Sunday, 28 May 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Delegates agree upon three high level principles to combat corruption effectively
The second meeting of the G20 anti-corruption working group inaugurated on May 25 concluded in Rishikesh on Saturday. The meeting was attended by 90 delegates of 20 member countries, 10 invitee countries and nine international organisations including UNODC, OECD, Egmont Group, Interpol and IMF. It was chaired by the Department of Personnel and Training additional secretary and G20 ACWG chair Rahul Singh and co-chaired by the head of task force and G20 ACWG co-chair Giovanni Tartaglia Polcini from Italy and Minister Plenipotentiary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italy, Fabrizio Marcelli.
During the three days of the meeting, there were detailed deliberations on several key focal areas pertaining to asset recovery, fugitive economic offenders, formal and informal channels of cooperation for information sharing, institutional frameworks for combating corruption and mutual legal assistance, among others. The delegates agreed upon the three high level principles on promoting integrity and effectiveness of public bodies and authorities responsible for preventing and combating corruption, strengthening law enforcement related international cooperation and information sharing for combating corruption and strengthening asset recovery mechanisms related to corruption.
Earlier on the first day of the ACWG, a side event was held on gender and corruption. The Union minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi delivered the keynote address. During this event, national and international experts and practitioners deliberated on the gendered aspects of corruption, the ways in which women’s empowerment is intrinsically linked with anti-corruption initiatives and the need for gender sensitive governance and policy making.
The delegates also got a flavour of India and Uttarakhand’s rich culture, heritage and cuisine during their stay at Rishikesh. The third ACWG meeting is scheduled to be held in Kolkata from August 9 to 11.
