Financial Crime World

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Whistleblower Protection in Financial Institutions: Top Priority in Palau’s Fight against Corruption

Yesterday, anti-corruption stakeholders gathered in Koror, Palau to assess priorities identified from the country’s Country Review Report on implementing preventive measures and asset recovery under the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). The workshop was led by Palau Attorney-General Ernestine Rengiil and UNODC Regional Anti-Corruption Adviser for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Annika Wythes.

Workshop Participants

The event brought together representatives from Palau’s government, including:

  • Immigration agencies
  • Police agencies
  • Financial integrity agencies
  • Public Auditor
  • Office of the Special Prosecutor
  • Senate
  • Chamber of Commerce
  • Media
  • Belau Association of NGOs
  • Banks
  • Small businesses

Palau made the entire UNCAC review report publicly available in July this year, sparking a discussion on how to implement its recommendations.

Key Issues Identified

The key issues identified under UNCAC Chapters II (Preventive measures) and V (Asset recovery), and endorsed by participants, included:

  • The need for whistleblower protection legislation
  • An umbrella National Anti-Corruption Strategy
  • The re-establishment of the Office of the Ombudsman

Stakeholders also emphasized the importance of:

  • Ensuring necessary material resources
  • Providing specialized staff
  • Coordinated focus on implementing existing integrity legislation

Next Steps

Attorney-General Rengiil informed participants that their recommendations would be taken to President Surangel Whipps as a response to the detailed UNCAC Country Review Report. The executive summary and full review report are available online at the UNODC website.

UNODC’s Ongoing Work in Palau

In addition to the workshop, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is currently working with various organizations in Palau, including:

  • Chamber of Commerce on youth outreach and women entrepreneurs’ development
  • Media Council to strengthen local journalists’ reporting on anti-corruption
  • Office of the Special Prosecutor on its outreach work

The UNODC’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.