Regional Workshop on Political Ethics and Conflict of Interest

Arab Region - Monday, February 8, 2010

The Arab Parliamentarians against Corruption (ArPAC) organized a regional workshop in Beirut (Lebanon) on 18-19 February 2010, with the support of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) in the framework of a joint project between the two organizations.The regional workshop was attended by parliamentarians and activists from Jordan, the occupied Palestinian territory, Bahrain, Algeria, Kuwait, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, and Yemen in addition to the British Ambassador to Lebanon and a number of regional and international experts. The workshop focused on ways to utilize the Guide on Parliamentary Ethics and Conduct Systems which was developed last year by the Global Parliamentarians against Corruption (GOPAC) in cooperation with WFD. The Guide provides clear and useful guidance to parliamentarians advocating reform with a view to enabling them to lay down the foundations of effective ethics and conduct systems that correspond to their countries’ political and cultural circumstances, while fully respecting related fundamental international standards. During the workshop, participants were informed about best ways to use the Guide. They also discussed corruption challenges in their countries and exchanged views and suggestions on how to empower Arab parliamentarians in their legislative and oversight duties, using the standards put forward by the Guide.
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