*Combating corruption is common responsibility
HE the Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority Hamad bin Nasser al-Misned has affirmed that the fight against corruption is a common responsibility of all the State's authorities.
He pointed out that the Authority has finalised the vision of the National Strategy for Integrity and Transparency in co-ordination with all national authorities by establishing the necessary foundations and policies to ensure the promotion of integrity and transparency in these authorities.
In an interview published in Qatari newspapers Sunday, he said Qatar's accession to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in 2007 is an affirmation of its fight against corruption.
He pointed out that Qatar is one of the countries in the forefront of fight against corruption and one of the least corrupt countries in the world. Last year Qatar was ranked the second least corrupt country in the region and 29th globally in the 2017 Corruption Perception Index (CPI).
Regarding the National Strategy for Integrity and Transparency, HE al-Misned explained that it includes five main pillars, including the public sector which focuses on enhancing the standards of job behaviour, combating conflicts of interest and transparency of information and enhancing integrity and transparency in human resources and procurement. It also includes cooperation between the public and private sectors and the support of private sector entities to report violations of integrity, in addition to the axis of legislation and law enforcement, public participation and awareness and international co-operation.
The Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority said one of the most important projects that the Authority is working on is the strengthening of measures related to conflicts of interest and access to information.
He also revealed that the Authority is currently investigating complaints of corruption in some ministries, without naming them.
He said the Authority is the only body in the country that has the authority of comprehensive supervision, namely administrative, financial and technical control over all entities under its control, to the extent required to achieve its goals in promoting integrity and transparency in the field of public office, combating corruption in all its forms, and ensuring that all institutions and bodies are in compliance with the laws.
The Authority's control, he said, also includes all the organs in the State, including public ministries and institutions, and private institutions of public benefit.
On the mechanisms of administrative control of the State's institutions, he said there is a framework called the national framework for integrity and transparency governing the issue of administrative, financial and technical procedures and their compatibility with the regulations and the commitment of the concerned body to the procedures, are subject to the supervision of the Authority.
On the role of the Authority in raising the awareness of the community that the preservation of public money is a social responsibility, he said the Authority started this step effectively, pointing out that in September, there will be an integrated awareness plan that includes State institutions and all segments of society, and the education sector in the next stage. Therefore, he said, anti-corruption experts, as well as experts in the field of integrity and transparency from international organisations have been invited to meet with them in September.
HE al-Misned added that the Authority has sent invitations to the competent government bodies in this area such as the Public Prosecution, the Ministry of Interior and the Central Bank, in addition to other bodies.
The Authority will launch its website through which it will receive all complaints. Besides, officials will be present at the Authority's headquarters to receive complaints.
