ISLAMABAD – The two-day International Seminar on the theme of “CombatingCorruption – A Prerequisite for the full enjoyment of all Human Rights andSustainable Development” concluded with the adoption of ‘IslamabadDeclaration.’
The Seminar was organized on 6-7 January 2022 by Pakistan and theIndependent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organizationof Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in collaboration with the Office of the HighCommissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations Office on Drugs andCrime (UNODC), and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The International Seminar was attended by more than 200 international andnational stakeholders including Government officials, OIC member andobserver States, IPHRC Commissioners, members of the OIC Secretariat andrelevant United Nations agencies, practitioners, academia, civil societyand mediarepresentatives.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi delivered the keynote address at theinaugural session. He articulated Pakistan’s approach towards combattingthe scourge of corruption and illicit financial flows as well as ensuringthe protection of human rights, in line with the vision of Prime MinisterImran Khan.
He also called on the OIC countries to explore innovative ideas andinitiatives for strengthening the international framework to preventcorruption – which is an essential pre-requisite for sustainabledevelopment.
A panel of international experts shared best practices and highlightedimportant aspects regarding the theme of the International Seminar.
The OIC Member States and other participants took active part in thediscussions. The Keynote address during the closing segment was deliveredby the Minister for Human Rights Dr. Shireen M. Mazari.
Based on deliberations during the International Seminar, the ‘IslamabadDeclaration on Combating Corruption for the full realization of all HumanRights and Sustainable Development’ was adopted.
Corruption was recognized as a major impediment to sustainable developmentin developing countries.
The salient elements of the “Declaration” included:
• Need for strengthening existing national, regional and internationallegal and human rights mechanisms/institutions to combat corruption and inbuilding resilient systems;
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• Improving transnational cooperation for the prevention, detection,investigation and prosecution of corrupt offences, as well as in therecovery and return of confiscated assets;
• Following a people-centric and human rights-based approach in combatingcorruption;
• Enhancing the capacity of the judiciary, prosecution service and lawenforcement agencies to combat corruption;
• Promotion of civic engagement and social accountability;
• Establishing of an OIC intergovernmental working group (IGWG) to activelyexplore innovative ideas and initiatives under the OIC and the UN auspicesfor mutual legal assistance on issues of corruption and stolen legal assets;
• Integrating the role of technology in promoting increased transparency,accountability, accessibility and citizen participation; and
• Introduction of strong anti-corruption legislations to end impunity andrecovery of stolen assets.
The International Seminar was part of Pakistan’s persistent efforts tostrengthen the international framework against corruption, recovery ofstolen assets, promotion and protection of all human rights, andachievement of inclusive and sustainable development.