*Seventh Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption conference kicks off in Doha

Emphasising the role of parliamentarians in combating corruption, achieving integrity and creating more strict anti corruption rules, the seventh Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) conference kicked off in Doha Monday. The conference was opened in the presence of His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani, HE the Speaker of the Shura Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud, GOPAC chairman Dr Fadli Zon and Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) president Gabriela Cuevas Barron.


HE the Speaker of the Shura Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud, GOPAC chairman Dr Fadli Zon and Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) president Gabriela Cuevas Barron with delegates. PICTURE: Thajudheen


In his opening speech, al-Mahmoud noted that the conference reflects Qatar’s keenness towards fighting corruption and its support to the global efforts to eliminate the malpractice.
The Speaker thanked and appreciated Dr Fadli Zon for his wise management and the organisation’s efforts to hold the conference in Doha. He also thanked all participants for their efforts in fighting corruption.
Dr Fadli Zon, while addressing the opening session, called for co-operation and partnership between all organisations in order to tackle corruption. “Corruption poses threats to the rule of law and societies, reduces the value of local organisations, increases social instability, harms the countries' legitimacy and affects the reform campaigns,” he said and added that corruption hinders equality, reduces confidence in local organisations and hinders sustainable development.
He said there is a need to face the challenges posed by corruption, increase accountability and spread integrity to build strong institutions that address corruption. The chairman, who expressed his belief in achieving integrity and ensuring the success of follow-up measures to combat corruption, said several things including stakeholder contributions, political will and the desire to fight corruption through asset control and accountability are needed to eliminate corruption. “Fight against corruption needs the participation of worker union federations, civil society, religious scholars and others,” he said.
He emphasised the role of parliamentarians in combating corruption and asked global leaders to play the required moral role and help parliamentarians in their campaigns to achieve integrity.
Gabriela Cuevas Barron said corruption threatens human well-being, happiness and access to education and basic and public services adding that it impedes people's lives and prevents them from exercising their national and human rights. She noted that parliamentarians have a great responsibility to reduce corruption and find legal solutions to end it in all its forms and at all levels.
She praised Qatar's role in hosting the conference and the role of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in global fight against corruption at all levels.
Related Story