Press Release
December 11, 2012

GOPAC RELEASES STATE OF CORRUPTION ANALYSIS FOR INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY

Manila, Philippines - In honor of International Anti-Corruption Day, the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) released the inaugural issue of The State of Nations, its regular, in-depth analysis of the state of corruption - and of the progress towards accountability and integrity - in a country of focus.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara welcomed the report and underscored that rigorous study and analysis are key to boosting efforts towards improving transparency in public governance.

"Corruption is a universal problem but it takes on many forms which often differ from country to country," said Angara, Vice Chair of the GOPAC Executive Committee and Charter President of Southeast Asian Parliamentarians Against Corruption (SEAPAC).

"We may never arrive upon a one-size-fits-all solution, but we only help the cause for more accountable governments when we share information on how corruption is being combated." The first issue of The State of Nations focuses on Morocco. It examines the steps legislators in Morocco are taking to press the anti-corruption agenda forward, highlights governance strengths and weaknesses, and discusses proposals for improvement.

The GOPAC Morocco parliamentarians led the process of creating this edition of The State of Nations, and they have committed themselves to a three-year action plan that includes building the capacity of parliamentarians to implement and monitor compliance with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC); establishing a Code of Ethics for parliamentarians; drafting legislation to ensure citizen access to information; and promoting and activating anti-corruption legislation.

To view The State of Nations, visit http://gopacnetwork.org/programs/state-of-nations/.

Angara, who authored landmark legislation on government procurement and for the creation of an Office of the Ombudsman, expressed hope that a similar report can be done on the Philippines. "Much can be learned from this inaugural report on Morocco. We are hopeful that something similar can be done for the Philippines and other Asian countries," said Angara, who authored landmark legislation on government procurement reform and for the creation of an Office of the Ombudsman.

Angara then underscored that some of the lessons learned from the State of Nations report will take center-stage in the upcoming 2013 GOPAC Conference in Manila.

With the theme "Good laws. Good leaders. Good citizens," the 5th Global Conference on Anti-Corruption will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) from January 30 to February 2, 2013. Hosted by the Senate of the Philippines, GOPAC and SEAPAC, the confab is expected to draw some 500 parliamentarians from all over the world to Manila.

Angara is Head of the Steering Committee for GOPAC 2013.

GOPAC is a worldwide alliance of parliamentarians working together to combat corruption, strengthen good government, and uphold the rule of law. Based in Ottawa, Canada, GOPAC has 51 national chapters on 5 continents. GOPAC supports its members' efforts through original research, global anti-corruption capacity building, and international peer support. Visit GOPAC on the web at gopacnetwork.org, on Twitter at twitter.com/GOPAC_Eng, and on Facebook at facebook.com/gopacnetwork.

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