The Parliament of Cyprus is hosting an international conference on Combating Corruption, Defending Democracy: The Role of National Parliaments, with the support of the OSCE PA International Secretariat.
Taking place in Nicosia, Cyprus, from 27-28 May 2022, the conference aims to share best practices of national parliaments in combating corruption and enhancing transparency, with a particular focus on the contribution of independent institutions and journalists. It comes at the initiative of OSCE PA Vice-President Irene Charalambides (Cyprus), who has served as the Assembly’s Special Representative on Fighting Corruption since 2019.
“Political will is paramount in the fight against corruption,” Vice-President Charalambides said in announcing the conference, “and we will demonstrate this determination through the conference.”
Keynote speakers will represent the world’s leading anti-corruption organizations, including the World Bank, the UN, GRECO, and Transparency International. Journalists will also actively contribute to the conference, offering perspectives on the importance of the media in combating corruption.
The conference will stream live here.
Please see below for the programme.
Friday, 27 May 2022
10.00 - 10.30 EEST
Opening Session
Welcoming remarks by Irene Charalambides, OSCE PA Vice-President and Special Representative on Fighting Corruption
Opening addresses by:
- Annita Demetriou, President of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus
- Margareta Cederfelt, President of the OSCE PA
- Ioannis Kasoulides, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus
- Ambassador Artur Dmochowski, Special Envoy of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office
- Roberto Montella, Secretary General of the OSCE PA.
11.00 - 12.30 EEST
Session I: The role of national parliaments in preventing and fighting corruption
Moderator: Ambassador Igli Hasani, Co-ordinator of the OSCE Office for Economic and Environmental Activities
Keynote speakers:
- Anita Ramasastry, OSCE CiO Special Representative on Combating Corruption
- Hanne Juncher, GRECO Executive Secretary
- Brigitte Strobel-Shaw, UNODC, Chief of the Corruption and Economic Crime Branch
- Irene Charalambides, OSCE PA Vice-President and Special Representative on Fighting Corruption
Debate
14.30 - 16.00 EEST
Session II: Key policies to prevent corruption and foster transparency and accountability
Moderator: Anita Ramasastry, OSCE CiO Special Representative on Combating Corruption
Keynote speakers:
- Roby Senderowitsch, Practice Manager, Governance ECA West, World Bank
- Jon Vrushi, Transparency International, Research Analyst
- Konstantine Vardzelashvili, ODIHR, Head of Democratization Unit
Debate
Saturday, 28 May 2022
Session III: The contribution of independent institutions and the media in preventing and fighting corruption
Moderator: Irene Charalambides, OSCE PA Vice-President and Special Representative on Fighting Corruption
Keynote speakers:
- Costas Clerides, Former Attorney-General of the Republic of Cyprus
- Drew Sullivan, OCCRP co-founder, Editor of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
- Franz Wild, Editor of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism’s Enablers Project
- Odysseas Michaelides, Auditor-General of the Republic of Cyprus
Debate
10.30 - 11.00 EEST
Closing Session
Moderator: Irene Charalambides, OSCE PA Vice-President and Special Representative on Fighting Corruption
Closing remarks by:
- Ambassador Igli Hasani, Co-ordinator of the OSCE Office for Economic and Environmental Activities.
- Anita Ramasastry, OSCE CiO Special Representative on Combating Corruption
- Irene Charalambides, OSCE PA Vice-President and Special Representative on Fighting Corruption
