Anti-Corruption commitment by Pacific Leaders welcomed

February 16, 2021

President of Kiribati, His Excellency Taneti Maamau addressing the leaders.

The United Nations Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) Project has welcomed the decision by Pacific Island Forum leaders to endorse the Teieniwa Vision[1] as the Forum’s official regional commitment to achieve Pacific unity against Corruption, at their virtual Leaders’ Meeting held recently on Wednesday 3 February 2021.

UN-PRAC, a joint initiative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), supported the first Pacific Regional Conference on Anti-Corruption, held in Kiribati in February 2020, which produced consensus on a roadmap to implement anti-corruption, called the Teieniwa Vision.

“We have called on all Pacific Leaders to champion integrity, advocating for and implementing best anti-corruption practices through a commitment to the criminalisation of corruption and to prompt, impartial investigation and prosecution,” said the President of Kiribati, His Excellency Taneti Maamau, at the launch of Teieniwa Vision.

“They [Pacific Islands Leaders] made a collective pledge to combat corruption by adopting the Teieniwa Vision, "teieniwa" meaning "to set sail" in the iKiribati language.”

The adoption of the Teieniwa Vision enables Pacific nations to consolidate their commitments to integrity implementation, according to UN-PRAC. The Teieniwa Vision can be found here.

“The highest political leadership in the Pacific is committing to Pacific integrity, along with the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and Sustainable Development Goals, including to address implementation gaps in relation to SDG 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions”, said Mr. Levan Bouadze, UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji Resident Representative.

“This regional commitment enables the Pacific nations to forge a strong united regional position to assist countries addressing the COVID-19 recovery with integrity and to focus on implementation at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session against corruption (UNGASS) on 2 - 4 June 2021,” said Mr. Jeremy Douglas, the Regional Representative of UNODC for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

Pacific Island Forum Leaders at the launch of the Teieniwa Vision in Tarawa, Kiribati in February 2020.

UN-PRAC has launched this week a new video, ‘A Collective Effort to Build A Corruption Free Pacific’, which features commitments from Teieniwa Vision, leaders and civil society. The video is available at United Nations Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project | UNDP in the Pacific

The UN-PRAC Project is a joint initiative by UNODC and UNDP supported by the Australian Government and the New Zealand Aid Programme.

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About UNODC

UNODC works to counter drugs, crime, terrorism and corruption. It mobilizes and promotes regional and transnational cooperation to confront these threats. Specific efforts are made to target the world’s most vulnerable regions, where the convergence of these issues threatens regional and global security. UNODC works directly with Governments, international organizations, and civil society in undertaking three key actions: field-based technical cooperation projects to enhance the capacity of its Member States; research and analytical work to increase knowledge and understanding of drugs and crime issues; and normative work to assist Member States in the ratification and implementation of the relevant international treaties and the development of domestic legislation on drugs, crime, terrorism and corruption. More at www.unodc.org or follow at @UNODC.

About UNDP

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at www.pacific.undp.org or follow at @UNDP_Pacific.

For more information, or media interviews please contact:

Akara Umapornsakula, Communications Assistant - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, E: akara.umapornsakula@un.org  P: (66) 22 88 1906

Emily Moli, Knowledge Communications Analyst – UNDP Pacific Office in Fiji. E: emily.moli@undp.org (679) 3227 504

[1] https://issuu.com/effective.governance17/docs/teieniwa_vision_puac_leaders.signed.final