A year after the Guatemala Declaration, Transparency International calls on governments to report on progress

The Central American and Dominican Republic Presidents who signed the regional anti-corruption plan must live up to their promises

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On the first anniversary of the Guatemala Declaration for a Region Free of Corruption, signed by Central American governments, Transparency International (TI) calls on the heads of state and government in the region to report on the progress they have made in carrying out their commitments.

The declaration was signed on 15 November 2006 at the 12th International Anti-Corruption Conference in Guatemala City and commits Central American leaders and the Dominican Republic to 14 measures aimed to reduce corruption in specific areas such as access to public information, whistleblower protection and transparency in political and campaign financing.

As the culmination of a year of monitoring by its national chapters and partner organisations in the region, TI will present governments, media and the public with the results of its implementation assessment for the declaration on 6 December at an event in Guatemala City. TI will also present recommendations on improving the implementation of Declaration’s provisions.

“We hope that the governments of Central America and the Dominican Republic will join us in Guatemala City to show what they have accomplished so far as part of their commitment to this vital anti-corruption action plan,” said Silke Pfeiffer, Regional Director for the Americas. “By reporting on the progress, governments also give recognition to the citizens and the international community that are watching for progress on the Declaration, and on the fight against corruption in the region more broadly.”

“We see isolated progress on a few areas covered by the Declaration, such as the new access to information laws in Honduras and Nicaragua, and the strengthening of the Guatemalan electronic public contracting system,” said Manfredo Marroquín, TI Regional Coordinator for Central America. “But this is insufficient in the face of the goals the leaders set themselves with the declaration. They need to kick their efforts into high gear.”

Read the complete text of the Declaration in:
http://www.12iacc.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=63