The roles of journalists and parliamentarians in the fight against corruption are mutually reinforcing, as parliamentarians are responsible for adopting a relevant anti-corruption legal framework and establishing independent institutions, while journalists play a vital role in enhancing transparency and transparency through transparency and accountability. in the fight against impunity for the guilty, said MP Irini Charalambidou, head of the Cypriot delegation and Special Representative of the Assembly for the Fight against Corruption.
He stressed that the existence of a strong legal framework is absolutely necessary to effectively defend freedom of expression and to ensure security conditions for journalists.
Speaking at the 20th Winter Meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which takes place online between 24 and 26 February 2021, Ms. Charalambidou presented the work she has done recently.
He noted the main findings of an Internet Dialogue entitled “MPs and Journalists: Collaborators Against Corruption”.
Ms. Charalambidou stressed the importance of enacting legislation throughout the OSCE region to reveal the final beneficiary. The Cypriot Special Representative stressed that justice delivery systems should be protected from influences aimed at silencing investigative journalism through restrictive court orders, and that journalists should be encouraged to pursue their investigations independently, responsibly and exclusively to the public.
International organizations, such as the OSCE, said Ms. Charalambidou, could provide a privileged forum to promote strategic partnerships between key partners in the fight against corruption.
The Special Representative of K.S. The OSCE also briefed the Standing Committee on its participation in an OSCE webinar entitled “Open Data in Action: Final Beneficiaries and Public Procurement” on 9 December 2020, International Anti-Corruption Day.
Ms. Charalambidou also welcomed a report by the OSCE Ministerial Council in December 2020, in a resolution entitled “Preventing and Combating Corruption through Digitization and Increased Transparency”, on the crucial role played by MPs in the fight against corruption. and the important contribution of K.S. OSCE.
Political will is the alpha and omega of any effective strategy to fight corruption, because without political will, the legislative framework remains a blank slate, Ms. Charalambidou concluded.
In addition, during the Winter Meeting, a document was released on the activities of the Special Representative for the Fight against Corruption so far, as well as activities planned for 2021.
These include consultations of Ms. Charalambidou with the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office for the Fight against Corruption, the submission of a resolution on the role of the Media and MPs in the fight against corruption, which will be included in the Final Declaration of the OSCE / ODIHR, next July, as well as its participation in relevant OSCE meetings on the subject of the fight against corruption.
