Doha: Officials and experts stressed the need to strengthen work ethics in public institutions, support institutional capacities, and ensure the independence of oversight, transparency, and state audit bodies.
They pointed to the importance of integrating integrity and transparency frameworks to build citizens’ trust and ensure the proper use of public resources.
This came during the session on enhancing integrity and accountability in public institutions, held today as part of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, hosted by Doha from December 15 to 19.
In this context, Assistant Secretary-General for Prevention at the Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) Abrar Al Hammad, affirmed that work ethics in institutions are no longer merely idealistic concepts but have become fundamental requirements to ensure integrity, justice, and transparency.
She highlighted the importance of strengthening professional conduct among public-sector employees and putting in place key preventive measures through codes of professional conduct, which should be supported by a range of local and international references that establish rules of behaviour and ethics in the workplace.
Al Hammad reviewed the experience of the State of Kuwait through the Anti-Corruption Authority Nazaha, noting that the authority conducted a study and analysis of the texts of the professional code of conduct adopted in Kuwait. It also held interactive workshops with employees from 70 entities, during which the code was discussed, observations were recorded, and gaps in the code were identified and studied.
She also pointed to other challenges faced by anti-corruption bodies themselves, noting that some lack the necessary laws or legal authorities to enforce compliance, and likewise do not have the power to impose penalties on those who fail to comply.
She explained that, in order to address these challenges and enable the implementation of the professional code of conduct, the authority launched a project called Ada’a (Performance).
In the same context, Marko Skjerovic of the Anti-Corruption Agency of Montenegro emphasized the importance of linking anti-corruption indicators to three key laws: the Law on the Prevention of Corruption, the Law on Free Access to Information, and the law regulating internal audit processes, among others. He noted that his country has developed an innovative, evidence-based methodology for assessing the implementation of anti-corruption measures. He added that institutions can be awarded points for compliance, as well as for good practices that go beyond the minimum legal requirements.
