GOPAC’s sixth Global Conference of Parliamentarians Against Corruption being held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, 6-8 October 2015 is now just over a month away. The conference schedule and session descriptions have been recently published online and sessions will cover important topics such as grand corruption, the effectiveness of the 

United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), stolen asset recovery, parliamentary ethics and conduct, and encouraging women leaders in parliament. We urge all our members, observers, and partners to register online as soon as possible, as spaces are limited and quickly filling up. 

On 20 July, the African Parliamentarians’ Network Against Corruption (APNAC), along with members of APNAC-Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), members of the National Assembly and the Senate of the Republic of the Congo, and representatives of civil society organisations gathered in Brazzaville, Congo to establish APNAC-Congo. The meeting offered an opportunity for the members of GOPAC’s newest national chapter to elect their Executive Committee, which will be chaired by Honourable José Cyr Ebina. He is joined by Honourable Simon Foutou as the Vice-Chair, Honourable Bazee Megouda as the Treasurer, Honourable Tanguy Houemina as the Councillor, and Honourable Joseph Chala Mienze as the Rapporteur.

Members of APNAC-Congo plan on focusing their efforts on improving and strengthening the country’s legal and 

institutional framework; encouraging the public-at-large to denounce and report crimes of corruption; promoting and establishing transparent practices within parliament; developing capacity of parliamentarians on anti-corruption issues; and seeking effective partnerships between the national chapter, civil society organisations, and government institutions.

“Corruption seriously threatens the rule of law, stability, and security of societies and the fairness of the distribution of resources. It undermines fundamental democratic values and institutions and jeopardises social, economic, and political development, as well as the respect for human rights,” said APNAC-Congo Chair Hon Ebina.

GOPAC Oceania, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) hosted a workshop on parliamentary oversight and the implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) in Naji, Fiji, 20-21 July 2015.

The two-day workshop was attended by GOPAC Oceania Chair John Hyde and GOPAC Tonga Chair Lord Fusitu’a, along with MPs, some of whom are GOPAC members, from Fiji, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu. The President of Fiji, Rati Epeli Nailatikau gave opening remarks and the Speaker of the Parliament of Fiji, Dr Jiko Luveni, delivered on a keynote speech on the crucial role parliamentarians play in 

questioning the executive branch of government and providing financial oversight.

“[The] UNCAC has created global momentum in the fight against corruption and parliamentarians need to ensure that sufficient resources are allocated to implement [the] UNCAC,” said Dr Luveni.

The Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu and GOPAC member Honourable Otinielu Tauteleimale Tausi announced at the workshop that Tuvaluan parliamentarians will officially begin the UNCAC ratification process, which would bring the number of Pacific nations having yet to become signatories to the UNCAC down to only four.

We are delighted to announce that GOPAC UK received a grant in July from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, a UK-based philanthropic organisation which supports the efforts of those wishing to tackle the root causes of conflict and injustice. The grant will contribute towards the core operating costs of the national chapter over the next two years, which will enable their members to continue galvanising political will to strengthen anti-corruption accountability mechanisms in British institutions, scrutinising the regulatory structures 

that police them, and advocating for the adequate resourcing and implementation of anti-corruption legislation, corporate transparency, and anti-money laundering measures.

We would also like to take this opportunity to welcome additional officers elected to leadership roles within GOPAC UK. Dr Paul Monaghan MP, Nigel Mills MP, Lord Watson of Invergowrie, and Lord Swraj Paul have all been elected as Vice-Chairs following the reconstitution of the national chapter in July.

On 20 July, members of GOPAC Oceania held their Biennial General Meeting (BGM) in Nadi, Fiji, where the new Executive Committee of the regional chapter was elected. Mr John Hyde (Australia) was re-elected as Chair, Mr Nandi Glassie (Cook Islands) was elected Vice-Chair, Lord Fusitu’a (Tonga) was elected Secretary, and Dr Mareko Tofinga (Kiribati) was elected Treasurer. The aforementioned officers will begin their mandate and serve for a two-year period, once the current Executive Committee is dissolved on 18 October 2015.

This year’s BGM also provided a forum to formally welcome their newest national chapter, GOPAC Tonga, and for

Mr Hyde to present the Chair’s report on GOPAC Oceania’s activities for the 2013 to 2015 period. Furthermore, discussions were held regarding proposed amendments to the GOPAC Oceania Constitution, which would allow for up to three members of the regional chapter to serve on the GOPAC Executive Committee. Mr Hyde will convene a meeting at the upcoming Global Conference in Yogyakarta, Indonesia on 5 October to further discuss these amendments.