NGO’s fighting corruption in Lebanon
“Without strong watchdog institutions, impunity becomes the very foundation upon which systems of corruption are built. And if impunity is not demolished, all efforts to bring an end to corruption are in vain. “ — Rigoberta Menchú, Nobel Prize laureate.
Greater emphasis on the roles of NGOs to fight corruption
The state of corruption in Lebanon is nothing new. Internet has various articles describing the dire situation in Lebanon when it comes to corruption. That said, a fundamental question that arises is that how to have an effective system of watchdog in place who can help to fight corruption in Lebanon. It is pertinent to note that in the latter half of the 20th century, various international treaties about anti-corruption have been adopted which have put a greater emphasis on the roles of NGOs to fight corruption.
To quote James Koukios, who prosecutes fraud cases as a senior deputy chief of fraud in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division; “strengthening legal systems is also crucial and NGOs can advocate for clearer anti-corruption laws”. NGOs and civil society are seen as central to the mammoth task of fighting corruption. The UN Convention Against Corruption, the sole international anti-corruption convention, states that:
Each State Party shall take appropriate measures, within its means and in accordance with fundamental principles of its domestic law, to promote the active participation of individuals and groups outside the public sector, such as civil society, non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations, in the prevention of and the fight against corruption and to raise public awareness regarding the existence, causes and gravity of and the threat posed by corruption.
The role that NGOs in fighting corruption
The role that NGOs play in fighting corruption cannot be underestimated. The strategies adopted by NGOs in fighting corruption depend on a number of factors. The techniques adopted can range from the confrontational to the collaborative. Carr and Ouithwaite note that collaboration, conducted through interactions, dialogues, and partnerships, appears to be a widely adopted technique in persuading companies to include corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies and programs related to sustainable development within their business plans.
Image Source — http://www.transparency-lebanon.org
The various NGOs which are playing an important role in combatting corruption in Lebanon.
Lebanese Transparency Association (LTA) –
This NGO which was established in May 1999, is Transparency International (TI)’s Lebanese chapter. It is the first Lebanese NGO that focuses on curbing corruption and promoting the principles of good governance. Realizing the unacceptable levels corruption reached in Lebanon and the need to act against it, a group of business people, academics, economists, lawyers and intellectuals joined forces to found LTA in May 1999 in a bid to curb corruption in Lebanon through civil society. The organization resorts to all appropriate means to fight corruption, improve the quality of life, and encourage civil society to take measures towards transparency and accountability. Since its formation in 1999, LTA has been active in launching initiatives and activities including organizing workshops, conferences, and lectures; publishing studies and suggesting laws; issuing publications; monitoring corruption; preparing reports; raising awareness; and launching campaigns.
As per the website of LTA, LTA does not investigate or expose individual cases of corruption, instead, LTA advocates for reform by focusing on systemic improvement and by building coalitions with other anti-corruption stakeholders, including the government, parliamentarians, the private sector, media institutions, the international community and civil society organizations.
LTA fights against corruption in Lebanon by employing the following methodologies:
- Democratization and Public Accountability;
- Promoting Access to Information;
- Transparency in the Private Sector; and
- Youth against Corruption.
Junior Chamber International (JCI) -
As per the LinkedIn page of JCI, it is a non-profit organization of 200,000 young people, ages 18 to 40, who are in Lebanon. Each JCI member shares the belief that in order to create lasting positive change, we must improve ourselves and the world around us. We seek targeted solutions to the unique problems in our communities to build a better world, creating global impact. JCI and the UN Global Compact entered into a formal partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding in 2008. Through this collaboration, JCI members around the world have been advocating and implementing the 10 principles of the UN Global Compact including anti-corruption.
Sakker El Dekkene –
Sakker El Dekkene literally translates to ‘Close the Shop’. As per the website of Sakker, the NGO that aims to collect data about the various forms of corruption spread across public administration in Lebanon. This data is then mirrored back to the administration and the public in order to raise awareness and engage both parties in a transparent and constructive relationship. Sakker was founded by an alumnus of the Stanford’s Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law named Rabih El Chaer. Sakker seeks to encourage members of the public to report instances of corruption and bribery they witness or even got involved in, through a collection of tools and platforms specifically developed by its team for this purpose, including a website and smart phone application.
The Lebanese Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (LALAC) –
This is an initiative launched by The Lebanese Transparency Association-No Corruption. LALAC is based on a model developed by Transparency International which has been adapted to the Lebanese context. As per the website of LALAC, it aims to inform citizens about their legal rights and encourages victims and witnesses to take action against cases of corruption. By generating dialogue on issues of corruption in Lebanon and developing working relationships with relevant government and private institutions, LALAC is able to shed light on citizens’ concerns and complaints about corruption on a national scale. LALAC draws on information gained from cases to lobby relevant authorities for concrete, evidence-based reforms that lead to better local governance. As part of this effort, LTA is currently advocating for the passage of legislation on Access to Information and Whistle-blowers Protection. The services provided by LALAC include the following:
- Support for victims and witnesses of corruption
- Free legal advice and assistance to develop a strong corruption case file
- Referral of select cases to a law firm willing to represent the victim or witness
- Opening public discussion and dialogue on corruption issues
- Working closely with relevant governmental and private institutions to address corruption-related cases
- Building body of evidence to lobby public authorities for needed reforms
- Coordinating with media to shine a spotlight on corruption
- Partnering with other civil society organizations to build an effective public interest network
If the readers know of any other NGO’s who are doing the good work of combatting corruption. Do let me know. You can reach to me on Atie(at)atiejelmouallem.com
