"Corruption is a universal problem", said the former French magistrate, Mrs. Eva Joly, currently Special Adviser to the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) at a seminar entitled Law and Justice: the case for parliamentary scrutiny, organized jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT).

Mrs. Joly said "Many Western Europeans feel that corruption takes place in Kenya or in southern African States, and that it is not something that concerns Switzerland or Norway or Germany or France. For me, that is far-removed from reality. Our western firms quoted on the stock markets are sometimes, even often, riddled with corruption. Contracts are awarded through local corruption channels. This state of affairs leads to significant losses for developing countries because the economic conditions are not optimal, a situation that often works to the advantage of western firms".

Eva Joly sent the following message to the parliamentarians from over 40 countries: it is important to establish a solid and independent Judiciary with competent, not corrupt judges. "Members of parliament are the only ones who can do that and who can appeal to donors for bilateral aid. Legislators can appeal to development banks for aid to themselves set up this important institution - the Judiciary - which is absolutely crucial for development".

In reply to the question of whether judges were equipped to fight corruption, Mrs. Joly said "Given the current state of justice in the world, I would say no. But at the same time, I think that unless we establish a strong Judiciary, we stand little chance of being able to contain corruption" It is an inadequate albeit inevitable step. Developing countries need to establish institutions, including the Judiciary. Justice holds an important place because the other institutions depend on it. Without a functional justice system, commercial contracts and work contracts cannot operate, no more than respect for human rights, which is imperative" she said.

For the former judge, the solution lies in three words: education, awareness and punishment. "But to do that, political will is needed". Is there still cause for hope? "Hope lies in some developing countries where persons endowed with remarkable qualities set up institutions. There are small successes and Norway's activities on the bilateral level consist precisely of identifying those persons who carry the torch of hope in their countries and helping them to deal with the pressures they have to endure".

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Established in 1889 and with its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the IPU, the oldest multilateral political organisation, currently brings together 146 affiliated parliaments and seven regional assemblies as associate members. The world organisation of parliaments has an Office in New York, which acts as its Permanent Observer at the United Nations.
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Contact for additional information or interviews:

Mrs. Luisa Ballin, IPU Information Officer 5, ch. du Pommier, CH - 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex / Geneva Phone: +41 22 919 41 16 Fax: +41 22 919 41 60 E-mail: lb@mail.ipu.org or cbl@mail.ipu.org Mrs. Ingeborg Schwarz, Manager of the Human Rights Programme 5, ch. du Pommier, CH - 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex / Geneva Phone: +41 22 919 41 42 Fax: +41 22 919 41 60 E-mail: is@mail.ipu.org