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PAPUA New Guinea is currently the 94th
country to sign and ratify itself as a full member of the United Nations
Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and is formally a member State as
of June 14.
The UNCAC provides an internationally-binding legal framework that
enables State parties to the convention to work together unilaterally to
combat corruption and improve good governance efforts so that the
overall welfare of humankind is improved and sustained.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Paul Tiensten said last week that
PNG was now legally bound by this major international legal instrument
following the ratification of the UNCAC, adding that the “ratification
of the UNCAC signifies to the domestic and international community the
Somare-Polye Government’s serious commitment to combating corruption in
all its manifestations and all levels”.
Mr Tiensten said the Government recognised corruption as a major
impediment to the country and people’s development aspirations and
needed to be vigorously pursued at all levels on a consistent basis to
defeat it.
“Corruption undermines democratic institutions through distortions of
electoral processes, perversion of the rule of law and breeds
rent-seeking cultures; retards economic development by erecting
artificial barriers that impede investment and growth of businesses, and
contributes to Government instability and insecurity,” he said.
“PNG has been labelled by various people and organisations both within
and abroad as having a serious problem of systemic corruption.
Mr Tiensten said the next phase for PNG in the fight against corruption
was to implement the provisions of the UNCAC nationally, including
enacting relevant administrative and legislative arrangements such as an
independent commission against corruption to further underscore PNG’s
full commitment to the implementation of the convention.
PNG signed the UNCAC on Dec 22, 2004, a year after the United Nations
General Assembly unanimously adopted the Convention on Oct 31, 2003,
which was opened for signature on Dec 9, 2004.
So far, 140 and 93 countries respectively signed and ratified the UNCAC.
 
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