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Yemen’s Struggle to Access Information: A Threat to Anti-Corruption Efforts

Sana’a, Yemen - In its latest report, the AWTAD Anti-Corruption Organization has highlighted the significant challenges facing Yemen in its efforts to combat corruption and access information. The country’s civil society has played a crucial role in anti-corruption efforts since 2012, but their participation has been significantly reduced due to the ongoing war.

Progress Made, but Challenges Remain

The report notes that Yemen has made progress in legislative compliance and implementation of anti-money laundering measures, earning it removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklist in 2014. However, the country’s ability to detect and track suspicious financial transactions has been weakened by the conflict.

Weaknesses in Anti-Money Laundering Law

The Anti-Money Laundering Law has been updated several times, but the lack of explicit legal provisions for dealing with foreign countries and international cooperation has hindered asset recovery efforts. The report highlights that no other State Party has submitted official requests to Yemen in this regard, and Yemen has not yet joined any forum for exchanging financial information.

Urgent Recommendations

The AWTAD Anti-Corruption Organization is urging the government to take immediate action to address these issues. Key recommendations include:

Providing adequate funding for anti-corruption bodies
Ensuring pay continuity for workers
Excluding the regulatory and judicial systems from the conflict
Re-establishing boards of directors in key institutions

Strengthening International Cooperation

Additionally, the report calls for:

The operationalization of the Office of the Commissioner-General of Information
Expansion of participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) in reviewing and developing legislation related to anti-corruption and money laundering
Allocation of aid and grants provided by donors for good governance programs

Joining Global Forums and Signing Agreements

The organization is also urging Yemen to join global forums for the exchange of information and sign bilateral and multilateral agreements with States Parties to enhance international cooperation on asset recovery. The report concludes that without these measures, Yemen’s efforts to combat corruption and access information will continue to be hindered.

Yemen’s Anti-Corruption Organization Calls for Increased Transparency in Public Finances
Civil Society Plays Crucial Role in Yemen’s Anti-Corruption Efforts
Yemen’s Economy Suffers from Lack of Transparency and Corruption

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