The International Anti-Corruption Day is observed on December 9.
It was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly resolution No. A/RES/58/4 of November 21, 2003. It was first observed in 2004.
The International Anti-Corruption Day is observed on December 9.
It was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly resolution of November 21, 2003 No. A/RES/58/4. It was first observed in 2004.
Concerned by the problems caused by "bribery," the UN General Assembly developed the Convention against Corruption, which was opened for signature by all participating countries on December 9, 2003. It is the date of the Convention's signing, December 9, that became the International Anti-Corruption Day.
The purpose of establishing this International Day, as stated in the General Assembly resolution, was to deepen the understanding of the problem of corruption and the role of the Convention in preventing and combating corruption.
The signing of the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the implementation of the idea to create an International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities are the result of the global community's profound realization of the serious danger posed by corruption.
The document provides for measures to prevent corruption, punish offenders, and establish mechanisms for international cooperation in combating it. It obliges member states to pursue anti-corruption policies, adopt relevant laws, and establish special bodies to combat this phenomenon.
The fight against corruption in Belarus is one of the most important state tasks.
The Republic of Belarus, supporting and developing anti-corruption initiatives at the national, regional, and international levels, signed the Convention against Corruption on April 28, 2004. This document was ratified by the Law of the Republic of Belarus of November 25, 2004 No. 344-Z "On the Ratification of the United Nations Convention against Corruption."
In accordance with Article 3 of the Convention, the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Belarus is designated as the coordinating body for its implementation.
Currently, a solid legislative framework has been established, defining the system of measures and principles for combating corruption, specific organizational, preventive measures, and
mechanisms for combating corruption, eliminating the consequences of corruption
offences, and also providing for the most severe criminal liability
for corruption crimes.
The legal basis for anti-corruption
activities in our country is enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, which regulates the most important
public relations.
Furthermore, our country is an
active participant in a number of UN and Council of Europe conventions in the field of combating corruption
and organised crime. In fulfilling its international
obligations, the Republic of Belarus, within its legal system,
consistently adopts legislative, administrative, and other
anti-corruption measures.
The Law of the Republic of Belarus of 15 July 2015
No. 305-Z "On Combating Corruption" (hereinafter referred to as the Law on Combating Corruption) is aimed at implementing the norms of the Constitution and international legal acts.
The anti-corruption
legislation of the Republic of Belarus also consists of other normative legal acts aimed at suppressing, preventing, and combating corruption.
It should be noted that combating
corruption in the republic is not a short-term campaign, but a crucial
state task in strengthening the independence and sovereignty of our
state and ensuring public safety. A programme for combating crime and
corruption for 2017–2019 has been implemented.
By the decision of the Republican
Coordination Meeting on Combating Crime and Corruption of 18.12.2019
No. 20, the Programme for Combating Crime and Corruption for 2020-2022
has been approved. Based on the analysis of corruption crime, its structure
and dynamics, as well as proposals made by state bodies, it includes
a separate section II "Complex of measures to combat corruption, eliminate the causes and conditions conducive to it", containing measures of an organisational and legal, organisational and practical, preventive, and international legal nature.
Commissions for combating corruption have been established in republican state administration bodies and other state organisations subordinate to the Government of the Republic of Belarus, regional, Minsk city, city, district executive committees, local administrations of city districts, and holding management companies. Representatives of the prosecutor's office, internal affairs bodies, and mass media typically participate in the meetings of these commissions.
Strength
for the public (citizens and public associations) is to draw attention to certain problems, which are subsequently addressed by government bodies.
Through a special form provided on the websites of government bodies engaged in combating corruption, citizens have the opportunity to report known instances of corruption (including anonymously), as well as to seek clarification on issues of interest, submit applications, proposals, and complaints.
The main source of success in solving this task is strong state power, a robust social policy, reliance on the people, and openness. The fight against corruption should be conducted purposefully, comprehensively, and continuously. Furthermore, efforts should be directed not only at detecting and suppressing instances of corruption but also at identifying and eliminating the underlying causes.
One of the key tasks of the prosecutor's office is to exercise state supervision over the precise and uniform enforcement of legislation in the sphere of combating corruption.
Over 9 months of 2020, the district prosecutor's office conducted 2 inspections of compliance with anti-corruption legislation. As a result, 2 submissions were made to eliminate violations of anti-corruption legislation, the causes and conditions contributing to them, 5 directives, and 1 resolution on bringing guilty parties to disciplinary responsibility.
Work in this area will continue.