TI chapters have committed themselves to expand their activities to promote effective and equitable enforcement of the law and to continue to help citizens engage with their leaders to demand more transparent decision-making and delivery of public services. The Declaration raised the need for more open decision-making, the provision of civic education programmes in schools and communities to help citizens understand the way corruption affects them, and to inform them of their rights and responsibilities, as well as offering ways in which they can help combat corruption. The Declaration called upon governments to implement the eight Principles of Accountability agreed to by all Pacific Forum countries in 1997; to address corruption in forestry and fishing; to ensure that law enforcement agencies and the legal system identify and prosecute in a timely manner those who are corrupt; and to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

To read the complete declaration, please go to: www.transparency.org/regional_pages/asia_pacific/newsroom