A/CONF. 187/9 Taking into account the increasing number of international instruments dealing with corruption, the Workshop will be aimed at promoting coordinated efforts for the and best practices in prevention at the international, national and municipal levels ts development of joint strategies for the implementation of those international instrum A solid and successful anti-corruption strategy advocated rests on four pillars (a)economic development; (b)democratic reform; (c)a strong civil society with access to information and a mandate to monitor the actions of the State; and (d) the presence of the rule of law. Given these four broad principles, there are four basic areas in which action can be taken against corruption within a country (a) The basic institutions of good governance need to be strengthened, first and foremost, the judiciary, which is itself the guardian of laws and of integrity. If the judiciary itself is corrupt, the problem is compounded and the public at large is left without the rule of law: (b) The capacity and integrity of enforcement need to be enhanced. The best law has no value if it is not enforced. The best judges and magistrates are wasted if cases are never brought before them. Good investigations are wasted effort if the police or prosecutors are themselves corrupt (c) A Government needs to put in place a solid set of preventive tools. Codes of conduct and strong independent oversight bodies can help ensure that acceptable standards of behaviour are followed in both the private and public sector. Political leaders in all branches of government, the legislature and the judiciary can be required to have transparency in their own financial dealings through asset disclosure for themselves and members of their families (d) The public needs to be educated on the advantages of good governance. It must also be clear that the public itself bears a large share of responsibility for insisting on honesty and integrity in government and business. Members of the public need to learn not to let anybody buy their votes; not to pay bribes themselves, to report incidents of corruption to the authorities, and to teach their children the right values, for instance, that grity is good and corruption is badA/CONF.187/9 2 Taking into account the increasing number of international instruments dealing with corruption, the Workshop will be aimed at promoting coordinated efforts for the development of joint strategies for the implementation of those international instruments and best practices in prevention at the international, national and municipal levels. A solid and successful anti-corruption strategy advocated rests on four pillars: (a) economic development; (b) democratic reform; (c) a strong civil society with access to information and a mandate to monitor the actions of the State; and (d) the presence of the rule of law. Given these four broad principles, there are four basic areas in which action can be taken against corruption within a country: (a) The basic institutions of good governance need to be strengthened, first and foremost, the judiciary, which is itself the guardian of laws and of integrity. If the judiciary itself is corrupt, the problem is compounded and the public at large is left without the rule of law; (b) The capacity and integrity of enforcement need to be enhanced. The best law has no value if it is not enforced. The best judges and magistrates are wasted if cases are never brought before them. Good investigations are wasted effort if the police or prosecutors are themselves corrupt; (c) A Government needs to put in place a solid set of preventive tools. Codes of conduct and strong independent oversight bodies can help ensure that acceptable standards of behaviour are followed in both the private and public sector. Political leaders in all branches of government, the legislature and the judiciary can be required to have transparency in their own financial dealings through asset disclosure for themselves and members of their families; (d) The public needs to be educated on the advantages of good governance. It must also be clear that the public itself bears a large share of responsibility for insisting on honesty and integrity in government and business. Members of the public need to learn not to let anybody buy their votes; not to pay bribes themselves; to report incidents of corruption to the authorities; and to teach their children the right values, for instance, that integrity is good and corruption is bad