On December 5, the International CIPE (Center for International Private Enterprise) Anti-Corruption Summit “Collective actions of the private sector to combat corruption” took place in Kiyv. The event was attended by experts from Europe, Asia, Africa and USA. Mariam Zadoyan, the project manager of the Armenian Lawyer’s Association (ALA) component of the “Armenia: Promoting Anti-Corruption Conduct and Reforms” Project and Suzanna Soghomonyan, ALA board member, have also participated in the event.
Natalia Hotel Bilan, Director of Regional Programs in Europe and Eurasia, CIPE, Alexander Okunev, Chairman of the Board of the Professional Association of Corporate Governance, Frank Brown, Director of the Center for Combating Corruption and Good Governance, CIPE facilitated the discussion.
The keynote speech was delivered by Drago Kos, Chairman of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Working Group on Countering Bribery in International Commercial Transactions.
The main idea of the event: In countries where military operations are taking place, with repressive regimes, as well as those that are undergoing post-conflict reconstruction or are suffering from financial crises, it is almost impossible for active citizens to achieve change alone. In these complex business environments, associations in broad and strong alliances to combat systemic corruption are playing an extremely important role. Collective actions are extremely important.
The ALA representatives presented the success-stories of Armenia of collective action, mainly the anti-corruption reforms both in the public and private sectors implemented by the CSO’s Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenia. They have also raised the topics of the regulations, the practice and the challenges of Armenia on the topics of the anti-corruption, Business Ombudsman’s Office and etc.
This material has been prepared in the scope of the “Armenia: Promoting Anti-Corruption Conduct and Reforms” Project implemented by the “Center for International Private Enterprise”, the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO, the “Corporate Governance Center” NGO and the “Yerevan Chamber of Commerce and Industry” with financial support of the National Endowment for Democracy. The project is implemented as a co-financing to the “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” action implemented with the financial support of the European Union by a Consortium comprising the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO, the “Armenian Center for Democratic Education-CIVITAS” NGO, the “International Center for Human Development” NGO, the “SME Cooperation Association” NGO, the Union of Communities of Armenia, as well as “Agora Central Europe” NGO (Czech Republic). The contents of this material are the sole responsibility of the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the National Endowment for Democracy and the European Union.
