CSE supports the International Anti-Corruption Conference

One of the main conclusions from the 13th International Anti-corruption Conference, held in Athens 30 October – 2 November 2008 is that corruption is a key factor that must be addressed in order to strengthen financial, environmental and natural resources governance. The international high level forum calls upon all stakeholders to act in order to put an end to the misery, alienation and instability that corruption breeds.

The 13th IACC underlined that corruption undermines all aspects of sustainability: it fosters conflict and violence, has negative impacts on natural resources exploitation, exacerbates climate change and hinders efforts to combat it, and as a sum worsens global inequalities.

The forum, held under the banner “Global Transparency: Fighting corruption for a sustainable future”, had more than 1.300 participants from 135 countries and featured prominent speakers such as HRH Prince El Hassan Bin Talal of Jordan, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Managing Director of the World Bank, Siim Kallas, Vice-President of the European Commission, Kostas Karamanlis, Prime Minister of Greece, Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International, Festus Mogae, former President of Botswana and George Papandreou, President of Socialist International and President of Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK).

Due to its importance for governments, business world, civil society and the global community as a whole, the conference had a great number of devoted media partners and supporting organisations. Underlining its commitment to sustainability, the CSE is proud to be one of the supporting organisations of the 13th IACC and strongly believes in the urgent necessity to combat corruption in all its aspects in order to promote sustainability, combat climate change and strive for a world of business and social excellence.

“In the spirit of ethical inquiry and justice, the global anti-corruption community today sets forth with delegates returning to their countries, rich and poor, carrying ideas, tools and practical solutions to prevent and stop corruption,” said the Honourable Justice Barry O’Keefe, Chair of the IACC Council on the conclusion of the conference. “It is imperative that governments, business and civil society consider and integrate the corruption factor into the solutions they are trying to implement to ensure a cleaner, healthier and fairer world”, added O’Keefe.

For more information and the full conference declaration, please visit: www.13iacc.org