Israel has become one of the founding members of an international organization that aims to fight corruption. Ambassador to Vienna, Aviv Shir-On signed Wednesday on the Framework Convention of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA).
The new group aims to use global knowledge-sharing and academic expertise to fight corruption and crime. “The world’s criminal justice systems are under pressure as crime becomes increasingly globalized. New types of crime are interlinked with corruption, such as organized crime and financial crime, and cannot be solved with traditional methods alone,” the IACA website explains.
The answer, it continues, lies in “professionalizing anti-corruption work.” The group also promotes a “holistic approach” in which “all parts of society” are involved in fighting corruption, with NGOs, religious leaders, the media, the private sector, and average citizens all playing a role.
Planned activities include providing training and academic programs, conducting research, forming an anti-corruption think tank, and encouraging international networking.
More than 40 other nations signed on the Framework Convention as well. Among them were other Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq, Syria and Yemen, as well as governments from Asia, Africa, South America and Europe.
The IACA was formed in cooperation with the Austrian government and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The Foreign Ministry welcomed the initiative. “Israel is committed to the goals of the Academy and hopes that, together with the other member states, it will be able to use its experience and professional know-how to contribute to the success of the organization,” the Ministry Spokesman's Bureau announced.