GOPAC is a worldwide alliance of parliamentarians working together to combat corruption, strengthen good government, and uphold the rule of law.
\nGreater Transparency and Oversight Needed in Defence and Security Sectors to Fight Corruption<\/p>\n
Ottawa, Canada \u2013 The Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) is calling on parliamentarians throughout the world to make oversight of the defence and security sectors a priority in their fight against corruption and ensure that there is a justifiable balance between the need for secrecy and the need for transparency. The call is reflected in GOPAC\u2019s position paper on oversight of the defence and security sectors, Oversight is the Continuation of Democracy by Other Means, launched today.<\/p>\n
\u201cExcessive secrecy in the defence sector can allow corruption to run rife and directly challenge the oversight abilities of parliamentarians,\u201d said GOPAC Chair, Ricardo Garcia Cervantes. \u201cIt is imperative that parliamentarians find a balance between the two and ensure that citizens are not robbed of their human rights and liberties.\u201d<\/p>\n
The paper acknowledges that some secrecy is a necessary part of defence and security work but also emphasises that it is parliamentarians\u2019 responsibility to find a proper balance with their role as overseers of the public purse. The paper provides parliamentarians with recommendations for attaining this balance, including recommendations to:<\/p>\n
advocate for internal, independent and impartial resources within parliament that facilitate the role of parliamentarians in the review of defence and security sector issues;
\nstrengthen measures that prevent conflicts of interest, e.g. instituting rules for a moratorium period following involvement in defence and\/or security committee related business; and
\nmake effective control of the international arms trade a high priority on the parliamentary agenda and establish a process for ongoing review, sanctions and restrictions.
\n\u201cThe tools to ensure our governments are accountable and transparent, particularly in the defence sector, exists and GOPAC is committed to ensuring legislators use them,\u201d concluded Mr Garcia Cervantes.<\/p>\n
GOPAC is a worldwide alliance of parliamentarians working together to combat corruption, strengthen good government, and uphold the rule of law. Based in Ottawa, Canada, GOPAC has 52 national chapters on 5 continents. GOPAC supports its members\u2019 efforts through original research, global anti\u2011corruption capacity building, and international peer support. Visit GOPAC on the web at gopacnetwork.org<\/a>, on Twitter at twitter.com\/GOPAC_Eng<\/a>, and on Facebook at facebook.com\/gopacnetwork<\/a>.<\/p>\n -30-<\/p>\n