File is not found

UNODC held training session in "Caja de Ahorros"  19th October 

October 19, 2018- The fight against corruption is not only a specific social phenomenon for each country, it has become a strategic phenomenon that spreads throughout the planet. In effect, corruption is an insidious plague that undermines democracy and the rule of law, affects the quality of life and economic development and allows the development of organized crime.

Therefore, the United Nations implemented the United Nations Convention against Corruption - which came into force in 2003- with the purpose of establishing strategies to combat this crime and strengthen the legal regimes of the States Parties. In addition, the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime demonstrates the political will to develop international instruments to combat crime in all its forms.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime held training session in "Caja de Ahorros" in Panama City. It gathered employers from the bank sector to discuss the theme "International standards for the prevention and fight against corruption", with the support of Mr. Jose Restrepo, in charge of organizing the conference. The seminar began with the welcome speech pronounced by Mrs. Michelle Senas de Conto, the Legal Manager of the bank.

Ms. Cristina Ritter - legal expert on corruption-highlighted the role of UNODC, through its objectives and its projects, especially those in relation with the Anti-corruption sector. This course presented the link between corruption and several other crimes such as: drug trafficking, human trafficking or arms trafficking; against which the Office also fights. Attendees participated through a dynamic conference whereby they organized themselves into small groups to discuss concepts such as the definition of "corruption" and the strategies that are carried out to fight against this crime. Each debate was followed by an exchange of opinions.

Likewise, the "Ethics Course for Public Officials" was promoted in order to identify and evaluate the risks faced by banks. This course sought to promote "good practices" in terms of the role of Management and Communication Personnel in the framework of training, which is essential in order to raise awareness about corruption in public sectors.

At 11 AM, Ms. Grisell Mojica - Project Coordinator at UNODC - held a conference entitled "International Standards for the Prevention of Money Laundering" applied to banks. Mrs. Mojica explained the concept of money laundering, its stages and its relationship with the banking sector. She also presented the legal frameworks implemented to fight against corruption: the Conventions of Palermo, Vienna and Mérida. Then, the seminar highlighted the preventive measures against money laundering in the banking sector and the strong need to cooperate with large international organizations such as the FATF - Financial Action Group.

To sum up, the training led by UNODC made it possible to demonstrate the Conventions in place in order to combat Money Laundering and Corruption. Mrs. Ritter and Mrs. Grisell proposed a complete analysis of these two crimes, from the global context, to preventive measures and examples of "good practices". Therefore, preventing and fighting corruption requires a broad and multidisciplinary approach. The cooperation of all countries and international institutions is needed to put an end to this crime that inevitably affects the banks, but also our contemporary civil and governmental societies.