Parliamentarians: Fighting corruption begins with establishing good governance and enhancing accountability

Mohammed Al-Shayazami-Doha

If fighting corruption is a collective concern of most of the world's countries, this goal can only be achieved with strong parliaments that are able to create environments that achieve justice and stimulate investment, but are in turn part of the accountability for their performance.

This aspect occupied an important part of the discussions of the seventh conference of the World Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption in Doha, where most of the speakers in the session "Promoting Good Governance: Promoting the Sustainable Development Goals" predicted the futility of any attempts to combat corruption in light of the presence of parliaments unable to enact legislation that deter It tracks its effects in various sectors and areas, especially since corruption is sometimes linked to terrorist crimes, money laundering and drug trafficking.

In this regard, the participants sounded the alarm, warning against the continued use of laws to cover up and protect corruption and circumvent its texts in many countries, as political corruption remains the main challenge in the MENA region, according to Transparency International 2018.

Statistics estimate the cost of corruption in the Arab world at 3% of GDP, or an estimated $ 90 billion annually, which could bridge the growing class gap in these countries, address the causes of poverty and unemployment, and reduce disasters.

Good governance
In his speech, Qatari Shura Council member Abdullah bin Fahd Al-Marri linked the failure of governments and people's representatives to fight corruption and promote good governance, and the loss of confidence in who represents the people in parliaments, and therefore the people take their voice to the street to condemn corruption and demand the promotion of good governance, with what This juncture includes great risks, chaos, and waste of property.

He believed that the work of parliamentarians should be in harmony with governments and not in conflict with them, and added, "We in Qatar are satisfied with the measures taken by the government and its agencies to prevent corruption and punish the corrupt."

The rest of the participants warned of the danger of reducing the powers of parliaments in poor countries, as some of them are subjected to restrictions and prevention from carrying out their oversight functions, calling for these countries to join international agreements and covenants, enhance transparency and activate partnership with civil society.

Interventions alerted the necessity of solidarity to fight corruption, through adherence to codes of conduct, promotion of social justice, activation of the role of local institutions, engagement with regional and international organizations and various parliaments, and exchange of experiences and information to confront this dangerous scourge.

Emphasis was also placed on the need to increase educational allocations, devise new means to combat corruption, empower women and youth, and enhance justice and trust between citizens and government institutions.

Integrity and accountability
During the second session, entitled "Our Integrity ... Promoting Ownership, Welcoming Accountability," the participants reviewed the most important experiences that some countries have taken in tackling corruption, law enforcement and law enforcement.

In this context, the experiences of Serbia, Nepal and some West African countries emerged, along with a review of Canada's experience, which revealed its excellence in this field.

Lyn Robinson Dalby, official in the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commission in Canada, said that strict criteria govern the work of parliamentarians and they must comply with the rule of law, including preventing the acceptance of gifts if they exceed $ 200, and declaring that, and preventing them from voting in cases that may be related to their interests even Indirectly, in order to avoid conflict with the interests of the people.

Serbia's experience also caught the eye, as it puts parliamentarians at the forefront of those who fight corruption in the country with the rule of law, and the people can monitor the spending of public money, as a kind of popular control.

While the rest of the interventions focused on issues related to integrity at its various levels, and the necessity of accountability as it is at the heart of the tasks of parliaments, especially since they are representatives of the people and they have legitimacy, and they must assume their responsibility.