(2) Assistance for Governance (Including Anti-Corruption)
The existence of corruption, including the bribery of government officials during the process of economic development, has become a factor impeding sound economic growth in developing countries. Thus, it is necessary for donor countries to provide assistance for good governance, including anti-corruption measures, in order to realize an equitable and stable society in developing countries.
■ Japan’s Efforts
Japan, as a state party to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the only universal framework in the international community that sets out measures to prevent and combat corruption, has been actively involved in law enforcement relating to corruption and capacity building assistance to countries vulnerable to corruption through cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the secretariat of the Convention. Following its previous contributions in 2016 and 2017, Japan contributed approximately $100,000 to UNODC in 2018, to identify and solve challenges in the international fight against corruption through support for the operation of the review mechanism, which assesses the status of implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption in each country, such as cooperation for the return of criminal benefits in relation to anti-corruption measures.
Through UNAFEI, MOJ held an international training course on the criminal justice response to corruption, on the theme of “Effective Criminal Justice Practices to Eradicate Corruption and International Cooperation and Collaboration with Civil Society,” for criminal justice practitioners in developing countries in Asia and Africa. The training course selects themes from the key issues of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the United Nations Convention against Corruption, and contributes to the sound development of the criminal justice system and the strengthening of cooperative relationships in each country.
Additionally, Japan has held an annual seminar titled “Regional Seminar on Good Governance for Southeast Asian Countries” since 2007, with the objectives of supporting initiatives in Southeast Asian countries and contributing to human resources development in the area of criminal justice and anti-corruption. In 2018, a seminar was held in Da Nang, Viet Nam, on the theme of “Latest Regional Trends in Corruption and Effective Countermeasures by Criminal Justice Authorities.”