An official PNG delegation responsible for combating corruption has updated the United Nations in Vienna, Austria on the country’s progress along with exchanging best practices with international partners. With support from UNODC and UNDP under the PNG Anti-Corruption Project, a major project funded by the European Union, PNG made strong contributions to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) Implementation Review Group (IRG), Working Group on Asset Recovery and Expert meeting to enhance international cooperation, at the United Nations in Vienna last week. Secretary of the Department for Justice and Attorney General and PNG delegation leader to the IRG Dr. Erick Kwa said, “PNG aims through UNCAC to prioritize its strategic interventions and mobilize resources in addressing gaps within our preventative measures, legislative and policy framework, asset recovery, international cooperation and foster strategic partnership arrangements with key institutions and development partners domestically, regionally in the Asia Pacific region and beyond.” Dr Kwa informed delegates from the 190 member States to UNCAC that PNG has established a fully functioning Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) with preventative, investigative and prosecution powers and has recently endorsed the ratification of the United Nations Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). Addressing corruption and building an integrity system within the country is a strategic priority of the current Papua New Guinea Government. PNG continues to be an active contributor and participant to advancing regional anti-corruption initiatives such as the implementation of Teieniwa Vision under the 21 member states Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), Dr Kwa said. The delegation also received briefings on the Stolen Assets Recovery Initiative, the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities, from the coordinator of PNG’s MOU with Open Ownership, investigators and prosecutors from other national integrity agencies, the Delegation of the European Union to the International Organisations in Vienna and bilateral meetings with delegations and the UNCAC Secretraiat involved in PNG’s own UNCAC Country Review and its engagement in current Reviews of Samoa and Japan. Meanwhile, Mrs. Josephine A. Pitmur, Deputy Secretary, Department of Justice & Attorney General, presented to delegates on a panel on Technical Assistance on International Cooperation and Asset Recovery. Papua New Guinea also included a civil society representative in its official delegation - Mr. Peter Aitsi, Transparency International Papua New Guinea Chairman, who will report to local civil society groups upon his return. Mr. Daniel Baulch, Deputy Commissioner, PNG Independent Commission Against Corruption, was also a member of the official delegation along with Mrs. Roselyn Melua and Mr. Jeffery Murley from the Department of Prime Minister & NEC. The delegation was supported by the PNG Anti-Corruption Project, funded by the European Union, and identified a clear pathway forward to apply significant learnings from the conference and study visits to strengthen integrity mechanisms in PNG.