UNDP: Debate on Corruption and Civil Society

28 November 2008

On November 27, 2008, the Kosovo Anti-Corruption Agency (KACA), supported by the UNDP Kosovo Transparency Initiative (KTI), organized a public debate on the topic of Civil Society and Corruption, with participation of KACA officials, civil society representatives and citizens.

Participants stressed the need to advance and establish more robust mechanisms to fight corruption and complained that their reports are not being translated into concrete actions by Agency\'s officials.

- There are a number of cases which we have presented to the Head of Anti-Corruption Agency Hasan Preteni, but the follow up measures are missing - one civil society representative complained.

KACA officials, on the other hand, said that this institution is only one component of a list of those required for effective combating of corruption in Kosovo, prosecution and law in particular.

The main conclusions and recommendations of the debate were that there is low public trust in NGO\'s; there is a disconnect between NGOs and citizens; there is not sufficient cooperation between NGOs and institutions responsible for fighting corruption; KACA and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are natural allies in the fight against corruption therefore cooperation should be more extensive; Civil society should be consulted regarding any legislative initiative; the donors should take into account the needs of local NGO\'s and support innovative and tailor made initiatives; the Kosovo Anti-Corruption Strategy drafted by KACA should be approved by the government and the Assembly as soon as possible.

`Corruption and Civil Society` was the fourth of a series of Agency`s outreach activities aimed at raising awareness and receiving direct inputs from the wider public on ways of preventing corruption in Kosovo. It follows three previous debates � `Youth against Corruption` and `Political Parties and corruption`, and `Corruption and health System`.