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September 3, 2010
World's First Educational Institution dedicated to Fighting Corruption: UN Secretary-General inaugurates International Anti-Corruption Academy in Vienna, Austria
Photo: International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) Building, Vienna, Austria.
Photo: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses the inaugural conference of the International Anti-Corruption Academy, in Vienna. UN Photo/Mark Garten.
• UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today inaugurated the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) in Vienna, Austria.
Addressing the Inaugural Conference, the UN Secretary-General said: "The launch of the International Anti-Corruption Academy is a milestone in the efforts of the international community to fight corruption. It has great potential to advance the goals of the landmark United Nations Convention against Corruption."
Mr. Ban added that while too often in the past corruption was perceived as a fact of life, today attitudes are changing. "Across the world, intolerance of corruption is growing. The establishment of this Academy responds not only to this increasing sense of outrage and injustice, but also to an urgent need to train the experts we need to conquer this global menace."
Photo: A view of the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York at sunset. UN Photo/Yutaka Nagata.
Photo: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon meets with Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State of the United States of America. 19 August 2010. United Nations, New York. UN Photo/Mark Garten.
Noting that traditional methods are proving no match for new types of corruption, especially financial crimes, Mr. Ban said that the Academy will nurture a new generation of leaders in the public and private sectors - a global network of talented, like-minded professionals.
"The creation of a precise body of knowledge about a poorly researched and little-understood subject will shed more light on murky deals. If we can calculate inflation and GDP, it should not be beyond our abilities to develop an effective and scientific measure for corruption," he said.
After his address in Vienna's historic Hofburg Palace, which was attended by some 1,000 participants from 90 countries, Mr. Ban visited the campus where the first courses were already taking place.
IACA will offer tailor-made programs, including courses for practitioners from developing countries. Students will be able to pursue academic degrees while exchanging ideas and networking on campus. Finally, IACA will be a global think tank and a standard-setter for all matters related to corruption.
Internationally recognized scholars and experts will make up the teaching faculty. "Superior training coupled with advanced academic research will give those who need it a significant edge in their work," said Martin Kreutner, Head of the IACA Transition Team. "Their know-how will have a trickle-down effect in their countries and help create the conditions for change."
Photo: Back View of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) Building, Vienna, Austria.
IACA is pursuing partnerships with international organizations (such as the World Bank, the United Nations Development Program and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), anti-corruption networks, international academic institutions and the private sector. Mr. Kreutner notes that "the increasing participation of private companies wishing to establish ethics compliance program is another exciting aspect of our work."
The Austrian Government is providing state-of-the-art premises in Laxenburg, near Vienna, to house the Academy, which will become an international organization in 2011.
• The International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) is the world's first educational institution dedicated to fighting corruption. Starting in September, it will train policy-makers in governments, the private sector and civil society, as well as professionals such as judges, investigators, prosecutors, police officers, regulators and academics from all over the world.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:51 PM | Link to this Post
