UNODC and Indonesian agency team up to fight corruption
Jakarta (Indonesia), 8 December 2009 - UNODC and the Indonesian Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) launched two anti-corruption projects today. The projects have been funded by the Government of Norway and the European Commission. The projects will support KPK to effectively prevent, investigate and prosecute corrupt practices and recover illegally acquired assets. "Effective law enforcement is critical if we are to deter corrupt behaviour and maintain public confidence in the rule of law," said Moch Jasin, KPK Vice Chairperson at the inauguration of two anti-corruption projects.
Over the next three years, UNODC will provide an integrated programme of technical assistance, software and specialized training programmes to build capacity of key anti-corruption agencies and civil society organizations. The key elements of the projects include supply of case management software, specialized training on investigation and asset recovery, small grants to non-governmental organizations for anti-corruption campaigns and support to the new anti-corruption national strategy.
Other entities, such as the Indonesian National Police, the Attorney General's Office, the Supreme Court, the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, the State Audit Board, the Ministry of Administrative Reform and National Development Planning Agency (
BAPPENAS) will also benefit from the projects.
"UNODC's main role under the Regional Programme Framework for East Asia and the Pacific is to support partner countries to meet the obligations of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. I am confident that the two Indonesia projects will help translate the provisions of the Convention into sustainable institutions and procedures" said Gary Lewis, UNODC Regional Representative for East Asia and the Pacific, in a message on the eve of the project launch.
On the occasion of the event, Julian Wilson, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Indonesia, and Eivind Homme, Ambassador of Norway, expressed their continued commitment to supporting Indonesia address corruption. Norway has contributed US$ 2.3 million to one project and the European Commission 2.4 million euro to the second project.
Ajit Joy, UNODC Crime Prevention Expert, outlined the project components and introduced the project partners: the Partnership for Governance Reform (Indonesia), Transparency International Indonesia and Indonesia Corruption Watch. The German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the Basel Institute for Governance will also assist in the implementation of the project.
The inauguration was attended by Ahmad Santosa, Acting KPK Vice Chairperson, the ambassadors of Norway and the Delegation of the European Union, and representatives of the KPK, UNODC, non-governmental organizations, university students and the media.
