Whistleblower Protection Takes Center Stage as Palau’s Anti-Corruption Stakeholders Identify Priorities
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In a bid to strengthen its anti-corruption efforts, Palau’s stakeholders have identified key priorities to improve whistleblower protection and asset recovery. This move comes on the heels of the country’s review report under the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), which was made publicly available last month.
Workshop Brings Together Anti-Corruption Stakeholders
A dedicated workshop was held yesterday, bringing together representatives from various government agencies, including:
- Immigration
- Police
- Financial Integrity
- Ministries
- Public Auditor
- Office of the Special Prosecutor
- Senate
- Palau Chamber of Commerce
- Media
- Belau Association of NGOs
- Banks
- Small businesses
The event was led by Palau’s Attorney-General and UNCAC Focal Point, Mrs. Ernestine Rengiil, along with UNODC’s Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Ms Annika Wythes.
Key Recommendations
The participants endorsed a range of key issues, including:
- The need for whistleblower protection legislation
- An umbrella National Anti-Corruption Strategy
- The re-establishment of the Office of the Ombudsman
- Ensuring necessary material resources and specialized staff
- Coordinated focus on implementing existing integrity legislation
Recommendations to Enhance Integrity Agencies
According to Ms Wythes, these recommendations will help Palau’s integrity agencies better prevent corruption and more efficiently stop corrupt practices that erode public confidence in institutions and siphon off government resources. Attorney-General Rengiil assured participants that their recommendations would be taken to President Surangel Whipps as a response to the detailed UNCAC Country Review Report.
UNODC Review Report Available Online
The UNODC review report is available at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s website, along with an executive summary. In addition to the workshop, UNODC is currently providing assistance to various organizations in Palau, including:
- The Chamber of Commerce
- Media Council
- Office of the Special Prosecutor
UN-PRAC: A Joint Initiative Against Corruption
The agency’s work in Palau is implemented through the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project (UN-PRAC), a joint initiative between UNODC and UNDP, supported by the New Zealand Aid Programme.