Online presentation for WFD' Bangsamoro Anti-corruption Programme Semirar 2 - Redesigning Modern Parliament for Anti-Corruption Scheme 6 December 2021

1. PROMOTING INNOVATION FOR CODE OF
CONDUCT OF MPS AND PARLIAMENTARY
STAFF
Dr. Fotios Fitsilis
Hellenic Parliament
6 December 2021

2. CONTENTS
 Motivation
 UN convention against corruption
 GOPAC
 IPAK
 Codes of Conduct (CoC)
 Suggestions
 Contact and disclaimer
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3. MOTIVATION
 “Corruption is an insidious plague that has a
wide range of corrosive effects on societies. It
undermines democracy and the rule of law,
leads to violations of human rights, distorts
markets, erodes the quality of life and allows
organized crime, terrorism and other threats to
human security to flourish.”*
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*Foreword to the UN Convention against Corruption

4. GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 58/4
 United Nations Convention against Corruption
 Adopted by the GA of the UN on 31/10/2003
 Ratified by Philippines on 8/11/2006
 Highlights the need for international
cooperation (Chapter IV)
 Foresees technical assistance and information
exchange (Chapter VI)
 Can act as a moral & legal base for follow-up
parliamentary action
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5. GOPAC
 Global Organization of Parlamentarians Against
Corruption, http://gopacnetwork.org/
 Founded in 10/2002
 Current or former legislators
 Operational model: model uses Global Task
Forces (GTF)
 Members and observers
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6. INTER-PARLIAMENTARY ALLIANCE AGAINST
KLEPTOCRACY (IPAK)
 Kickoff event on 7/12/2021
 Founders:
 U.S. Caucus against Foreign Corruption and
Kleptocracy
 EU Parliament Anti-Corruption Intergroup
 UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Anti-Corruption
and Responsible Tax
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7. CODES OF CONDUCT
 Ex-ante, intra-parliamentary approach
 A moral obstacle
 Parliament may opt to impose penalties (moral,
financial, procedural etc.)
 Different codes for different roles
 Members of Parliament (e.g. ethical code)
 Parliamentary professionals (e.g. researcher code)
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8. SUGGESTIONS
 MPs: Be part of regional & international
networks
 Parliament: Start developing a CoC
 A CoC is not necessarily dedicated to combat
corruption and can act as a wider moral
compass
 Can be jointly developed with international &
civil society organizations
 Needs to be aligned with domestic and
customary practices
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9. CONTACT AND DISCLAIMER
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fitsilisf@parliament.gr
https://hellenicparliament.gr
The information and views set out in this presentation are only those of the
author and do not reflect the official opinion of the Hellenic Parliament