With the coordinated global launch of the Transparency International 2020 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) scheduled for Thursday January 28, 2021 Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) is now undergoing preparations to host an Anti-Corruption Enforcement Dialogue with the PNG Government and Law and Justice Sector agencies. TIPNG Chair, Peter Aitsi stated that the purpose of the dialogue was to unify the different voices within the PNG Law and Justice Sector and present a consolidated position on their challenges, priorities and proposed solutions to the government.
“While PNG has made significant strides towards the achievement of a number of key milestones in the past few years, there is still more work to be done towards achieving tangible anti-corruption reform before any real impacts can be felt at the community level,” said Mr Aitsi.
“Key legislative reforms such as the Organic Law on the Independent Commission Against Corruption (OLICAC), the Protected Disclosures Act (PDA) and the Freedom of Information (FOI) Law have been touted for some time now. And while the OLICAC and the PDA have now been passed on the floor of Parliament, and the FOI legislation is currently in its drafting phase; the need for greater consensus and solidarity from Law and Justice Sector agencies still presents itself as a hurdle to the effective implementation of anti-corruption enforcement pathways (such as the ICAC).”
“This event will be delivered through a dialogue format, with the intention of opening the dialogue among participating agencies to exchange ideas and ultimately developing a resolution on anti-corruption priorities for the Law and Justice Sector. Which will be presented to the PNG government,” He said. As a core output of this event, a discussion paper will be developed from the dialogue and presented to the government, to inform the current policy agenda on anti-corruption reform.
