THE Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) yesterday resolved to form a task force to intensify the global battle against corruption and illegal money.

"We have come out with a resolution to set our vision very clear," Mr John Williams, GOPAC Chairman told the 'Sunday News' at the end of their three-day conference here.

The task force will be led by Canada's legislator, Roy Cullen, who will guide the work and advise GOPAC executive committee on the next course of action.

He said that the meeting agreed to agitate parliamentarians the world over to enact anti-money laundering law, combating the financing of terrorism and recovery of associated assets.

He added that the law would help to seize stolen money from underdeveloped countries and invested in developed countries. 'We are committed to sending it back from where it was stolen."

"We know that corrupt countries will not like such a law, but we will jointly stress its application," he added.

About 300 parliamentarians from 50 countries agreed that governments must make serious political decisions to address issues of corruption.

They resolved to seek changes to the international accounting and auditing systems and standards for sovereign nations so that revenues received by the states are easily verifiable by parliaments.

Participants agreed that there was need for parliamentarians to demonstrate high standards of conduct to maintain a positive public image and desist from engaging in corrupt practices.

 

"We call on all governments and other organizations who are committed to good governance, improved prosperity and better lives for their citizens and society to join forces with GOPAC," stated a declaration issued at the end of the meeting.

GOPAC was founded in Canada in 2002 with the aim of empowering worldwide parliamentarians to war against corruption in communities.
GOPAC is non-profit and non-partisan and has a membership of over 700 in about 90 countries.

According to Mr Williams, the next conference in 2008 would be held in an Arab region, in a country to be named later.

Meanwhile, the World Bank has pledged to work more closely with global parliaments to fight corruption and has recommended that all its partner countries should ratify the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).

Through a video address to the second Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) yesterday, the World Bank President, Mr Paul Wolfowitz, urged enaction of laws against bribery and bid rigging as a way of stepping up the fight against corruption.

He also wanted punishments to match with the severity of the offences and that the prosecutors should be equipped to bring corrupt companies and those they corrupt, to justice.