World leaders, visionaries, advocates meet to find solutions to scourge of corruption – International Anti-Corruption Conference kicks off in Athens
ATHENS, 29 October 2008: As the world faces financial, energy and food crises and the challenges to governance and accountability they pose, the global anti-corruption community gathers for the 13th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) beginning Thursday (30 Oct.) in Athens, Greece.
Under the banner “Global Transparency: Fighting corruption for a sustainable future”, this years IACC will examine sustainability as a governance challenge and the role of corruption in some crucial areas: peace and security, the natural resources and energy sectors, climate change and sustainable globalisation.
The IACC, first held in 1983, has evolved into the leading global forum on governance and anti-corruption. The conference fosters cooperation and innovation in developing tools to tackle corruption, a scourge that continues to trap millions in a vicious cycle of poverty and threatens sustainable development.
The conference brings together heads of state, academics, compliance experts, civil society, business and government representatives, all of whom are engaged in innovative work to prevent and fight corruption in all its forms.
– The objective of this conference is to re-invigorate anti-corruption work by generating new ideas, partnerships and propositions that can match the depth and complexity of corruption in the 21st century, said Justice Barry O’Keefe, Chair of the IACC Council.
Huguette Labelle, Chair of Transparency International added:
– The mission of the IACC, to find anti-corruption solutions through policy, trade and awareness, has never been more relevant for alleviating the poverty, alienation and conflict that corruption breeds. The challenges of transparency and accountability are immense, but so is the commitment and creativity of the anti-corruption community gathered here.
Costas Bakouris, Chair of Transparency International Greece stated:
– A constructive discussion about the grounds and ways of confronting corruption in the era of globalisation is imperative. Raising social conscience and building a coalition of all valuable forces is the essential antidote to corruption. The International Anti-Corruption Conference serves this purpose.
The 13th IACC is organised by the IACC Council in cooperation with Transparency International and Transparency International Greece (Hellas) and is hosted by the Government of Greece.
Kilde: www.transparency.org
