Holy See at OSCE calls for concerted efforts in fight against corruption
Corruption cannot be solved by govts alone and requires the “important contribution" of civil society and faith-based organizations, says the Vatican Observer
The Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has highlighted the importance of keeping the fight against corruption in focus.
Archbishop Janusz Urbańczyk in a statement during this year’s OSCE Economic and Environmental Dimension Implementation Meeting on the theme of anti-corruption stressed the need for a collective effort of governments, civil society, faith-based organizations and corporations in fighting this global issue.
A diverse range of speakers from the non-profit, academic, and private sectors also took part in the meeting that ended October 19.
It is held once a year, usually in October in Vienna, to review the implementation of Ministerial Council decisions and provides a framework for enhancing dialogue and co-operation on key thematic areas.
The OSCE’s economic and environmental activities office has been preventing and combating corruption, supporting national authorities under relevant international instruments and standards.
It works to offer assistance to participating States on corruption prevention measures, asset recovery, the use of open data in government, municipal transparency, anti-money laundering and countering terrorism financing, and sharing of experiences and best practices.
This year’s meeting was dedicated to “Taking stock of the implementation of the OSCE commitments in the field of anti-corruption and good governance.”
Archbishop Urbańczyk, while stressing the importance of keeping the fight against corruption in focus, pointed to the need for good governance.
“Corruption poses a great threat to the OSCE’s shared values. It generates instability and reaches into many aspects of the security, economic and human dimensions,” he said.
He pointed out that corruption is not an issue that can be solved by governments alone and required also the “important contribution made by civil society organizations, corporations, faith-based organizations, and research institutions in supporting States’ effort to contrast corruption.”
“Corruption is a phenomenon that is not limited by politics or geography. It exists in rich countries and in poor countries,” he said.
“By betraying moral principles and the norms of social justice, corruption hampers the attainment of integral development and the eradication of poverty,” he said. “By undermining trust in public institutions and between the governing and the governed, it compromises the good functioning of a well-organized society.”
Hence, Archbishop Urbańczyk said, OSCE should maintain anti-corruption issues on the agenda, “as a comprehensive approach to security needs to factor in its many detrimental effects.”
Combating corruption is a major issue in Pope Francis’ pontificate. The pope has even acknowledged corruption within the Church and imposed drastic new anti-corruption rules at the Vatican.