I for one, remain sceptical about our political will to do so.

THE UN Convention on Corruption is of course a very long and detailed document, but it may be a positive act, against the background of International Anti-Corruption Day, to take a look at some of the resolutions in the document, and try to establish whether we are committed to eradicating the scourge.

While we celebrate this day on December 9 it is perhaps no coincidence that it is followed a day later, on December 10, by International Human Rights Day, and that there is a strong link between the two.

Said former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, on December 9 2004: "There is no longer any doubt of the linkages between corruption, poverty and human rights abuses.

This year, on 9th December, we celebrate the first ever International Anti-Corruption Day just one day before International Human Rights Day.

This is a timely reminder to all who care about the abuse of human rights that to fight against corruption is to fight for human rights.

An open and transparent state will provide for fuller realisation of economic, social and political rights.

"There will be fewer secrets, less discrimination, and more equal access to public services like education and health care, as well as to fair treatment by the police and judiciary.

Let us join together on December 9 to fight corruption.

It is a battle that can be won."

The Preamble to the UN Convention on Corruption emphasises the link in concerns about "the seriousness of problems and threats posed by corruption to the stability and security of societies, undermining the institutions and values of democracy, ethical values and justice and jeopardising sustainable development and the rule of law".

Various articles of the Convention call for preventive anti-corruption policies and practices and anti-corruption bodies, both of which Namibia can claim to have enforced to a certain extent.

Whether they are sufficient for the task is another question altogether.

But this is not all.

As far as the public sector is concerned, states which are signatory are required to look at the issue of recruitment based on principles of efficiency, transparency and objective criteria such as "merit, equity and aptitude"; adequate procedures for selections and training of individuals for public positions which may be considered vulnerable to corruption; prescribing of criteria for candidature for and election to public office (and it could be said we are paying less attention to these requirements than we are doing at present).

Codes of conduct are required for public officials, and this too is something which is implemented at best erratically.

There should be steps taken to establish appropriate systems of public procurement and management of public finances, again something which is applied selectively.

There should be public reporting, where Government is required to take measures to enhance transparency to allow the public to get information on the organisation, functioning and decision-making processes, but access to information is extremely limited in our context.

The Convention applies as much to the private sector as it does to the public, but for the purposes of this column, Government must and should come under closer scrutiny.

Most importantly, perhaps, the Convention requires governments to "take appropriate measures, within its means and in accordance with fundamental principles of its domestic law, to promote the active participation of individuals and groups outside the public sector, such as civil society, non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations, in the prevention of and the fight against corruption and to raise public awareness regarding the existence, causes and gravity of and the threat posed by corruption".

Ways to do this include: (a) Enhancing the transparency of and promoting the contribution of the public to decision-making processes; (b) Ensuring that the public has effective access to information; (c) Undertaking public information activities that contribute to non-tolerance of corruption, as well as public education programmes, including school and university curricula; (d) Respecting, promoting and protecting the freedom to seek, receive, publish and disseminate information concerning corruption.

It is important, for example, that Namibians familiarise themselves with this Convention so that they can exert pressure on their public and private sectors to comply with something to which our Government is signatory.

Understand how corruption works and where it may manifest itself is absolutely key to combating it.

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