PACE adopts anti-corruption resolutions, acknowledges investigative journalism and whistleblowing as weapons to tackle corruption
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution on Tuesday based on the report prepared by Michele Nicoletti (Italy, SOC), calling on the governments to step up the fight against corruption by promoting integrity and transparency in public life at all levels, in particular by adopting sound rules on the declaration of assets, income and financial and other interests, making such declarations easily accessible to the public and setting up independent supervisory bodies and regulating lobbying activities.
As the release by the PACE press service reported, the resolution acknowledges the role of the media in denouncing corruption, while ensuring that media regulation respects media freedom and responsibility.
Parliaments should develop a code of conduct covering guidance on the prevention of conflicts of interest, gifts and other advantages, while ensuring that “parliamentary immunity does not protect members of parliament from criminal prosecution for corruption-related acts”.
As regards the Parliamentary Assembly, it should pay special attention to the revision and effective implementation of its own code of conduct; support the independent external investigation body looking into allegations of corruption within the Assembly, and provide a sound basis for regulating lobbying activities.
Meanwhile, in another resolution on the basis of a report by Gülsün Bilgehan (Turkey, SOC), PACE said investigative journalism is a “public asset” and a “key weapon in tackling corruption.”
The parliamentarians encouraged national parliaments to “actively seek synergies with investigative journalists and media in promoting good governance” and to recognise “a ‘right to whistleblowing’ in all cases where information is disclosed in all good faith and is clearly in the public interest, for example where infringements of human rights or of criminal law including active or passive corruption, or facts that reveal a threat to safety, health, or the environment are concerned”. The exercise of such right should be “an objective criterion for exemption of criminal liability”, and “retaliatory measures against or abusive pressure on whistle-blowers” should be forbidden and penalised.
Newsfeed
Videos
Artur Vanetsyan: I think you'll see me more often at various events in future
