Qatar, UN stress need for more global action to fight corruption

Rwanda on Monday hosts the annual Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award in recognition of President Paul Kagame's efforts to fight corruption in his country and build a state based on justice and the rule of law.

Both Qatar and the United Nations highly appreciate Kagame's role in achieving reconciliation and going forward with development and progress efforts in his country. The fourth edition of the award reflects the keenness of Qatar's leadership to promote transparency and good governance as corruption is considered the most serious impediment to development efforts in different world countries which negatively impacts the lives of people.The award ceremony in Rwanda carries a message to the world to stress the need for more global co-operation and co-ordination to tackle such serious issues of administrative corruption to achieve the desired development goals for the benefit of the people.Qatar has always supported the global fight against corruption, for instance the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Centre (ROLACC) was created based on a proposal made by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani at the 3rd United Nations Convention Against Corruption, held in Doha. Its main purpose is to provide the due support to the stakeholders leading the fight against corruption, in particular at the Arab World."Qatar has established the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center to support all anti-corruption efforts and training," HE Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri, Attorney General of Qatar as United Nations Special Advocate against Corruption, ROLACC chairman of the Board of Trustees, had mentioned while addressing a related UN conference."The active role played by the centre during the recent years was to provide training courses, workshops and auspices of international conferences aimed at those who uphold the law in both public and private sectors in order to increase awareness about the latest methods in the fight against corruption."Qatar operates a comprehensive strategy that ensures its presence among the most advanced countries in the fight against corruption. In the public sector, refusing illegal or non-transparent practices will help the fight against corruption and would result in more legitimate investment into the country."This helps ensure the continuation of economic progress and not just to preserve the interests of the State and the maintenance of public funds but also to safeguard the interests of the private sector companies whether large or small," according to HE Dr al-Marri.This is the fourth edition of Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award, which has become a global event to honour the leading persons and organisations in the fight against corruption and spread of public awareness about their efforts and the need to eradicate illegal practices that eventually waste public funds, which could otherwise be invested in improving the lives of people.The latest Global Corruption Perception Index by Transparency International recognises "Rwanda as largely perceived as having achieved remarkable progress in the fight against corruption over the last few years." Besides, Qatar and Rwanda have signed various agreement to enhance Qatari investments in Rwanda in various fields that are expected to speed up development efforts there in all key sectors.