By Leilani Reklai, at the UN COSP10 in Atlanta, US, for the Pacific Anti-Corruption Journalists Network
The winds of change are blowing through the stodgy halls of UN anti-corruption efforts, with a trio of Pacific Island nations leading the charge. Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and Tuvalu threw down the gauntlet this week, thwarting a controversial attempt to silence civil society voices at the Conference of the States Parties (CoSP10) to the UN Convention against Corruption.
In a move that sent ripples through the normally staid UN corridors, Azerbaijan proposed excluding five European NGOs from the biannual conference. But the Pacific trio stood firm, voting against the proposal and sending a clear message: civil society has a seat at the anti-corruption table and is not afraid to use it.
This isn’t just about defending the right of a few NGOs to air their grievances. It’s about recognizing civil society’s crucial role in holding governments accountable and shining a light on corruption. As Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Kuita Vaipulu aptly stated, “By continuing to build the demand for accountability, media and CSOs have been a driving force in the Pacific towards effective implementation of anti-corruption measures.”
The Pacific Islands aren’t just talking the talk, they’re walking the walk. Unlike many European countries who seem content to pay lip service to transparency while keeping civil society at arm’s length, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and Tuvalu have made a conscious effort to include their own NGOs in their official delegations. Papua New Guinea, for example, brought two representatives from Transparency PNG, while Tonga welcomed the chair of the Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) chapter.
In Palau’s official country statement to CoSP10, Palau Attorney-General Ms Ernestine K. Rengiil noted that Palau had made public the complete Country Review Report of Palau’s implementation progress on UNCAC.
“We also undertook extensive post-Review consultations focused on next step implementation with government stakeholders, civil society, the private sector, and media representatives,” said Ms Rengiil.
This Pacific resolve is a breath of fresh air in the often-moribund world of UN bureaucracy. It’s a reminder that the fight against corruption requires a chorus of voices, not just the hushed tones of diplomats behind closed doors. As GOPAC Oceania chair Lord Fusitu’a of Tonga declared, “We need real action on Teieniwa Vision priorities such as right to information, robust anti-corruption bodies and National Anti-corruption Strategies, whistleblower protection and whole of society engagement on corruption prevention with parliamentarians, CSOs, the private sector and other stakeholders.”
The CoSP10 conference may be over, but the Pacific Islands have sounded a clarion call that will resonate far beyond this week’s gathering. Their message is clear: transparency and accountability are not optional, and civil society is not a nuisance to be silenced. It’s time for the rest of the world to take note and join the chorus.