Qatar strongly supports all international efforts to combat corruption and has taken advanced steps to combat this scourge, including contribution to the international efforts adopted by the United Nations.
The global fight against corruption has got a major momentum as parliamentarians from the countries across the globe have assembled in Doha for the 7th Conference of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC). Hosting of this high-profile conference is a confirmation of the determination and sincere efforts made by Qatar, under the wise leadership of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to combat corruption, given the illeffects of this phenomenon on countries and their people. Deputy Amir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani attended the opening.
Corruption is a major obstacle to sustainable development, and that if it remains outside the control, freedoms will not be allowed to expand and justice will not be allowed to prevail, Speaker of Shura Council H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud said and stressed that since parliamentarians represent peoples, they are required to be role models in the performance of their duties and in their moral values for their societies as well as to adhere to the highest standards of integrity.
Qatar strongly supports all international efforts to combat corruption and has taken advanced steps to combat this scourge, including contribution to the international efforts adopted by the United Nations. The country’s accession to the United Nations Convention against Corruption is a testimony to this fact. Qatar has also signed the Arab Convention against Corruption, and has been observing the International Day against Corruption, which falls on December 9 every year, in order to raise awareness of this issue. Due to the importance of national institutions in the efforts to combat corruption, H H the Amir issued a decision to establish an Administrative Control and Transparency Authority directly affiliated with His Highness, as a body specialized in enhancing integrity. Also, in cooperation with the United Nations, Qatar established the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Centre.
Qatar has assumed an advanced place in the regional environment in its war against corruption. The Arab Monetary Fund indicated in its last report that Qatar ranked first among the Arab states in combating administrative corruption, according to the Competitiveness of Arab Economies Report. GOPAC was founded in Canada in 2002. The organization brings together about 1,200 parliamentarians and heads of parliaments from 106 countries, and has 63 branches across the world. The Chairman of GOPAC, Dr Fadli Zon, emphasised the role of parliamentarians in combating corruption, achieving integrity, adhering to the codes of conduct and creating more strict rules to combat corruption. The President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Gabriela Cuevas Barron, praised Qatar’s role in hosting this conference and the role of H H the Amir in combating corruption around the world at all levels.
Fighting corruption has become a difficult endeavour in light of the rapid technological changes and this scourge can only be eliminated through international cooperation. States, governments and regional and international organisations have sensed the seriousness of this phenomenon and have called for uniting efforts to develop plans and strategies to combat all its forms and types, by establishing mechanisms to prevent it.
