Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea), 18 August 2023 - In 2023, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has already delivered over a dozen training, mentoring and related activities for police, prosecutors, the Independent Commission Against Corruption and other integrity institutions of Papua New Guinea.
UNODC technical assistance is provided under the PNG Anti-Corruption Project, a major commitment by the United Nations, the European Union and the Government of PNG to tackle corruption. The European Union has invested approximately PGK 17.6 million in the Project as part of the EU-PNG Partnership for Good Governance. The Project is being implemented jointly by UNODC and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
UNODC is focused on supporting the Independent Commission Against Corruption to become fully established in its internal arrangements, prevention work and law enforcement functions, and helping the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate of the Royal PNG Constabulary, Provincial Fraud Units and the Office of the Public Prosecutor, to enhance the investigation and prosecution of criminal corrupt conduct. UNODC’s work extends to other key integrity institutions, namely the Auditor General’s Office, Financial Analysis and Supervision Unit of Bank PNG, Investment Promotion Authority, judiciary, Ombudsman Commission, and Prosecution Unit of the RPNGC, all of which are critical to the success of PNG’s response to corruption and money laundering.
Through UNODC training, mentoring and other activities under the EU-funded Anti-Corruption Project, participants have boosted their skills and enhanced cooperation between institutions to conduct more effective investigations of corruption, money laundering and other financial crime. UNODC will continue these activities under the project for at least another year, while expanding to deliver support to anti-corruption police and prosecutors in several provinces of PNG.
“It is important that our work responds to the national demand. In Papua New Guinea we deliver technical assistance in close consultation with our partners, and we supplement formal training opportunities with intensive targeted mentoring and other work to maximise impact. Enhancing individual skills and institutional processes is a critical component of a robust law enforcement response to financial crime, which to be effective must be backed by strong political will and adequate resourcing” said Mr Graeme Gunn, UNODC Officer-in-Charge and Anti-Corruption Adviser, Papua New Guinea.
