC:

• takes place every two years in a different region of the world
• attracts up to 1500 participants from over 135 countries
• serves as the premier global forum for the networking and cross-fertilisation that are indispensable for effective advocacy and action, on a global and national level

The IACC draws attention to corruption by raising awareness and stimulating debate. It fosters the global exchange of experience and methodologies in controlling corruption. The conferences promote international cooperation among agencies and citizens from all parts of the world. They also help to develop personal relationships by providing the opportunity for face-to-face dialogue and direct liaison between representatives from the agencies and organisations taking part.

The title of the 14th IACC is Restoring trust: Global action for transparency, focusing particularly on the themes of good governance and sustainable development.

Call for workshop proposals open in February.