Papua New Guinea: United Nations and EU Bolster Anti-Corruption Capabilities through Financial Crimes Training

Three-Day Workshop in Lae Boosts Cooperation and Skills of Public Officials

• From August 24-26, 2022, the Department of Justice and Attorney-General (DJAG) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with European Union support, organized an intensive three-day workshop in Lae, Morobe Province, to strengthen Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) capacity to investigate and prosecute financial crimes.

Agencies United Against Corruption

• Over forty public officials from eleven provinces attended the training, representing various public agencies: Auditor General’s Office, Department of Justice and Attorney General, Financial Analysis and Supervision Unit, Investment Promotion Authority, interim Independent Commission Against Corruption, Office of the Public Prosecutor, Ombudsman Commission, and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary.

Emphasizing the Importance of Anti-Corruption Laws

Mr Graeme Gunn, UNODC Officer-in-Charge and Anti-Corruption Adviser for Papua New Guinea:

Effective enforcement of anti-corruption laws is a critical part of Papua New Guinea’s goal of having effective systems and processes to bring corrupt actors to account.

Novelty of Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Proceeds of Crime Powers

Mrs Josephine Pitmur, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Justice and Attorney General:

We prioritize applying these laws to their full potential to deter and punish wrongdoing.

Interactive and Highly Practical Program

• Mr Jason Reichelt of UNODC conducted the sessions, with further support from Ms Josephine Mann of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The project was implemented jointly by UNODC and the UN Development Programme PNG and received funding from the European Union under the Project Preventing and Countering Corruption in Papua New Guinea.

Unity in the Fight Against Corruption

• In closing remarks, Mr Thomas Eluh, Chair of the interim PNG Independent Commission Against Corruption, called for the unity of all public agencies in the fight against corruption and encouraged all participants to work in tandem to make significant strides against corrupt practices.

Impact of Previous Training

Numerous countries worldwide have benefited from similar training, as stated by Mr Graeme Gunn, UNODC Officer-in-Charge and Anti-Corruption Adviser for Papua New Guinea. He expressed pride in contributing to PNG’s development.

Agencies Collaborating in the Fight Against Corruption

The following agencies participated in the training and are collaborating in the fight against corruption:

1. Auditor General’s Office
2. Department of Justice and Attorney General
3. Financial Analysis and Supervision Unit
4. Investment Promotion Authority
5. interim Independent Commission Against Corruption
6. Office of the Public Prosecutor
7. Ombudsman Commission
8. Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary

Organizers and Funding of the Workshop

The workshop was organized by the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, with European Union support. The European Union provided funding for the project under the Project Preventing and Countering Corruption in Papua New Guinea.