By Sanaullah Ataullah
DOHA: Qatar will soon have a unique masters programme on combating corruption and preparations are also under way to introduce anti-corruption topics in school curriculum.
The two-year master’s programme on ‘rule of law and combating corruption’ has been introduced by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Centre, in collaboration with the UK-based University of Essex. The programme will be open for Qatari and expatriate students from September this year.
“Initially the programme is only for law students but gradually it will be extended to all specialisations like engineering, administration and pharmacy, among others,” Attorney General H E Dr Ali bin Fetais Al Marri, who is also chairman of the Centre, said yesterday. “Such a masters programme has been introduced for the first time in the world,” he added.
An anti-corruption curriculum is also being developed in collaboration with the United Nations for students from primary schools to the university level to combat the menace of corruption.
Qatar University has also shown interest to introduce anti-corruption subjects for students of its College of Law. Gradually it will be adopted in other specialisations, said Al Marri. He was addressing the third meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Centre, at Ritz Carlton Hotel yesterday.
The event was organised by the Center under the theme “ Combating corruption in the Arab World- challenges and prospects”.
The meeting was attended by former Tunisian president Dr Moncef Marzouki, former president of the Swiss Confederation, Micheline Calmy-Reynian, former Jordanian prime minister, Awn Al Khasawneh and former US secretary of justice Michael Mukasey, among other board members and dignitaries. “There is short, medium and long term solutions to curb corruption in the community. Anti-corruption educational programs for schools and university students is one of them,” said Al Marri.
Corruption exists in all communities and unfortunately Arab countries are not excluded from it, despite the fact that this menace contradicts with the Arab social, historical and Islamic values, he added.
“Corruption has became a culture in some countries where corrupt people are considered clever. This thinking should be changed,” said Al Marri.
“In Qatar, we realised that all means should be used to fight corruption. Our leaders have given us all support to curb this illegal practice in the country.
“There is a suitable environment to put an end to this practice. We have to stand to fight firmly against irregularities,” he added.
He said there is a separate authority in Qatar to take concrete action against corruption and punish those found involving in it.
Replying to a question on the possibility to curb rampant corruption all over the world, Al Marzouki said, “There is hope, we are here for this very purpose, the action began on international level, people stood up to fight against it”.
“I think only legislation and punishment is not enough to eliminate corruption. We should prepare our community for this reform,” said Al Khasawneh.
The Swiss government has made legislation not only to return the stolen money to the countries from where it was taken away but also to ensure that they reach the right people, said Calmy-Rey.
A strong monitoring body is also needed with a powerful legislation to combat corruption, especially in the recruitment process for public projects, said Mukasey.
The Peninsula
