(VOVworld) – Under the mechanism for reviewing implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption, Vietnam stood out as one of the best countries in the UN’s first review cycle on anti-corruption, thanks to resolute efforts by the Party, State, and Vietnamese people in fighting corruption. Le Phuong comments on expanding the community’s role in anti-corruption.
 

Winners of Vietnam Anti-corruption Initiatives 2014 receive their prizes. (Photo: VNA)

On November 29, 2005, the Law on the Prevention and Combating of Corruption was adopted at the 8^th session of the 11^th National Assembly and came into effect on June 1, 2006. The law defines preventing corruption as the pillar of anti-corruption efforts. Vietnamese law contains several anti- corruption measures which are also used in other countries.

The public are important players in fighting corruption

Vietnam has obtained significant achievements in anti-corruption through the collaboration of the public and private sectors, international organizations, social organizations, and the mass media. Dao Thi Nga, Executive Director of the Towards Transparency organization, acknowledges the public’s important role in detecting, preventing, and fighting corruption. "People can denounce corruption and oversee the performance of functional agencies, which improves the accountability of the agencies. Each individual must be incorruptible and encourage their relatives to be the same."

Vietnamese Party and State leaders have devised measures and communications encouraging the participation of citizens in anti-corruption efforts and helping them understand their role, rights, and responsibilities in those efforts.  Chief Government Inspector Huynh Phong Tranh said: “It’s important to ensure people’s access to sufficient information in line with the law. We have to organize channels for citizens of all social strata to contribute their opinions and initiatives on anti-corruption. Specific recommendations show the people’s support for the Party and State and the political system’s consensus in fighting corruption”.

Specifying the people’s role through anti-corruption initiatives

Vietnam Innovation Day 2009 (VID 2009), themed “More accountability and transparency, less corruption”, was the first cooperative program between the Government Inspectorate and the WB to create a forum for people to get involved in social development and make recommendations on anti-corruption.

The Vietnam Anti-corruption Initiative program was held (VACI) in 2011, 2013, and 2014 with funding from the WB, the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), and other international donors, aiming to rally people’s participation and realize anti-corruption initiatives at the grassroots level. Nguyen Huu Loc, acting Director of the International Cooperation Department of the Government Inspectorate, said: “VID 2009 and VACI have realized and replicated public initiatives. The programs have effectively rallied people’s active and practical involvement in anti-corruption.”

Following the success of the VID and VACI, the Government Inspectorate launched the program “Replicating anti-corruption initiatives in Vietnam”, to increase people’s participation and ensure the sustainability of results achieved within the project.

Communications is crucial in improving the public’s awareness about anti-corruption and encouraging their participation. Public opinions have improved the transparency and accountability of state agencies and a number of violations have been detected and severely dealt with.