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Ukraine shows why the G20 Anti-Corruption Agenda is more important than ever – Global Affairs

With the bloody war in Ukraine dragging on, can the G20 still justify procrastination on the global anti-corruption agenda? Credit: Marianela Jarroud / IPS
  • Idea by Sanjeeta Pant, Blair Glencorse (Washington DC)
  • Joint press service

Just this year, think about Protests in Sudanthe coup in Burkina Fasothe nationwide protests in Kazakhstanor Portuguese Electionsfor example – all controlled, in one way or another, by concatenation.

Currently- countries included United States and Europe– are working together to freeze the assets of Russian oligarchs, but this is not just about Putin’s dictatorship. When world leaders meet at G20 Next week, they urgently need to step up to fight corruption both at home and abroad.

The Civil-20 (C20), which joins the G20 on behalf of civil society, has long called for increased accountability from world leaders on key anti-corruption issues. The war in Ukraine only reinforces the need to focus on the priorities the C20 has identified this year.

Firstly, anti-money laundering and recovery of stolen assets. Have a lot of learn that shows up to 85% of Russia’s GDP is laundered into countries including UK and WE.

Yes network of supporters in Western countries facilitate this process – from accountants, lawyers to real estate agents (known as Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs).

But according to the data collected by the Accountability Lab for G20 anti-corruption engagement trackerNot all G20 member countries comply FATF . Recommendations on DNFBP appraisal.

Similarly, others do not have an effective framework for disclosing information about recovered assets. Aware of the increased risks to anti-money laundering and asset recovery efforts due to such shortcomings, C20 called for beneficial ownership data verified through a public register; and evaluate the effectiveness of Measures passed of G20 members including sanctions for non-compliance.

Second, fight corruption in the energy transition. The Presidium of the G20 Indonesia has made sustainable energy transition a priority issue for 2022. More and more countries, especially in Europeare cutting ties with Russian energy supplies, which will lead to a faster shift of resources to renewable energy – but the potential for corruption in this is big.

Some countries and energy companies have incentives to maintain the status quo ways to spoil; while the supply chain of raw materials for renewable energy is also open to illegal activities. G20 countries urgently need better understand the extent and types of corruption in renewable energy; and is committed to providing transparent data on licensing agreements and budgets.

Accordingly, grassroots civil society groups can be valuable allies by filling information gaps and closing feedback loops in communities affected by energy-related projects. regenerative.

Third, transparency and integrity of corporations. Recent sanctions against Russian oligarchs have renewed their focus on corporate governance and corporate compliance on issues such as foreign bribery, corruption and conflicts of interest – including in SOEs and public-private partnerships (PPPs) – effectively enforced.

For example, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) focuses on anti-bribery and internal controls – and is likely to be further enforced, especially in countries with close ties to Russia.

But in addition to this, the G20 member countries must also follow past commitment promote transparency and business integrity by criminalizing private sector bribery; promulgating a policy on reporting crimes in the private sector; and ensure accounting and auditing standards to prohibit off-the-books accounts.

Fourth, ownership transparency is beneficial. The level of secrecy used by Russian oligarchs to conceal wealth through shell companies, trusts, partnerships and established funds title News. Concerns about transparent data about beneficial ownership (data about who actually owns companies) are not new (see this section). call to action For example).

Although the G20 countries have made progress within their national borders, there are often lax laws in offshore tax haven in their jurisdiction. Similarly, beneficial ownership data should not only be public (to regulators and enforcement agencies), but it should be made public. Citizens and civil society everywhere can monitor conflicts of interest or relationships between policymakers and corporations, free of charge.

For example, it still costs $40 to access beneficial property rights data in Indonesia – which makes it too expensive for the average citizen. All G20 countries should lead by example and commitment to open, register ownership rights for the benefit of the public.

Finally, Open the contract. Recent focus on how the Russian military might have using the wrong procurement process highlighted once again the importance of due diligence and open data again. Civil society has explicitly called on G20 member countries to proactively disclose information at every step of the public procurement process, consistent with Open Contract Data Standard as Open contract for infrastructure data standardand strengthen the audit and supervision of the people in public procurement.

These reforms are long overdue. At the same time, successful initiatives such as Opentender.net in Indonesia shows how civil society can cooperate with governments to ensure citizen oversight and transparency of public procurement.

The Russia-Ukraine crisis is a stark reminder that corruption must be central to any discussion of causes and solutions to geopolitical problems. The C20 has outlined to G20 leaders how to address these problems – they are now responsible for implementing these reforms.

Even in peacetime, economic and human cost great corruption. With the bloody war in Ukraine dragging on, can the G20 still justify procrastination on the global anti-corruption agenda?

Blair Glencorse is the Executive Director of Explanation Lab and is the International Co-Chair of the 20th Civil Corruption Working Group in 2022.

Sanjeeta Pant as Program and Learning Manager at the Leadership and Accountability Lab G20 anti-corruption engagement tracker. Follow The Lab on Twitter @accountlab and C20 @ C20EG

© Inter Press Service (2022) – All rights reservedOrigin: Inter Press Service

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