An international panel reviewing Taiwan’s first national report on the implementation of the U.N. Convention against Corruption concluded Aug. 24 that the country has made significant legal and institutional progress toward clean governance and corporate practices.
 
The report by five overseas experts praised Taiwan for establishing a Central Integrity Committee under the Cabinet to coordinate the work of government anti-corruption agencies. Amending the Money Laundering Control Act to bring the country in line with international standards and introducing a revised act on mutual assistance of transnational crime were also listed as achievements.
 
According to the Agency Against Corruption under the Ministry of Justice, the report’s conclusions will play a major role in policymaking. Minister without Portfolio Lo Ping-cheng said the suggestions will help promote cleaner governance across all sectors.
 
Also praised were Taiwan’s political will to fight corruption and its efforts to comply with U.N. standards by enacting domestic legislation, even though it is not a member of the world body.
 
The panel recommended Taiwan improve cooperation between anti-corruption agencies, devote more resources to targeting private sector crime and support greater civil society participation. It also highlighted the need for the nation to ensure a gender balance in its anti-corruption work.
 
More than 120 representatives from government and civil society met with the panel, which took four days to complete the review process.
 
The convention was adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in 2003 and entered into force in 2005. Taiwan’s Act to Implement UNCAC was promulgated 2015 with the first national report released March 30 by the AAC. (CPY-E)