Participation of the PABSEC International Secretariat to the 2021 OECD Global Anti-Corruption Integrity Forum: “Leading through the Crisis: Integrity and Anti-Corruption for a Resilient Recovery”, 23-25 March 2021
Mr. Fuat Kuçukaydin, PABSEC Deputy Secretary General, attended the 2021 Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum: “Leading through the Crisis: Integrity and Anti-Corruption for a Resilient Recovery Webinar, organized by the OECD, on 23-25 March 2021.
During the webinar, representatives of governments, business leaders, policymakers, anti-corruption experts and practitioners, civil society representatives and academics addressed important issues on restoring trust and integrity in and beyond the current crisis, in building a more resilient and more ethical future.
The Forum explored the new integrity risks, challenges and opportunities that have arisen in the COVID-19 context, as well as identified innovative solutions required to govern and conduct business with integrity, including with respect to responsible business conduct (RBC) standards, and means to tackle the corruption in times of crisis.
It was pointed that the COVID-19 has deeply affected global health, the economy, and all aspects of societies. The panelists underlined that the rapid elaboration of emergency measures should not compromise continued attention to integrity, accountability and transparency in policymaking. The efforts to strengthen public trust should be preserved as governments strive to respond to the crisis. It was noted that not everybody in society is equal in the face of the pandemic. Young people are facing increased risks to their education and prospects for employment and are shouldering the long-term social and economic consequences of the pandemic.
The keynote speakers and the experts who participated in the event, focused on numerous important issues, such as: 1) The importance of more transparent water governance for a stronger recovery, 2) Illicit Financial Flows, Oil Commodity Trading and Development, 3) Maintaining checks and controls in international supply chains in times of COVID-19, 4) Cross-sectoral actions and responsible business conduct in the COVID-19 response, 5) Integrity and corruption risks during and beyond COVID-19: Challenges, perspectives and experiences from the ground.