Americas Regional Seat
The Civil Association for Equality and Justice (ACIJ) is a nonpartisan and nonprofit organisation dedicated to defending the rights of the most disadvantaged groups in society and strengthening democracy in Argentina. Founded in 2002, ACIJ aims to defend the effective application of the Constitution and the principles of rule of law; promote compliance with laws that protect disadvantaged groups and elimination of all discriminatory practices; and to contribute the development of practices of participatory and deliberative democracy.
The work of ACIJ’s Anti-corruption Program focuses on addressing the problems of corruption in Argentina. The program’s view is that democracy necessarily requires the input of citizens in strengthening institutions, as an indirect exercise of popular sovereignty, thus the participation of citizens to face corruption is a prerequisite for positive and sustainable results.
ACIJ seeks to facilitate the public access to clear and organised information related with corruption cases and trials in progress, in order to foster transparency and accountability in the prosecution by the Judiciary and to promote civic engagement against impunity.
Renzo Lavin is Co-Director of the Civil Association for Equality and Justice (ACIJ), and he leads ACIJ’s work on the field of Institutions and Democracy. His professional trajectory has been marked by a focus on transparency issues, the accountability system, judiciary independence and the fight against corruption.
He participated in different kinds of transparency-related projects ranging from the local level to the global, has coordinated different publications and has been part of national and international CSO networks linked to these issues. He also has experience participating in international and multi-stakeholder initiatives, such us the Open Government Partnership (OGP), the Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA) or the Transparency and Accountability Initiative (T/AI).
Renzo has a profound knowledge of the civil society sector in Latin America and has long-term relationships with CSO leaders. His experience in elaborating monitoring reports from a civil society perspective (with UNCAC, MESICIC or OGP, for example) will serve him well for confronting the challenges of getting stronger monitoring mechanisms for the UNCAC.
Renzo is a lawyer, graduated from the University of Buenos Aires School of Law and professor of Human Rights at the same university.
East Asia, Central Asia and Pacific Regional Seat
The Center to Combat Corruption & Cronyism (C4 Center) is a leading, non-partisan anti-corruption centre in Malaysia, dedicated to fighting corruption and cronyism at all levels of government. It seeks to open up governments and change the culture of governance by placing accountability, transparency and integrity at the heart of public policy. It endeavours to promote public participation in ensuring effective checks and balances in government.
Since its inception at the end of 2013, C4 Center has risen exponentially in profile and substance, with courageous whistle blowing, naming and shaming of corrupt officials and strong evidence-based research. C4 Center’s uncompromising stand in addressing the root problems of corruption has made them a leading and unwavering voice for good governance.
Cynthia Gabriel is a key human rights advocate and graft buster in the region. Known for her courage, resilience and versatility, she has spent many years of her professional life advancing good governance and democratic freedoms.
She has an array of academic qualifications, which include a degree in Analytical Chemistry, a Masters in Philosophy, and a degree in jurisprudence and law. She is also a graduate of the Chevning short course in International Human Rights Law.
She served on several national and international civil society boards, namely leading groups such as SUARAM (national), FORUM ASIA (regional), CARAM ASIA (regional) & the FIDH (international) based in Paris. She has lectured in Monash University (Malaysian campus) teaching cross-border activities with a special focus on migration and trafficking. Cynthia also served as a City Council member under the professional categories, from 2008 to 2015, where she gained invaluable experience of exposing systemic corruption in local government.
Cynthia rose to national prominence when she exposed the current Prime Minister, Najib Razak for alleged corruption amounting to millions of euros for bribery and kickbacks in the procurement of two French submarines. The investigations by the French magistrates are ongoing with several persons already indicted for corruption. Cynthia and her team were harassed and intimidated by government agencies as well as through extrajudicial methods, threatening her safety and security during the height of the expose. Her zeal to fight the scourge of corruption grew even bigger and, together with a few esteemed lawyers and journalists, she founded the Centre to Combat Corruption & Cronyism (C4 Center), which she now heads.
Europe Regional Seat 1
Corruption Watch is a UK based anti-corruption NGO that investigates and exposes cases of corporate corruption. In particular we track and monitor allegations of corruption involving UK companies and how the UK enforcement and regulatory system deal with these allegations. We also closely monitor all corruption trials. Out of this specific case work we develop policy positions and advocacy work. Two particular focuses of work are corruption in the defence sector, and the use of corporate settlements and whether these are effective in deterring and sanctioning corruption.
Sue Hawley has worked on issues of corruption for over 15 years, primarily looking at the UK’s role in enabling and fostering corruption, and the state of the UK’s enforcement system. Previous work included a landmark case overturning the decision of the UK’s export credit agency to weaken its anti-bribery procedures following industry lobbying; working on the court case that challenged the UK’s decision to drop the investigation allegations of corruption involving BAE Systems in Saudi Arabia; detailed work on corporate liability and corporate settlements; working with groups in Kenya to get the harm of corruption represented in judicial proceedings; and working with groups in Tanzania to look at whether the UK’s first corporate settlement represented justice being done. She has done detailed work on export credit agencies and corruption; corporate liability in the UK in relation to corruption and on the use of corporate settlements for corruption.
Europe Regional Seat 2
Stefan Batory Foundation (SBF) is focused on building an open, democratic society – a society of people aware of their rights and responsibilities, who are actively involved in the life of their community, country and international society. Since 2000, the Foundation has run the Public Integrity Program (earlier the Anti-corruption Program). The Program focuses on efforts to ensure the transparency of the legislative process and opening it up to the voice of citizens; the limitation of the risks of corruption, nepotism and cronyism linked to the conflict of interest in public life; and to strengthen the role and legal protection of whistleblowers. The Program’s team monitors processes and events which affect the integrity of public life, and makes proposals and recommendations aiming at improving the standards of public life and curbing corruption. The team further takes measures to develop, disseminate and implement solutions which comply with the standard of good governance and accountable government. The Foundation cooperates with other organizations and institutions both in Poland and internationally.
Grzegorz Makowski has been the Program Director of the Public Integrity Program since January of this year (earlier, in 2000-2002 the Coordinator of Anti-Corruption Program in the Foundation). He holds a PhD in sociology and one of his academic specialisations is the problem of corruption and anti-corruption policy. He is author of a number of publications on this topic – research reports, articles and journalistic texts. He is involved in several research and monitoring projects focusing on corruption. Among others he is the lead researcher for Polish part of the European National Integrity System monitoring conducted by Transparency International (2010-2012), earlier in 2010, and was also lead researcher for the Global Integrity Index in Poland. He is currently an expert of the European Commission for the EU Anti-Corruption Report. He has also participated in the ANTICORP research project, funded by the EU. Since 2015 he has been a member of the UNCAC Coalition Coordination Committee.
Middle East and North Africa Regional Seat
Jordan Transparency Center (JTC) is a non-government and non-profit organisation aiming at enhancing transparency, accountability, governance and fighting corruption through active civic participation and monitoring. JTC has organised and participated in many workshops and conferences in and outside Jordan, including hosting of the First Regional Forum, in collaboration with the Dutch Embassy and NED, entitled “Strengthening Citizenship and Combating Corruption in the Arab Region” in Amman. JTC founded a National Consortium in Jordan to push for amendments to national access to information laws, and also conducted a study on the Carter Center’s access to information Implementation Asssesment Tool on seven public agencies in Jordan. JTC is currently working on a project to ensure smooth implementation of national access to information legislation.
Hilda Ajeilat has been JTC president since her election in February 2012. She has successfully managed to transform JTC from a small, local NGO to a key player in Jordan and MENA by exhibiting leadership, perseverance and commitment.
She has good contacts with local, regional and international organisations, and has participated as a keynote speaker in many national, regional and international forums. At the national level, she’s a member at the economic policy development forum chaired by Senator Dr. Talal Abu Ghazaleh. At the regional level, she has been elected as a Coordinator of the NGOs group of ACINET in the 5th Ministerial Meeting of ACINET held in Tunis. At the international level, she’s an elite panel member of Global Honorary Board Advisors for the Confederation of International Accreditation Commission.
Ms. Ajeilat has been the head of the liaison office of three public universities; Director of the Quality Assurance & Accreditation Office, Philadelphia University; General Manager of Al-Hussein Fund for Excellence; President’s Consultant for Quality Assurance & Accreditation, Middle East University in Jordan; and Consultant for Quality Assurance & Accreditation Council, Association of Arab Universities.
South Asia Regional Seat
The South Asian Institute of Advanced Legal and Human Rights Studies (SAILS) aims to be a regional centre of excellence focusing on offering cutting edge research and advanced post-graduate education in law and human rights. Its mission is to further the potential of South Asia by identifying the contemporary problems that slow the development of human rights in the region and to promote an understanding of the common trends and traditions of legal systems in South Asian countries. It intends to devise appropriate means for using law as a catalyst of change for stakeholders; adopt innovative ways to implement the economic and social rights of citizens; and identify ways to use the law to remove obstacles and legally empower the people.
Manzoor Hasan is currently serving as the Executive Director of South Asian Institute of Advanced Legal and Human Rights Studies (SAILS), and the Chair of UN Convention against Corruption Coalition (UNCAC) since June, 2014. Mr. Hasan is also a member of the Advisory Council of BRAC Institute of Governance and Development, BRAC University. Previously he worked as the Deputy Executive Director of BRAC, the largest NGO in the world. He was also the Regional Director (Asia-Pacific) of Transparency International, Berlin, Germany and previously the Founding Executive Director of Transparency International Bangladesh (1996 to 2003). Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II awarded the Officer of Order of the British Empire Mr. Hasan for his work on transparency.
Mr. Hasan was a researcher with BRAC and published The Net: Power Structure in Ten Villages (Dhaka, 1980). He contributed to Beyond Hartals Towards Democratic Dialogue in Bangladesh (2005) published by UNDP Bangladesh in 2005. Recently he co-authored The Real Politics of Bangladesh: The Inside Story of Local Power Brokers (2015).
Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Seat 1
Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability Project (SERAP) was created in 2004 and registered as a non-governmental, non-profit organisation under Nigerian Law. It focuses specifically on economic and social rights in Nigeria and on anti-corruption work, addressing all four areas where change is needed.
SERAP works to hold government and public officials at the local, state and federal levels accountable for acts of corruption which are conducive to violations of socio-economic rights of citizens. SERAP also aims to ensure Nigeria’s full compliance with the human rights and anti-corruption treaties to which it has voluntarily subscribed.
SERAP is dedicated to promoting transparency and accountability in the use of Nigeria’s natural resources and believes that Nigeria’s large natural resource base should be used to meet the basic needs of its population. SERAP is committed to increasing the legal protection for internationally recognised economic, social and cultural rights, and to securing respect for these rights.
Recognising the unexplored potential of international human rights law for increasing transparency, accountability and protection of economic and social rights in Nigeria, SERAP was created to promote these principles and values. The organisation aims to use human rights law to encourage the government and others to address developmental and human rights challenges such as corruption, poverty, inequality and discrimination.
Timothy Adewale is a Senior Staff Attorney with Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). He is an alumni of the Obafemi Awolowo University. He is a lawyer and a human rights activist advocating for a corruption-free judiciary, transparency and accountability in the public and private sector, and adherence to rule of law. He currently leads SERAP teams of lawyers in prosecuting public interest cases in superior courts of records in Nigeria. He works to hold government accountable through the legal framework of human rights and anti-corruption laws and standards. He advances transparency, accountability and respect for economic and social rights through media advocacy, public impact and strategic litigation, capacity building, education and public awareness.
Prior to joining SERAP in 2016, he worked as a Magistrate. Timothy has also served in a humanitarian capacity as a Disaster Relief Personnel in the North Eastern part of Nigeria ravaged by insurgency. He has attended several workshops and seminars and presented papers on a wide range of issues relating to corruption in the Judiciary. He had previously worked as a Legal Coordinator for Human Rights Volunteer Corps (HRVC), based in Enugu and Awka. He is a consultant to many organisations in Nigeria on issues relating to human rights, corruption, child labour and human trafficking.
Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Seat 2
Ligue Congolaise de Lutte Contre la Corruption (LICOCO) works with many organisations at the continental level such as the member of the Africa Democracy Forum, members of CIVICUS and other platforms of organisations on the continent. LICOCO has participated in the preparation of the self-evaluation report of the DRC in the implementation of the UNCAC. LICOCO participates in advocacy efforts by the Coalition at the global level to encourage states to involve CSOs in different thematic areas such as the IRG. LICOCO conducts campaigns at the national level to explain the contents of the Convention to citizens and has already proposed the law on the protection of whistleblowers at the National Assembly.
Ernest Mpararo is the Executive Secretary of the LICOCO, one of the most active anti-corruption organisations in the DRC and the National Contact of Transparency International. Mr Mpararo has over 25 years’ significant experience in NGOs. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Africa Democracy Forum, a member of the World Movement for Democracy. Having lived more than 20 years in Europe, he has worked and acquired an experience that has allowed him to collaborate with various organisations including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, FIDH, OMCT and many other organisations all over the world. He has extensive experience in the operation of international coalitions.
International Member Organisation Seat 1
ARTICLE 19, the Global Campaign for Free Expression and Information is a registered UK charity founded in 1987 with offices in Bangladesh, Brazil, Kenya, Mexico, Myanmar, Senegal, Tunisia and the USA. ARTICLE 19’s mission is “to promote, protect, develop and fulfill freedom of expression and the free flow of information and ideas in order to strengthen global social justice and empower people to make autonomous choices. Its vision is of a world where ALL people can speak freely, actively participate in public life and enjoy media freedom without fear, censorship or persecution.
ARTICLE 19 believes that freedom of expression, freedom of the press and access to information is a fundamental human right, central to individual freedoms and human rights. We also believe that freedom of expression is an empowerment or cornerstone right, in that it enables other rights to be protected and exercised. It allows people to demand the right to health, to a clean environment and to effective implementation of poverty reduction strategies. It not only increases the knowledge base and participation within a society but can also secure external checks on state accountability, and thus prevent corruption that thrives on secrecy and closed environments.
David Banisar is Senior Legal Counsel for Article 19, Global Campaign for Free Expression in London. He leads the organisation’s efforts on transparency and access to information, focusing on the fields of development and environment. He has worked in the field of information policy for over 20 years and is the author of books, studies, and articles on freedom of information, freedom of expression, media policy, whistleblowing, communications security, and privacy. He has also served as an advisor and consultant to numerous organizations including the Council of Europe, World Bank, Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the UN Development Programme and the Open Society Institute.
Previously he was Director of the FOI Project at Privacy International, and a co-founder and Policy Director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center in Washington, DC. He has been a Research Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, a Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Internet and Society at Stanford Law School and a Visiting Research Fellow at the School of Law, University of Leeds. He has a Juris Doctor in Law and Public Policy from The Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.
International Member Organisation Seat 2
Global Financial Integrity (GFI) promotes national and multilateral policies, safeguards, and agreements aimed at curtailing the cross-border flow of illegal money. In putting forward solutions, facilitating strategic partnerships, and conducting groundbreaking research, GFI is leading the way in efforts to curtail illicit financial flows and enhance global development and security. Our mission stems from the estimate that $1 trillion in funds which are illegally earned, transferred or utilized are spirited out of developing countries annually. Of this, $500 billion a year ends up in western accounts. This constitutes the most damaging economic condition hurting the poor. Illicit capital flows enable drug cartels, terrorist organizations and tax evaders to move cash around the globe, undermines the goals of the World Bank and other lending institutions, strips developing nations of critical resources, and contributes to failed states.
Christine Clough is a Program Manager at Global Financial Integrity (GFI). She manages GFI’s research and event contracts, contributes to reports, and supports advocacy work on financial transparency, especially related to development and security challenges. Prior to joining GFI, Christine was employed most recently at the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy, working with Congress, Federal agencies, and the White House to advocate for the needs and critical role of small business in the U.S. economy. Christine also has experience working on terrorism and homeland security at think-tanks in Washington, DC. Christine has a BA in International Relations and Economics from Connecticut College and a MA in Security Studies from Georgetown University.
Individual Member Seat
Juanita Olaya has been contributing to the work of the UNCAC Coalition as an active member since 2012 on issues of procurement, remedies and social damage arising from corruption, and strategy in general. In this capacity she has attended the COSP and the IRG Debriefing in Vienna in 2015. She is a Colombian/German lawyer (Andes, 1990) with master degrees in Economics (Andes 1994) and Public Administration (Harvard, KSG 1998) and a PhD in International Public Economic Law (Bonn, 2010). Over 20 years of experience and a proven track record in the areas of good governance and anti-corruption across the world have made her a renowned expert in the field. Having worked with different national and international institutions, with the public sector, academia and civil society, among them Transparency International, Juanita launched her independent private practice in 2008, based in Berlin, Germany. In her practice, Juanita focuses on empirical research and expert advise and support on issues related to governance, human rights, anti-corruption and sustainability with partners in the public and private sector as well with civil society organisations. Juanita is also a Board member of Integrity Watch Afghanistan, and of TI-Germany and has been a council member at the World Economic Forum of the “Benchmarking Progress in Society’s Global Council. Juanita has published books, articles and contributions on topics of public administration, anti-corruption and good governance.
Coalition Secretariat (Permanent Seat)
Transparency International – Secretariat (TI-S), the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption, brings people together in a powerful worldwide coalition to end the devastating impact of corruption on men, women and children around the world. Through its International Secretariat in Berlin, Germany, and more than 90 national chapters around the world, Transparency International works at the national and international levels to create change towards a world free of corruption. The TI Secretariat focuses on the global and regional fight against corruption, and assists national chapters in enhancing their anti-corruption skills. It coordinates initiatives within geographical regions and provides methodological support on the tools and techniques to fight corruption. It also serves as the driving force on international issues such as anti-corruption conventions, and other cross-border initiatives. It serves as a knowledge management centre, capturing and disseminating best practice and developing new approaches to tackle corruption. The TI Secretariat has provided secretariat support to the UNCAC Coalition since the Coalition’s creation in 2006 and has coordinated the Coalition’s work at the UNCAC Conference of States Parties in 2006, 2008 and 2009.
Gillian Dell studied law at the University of California-Berkeley and at the Université Libre de Bruxelles and has a BA degree from Oxford University. Prior to joining TI in 1997, she worked as a lawyer in a New York law firm; as a research fellow on international trade law issues at the Freie Universität Berlin; as a consultant at the United Nations; and as a law lecturer and administrator at an American university study centre in Berlin. She has also worked with several human rights organisations. She currently manages the TI International Conventions programme, which covers international anti-corruption instruments including the UN Convention against Corruption. In 2006, together with Kirstine Drew of UNICORN – the Trade Union Anti-Corruption Network, she co-convened the UNCAC Coalition (originally called the Coalition of Civil Society Friends of the UNCAC) and continued to serve as convenor up to the election of the Coordination Committee in April 2011. She is the author of articles and opinion pieces on international trade, UNCAC and foreign bribery and for the last seven years has co-authored the TI Progress Report on OECD Convention Enforcement.