Haiti participated in the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, D.C., in the 42nd meeting of the Committee of Experts of the Follow-up Mechanism for the Implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (MESICIC), which ended last week.

At this important international meeting, the Haitian delegation was led by Me Hans Jacques Ludwig Joseph, Director General of the Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) and the main anti-corruption expert for Haiti.

This was an opportunity for Haiti to present, among other things, the recent advances made in the prevention and fight against corruption, but also to call for a strengthening of cooperation in the exchange of information between representatives of member states.

In addition to the presentation of country reports, the protection of whistleblowers was on the agenda for discussions.

Regarding whistleblowers, the ULCC stresses the importance of allowing those who witness or are victims of acts of corruption to report these facts without fear of reprisals. To this end, in the name of its pre-legislative competence, the ULCC has already prepared two preliminary draft laws respectively on free access to information and on the protection of whistleblowers, witnesses and experts in criminal matters.

The Haitian delegation presented the Integrity Clubs in schools in Haiti and the diagnosis of national legislation as good practices that States in the region can draw inspiration from to prevent and combat corruption.

"We are convinced that the establishment of Integrity Clubs will promote a culture of transparency and integrity and will transmit to young people who are called upon to take over in the highest decision-making spheres of the country, fundamental principles such as respect for public and collective property, accountability. Introducing structured and citizen debates in schools on the harm, consequences and impacts of corruption on society in general and the future of young people in particular, contributes to the efforts made by Haiti to implement the various recommendations made to it in international evaluation reports," recalled the Director General of the ULCC.

HL/ HaitiLibre