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Showing posts from November, 2016

Youths can Unmask Corruption

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Mr.Abel Lalagavesi - 19years of age, youngest walker for the WOC2day Campaign. I am walking to challenge my peers that Integrity starts with me. Be the agents of change today and unmask corruption.  As the Minister of Youth and Sports - Hon.Laisenia Tuitubou always reiterates  : “Youths are not only the leaders of tomorrow, they are the leaders of today ” Editors Note : Abel has been a member of the youth arm of Transparency Fiji (Youths for Integrity) since 2015. He was a member of the Fiji Youth Parliament in the same year whilst studying in High School. He loves music and can play 5 musical instruments, and was awarded best bandsman for the Natabua High School Brass and Marching Band (Fiji's Best High School Marching Band) An ardent Red Cross youth volunteer and youth advocate for Youth Champs for Mental Health. 

United Nations Convention Against Corruption

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Since December 2005, the only legal instrument that aims to combat corruption was formed in the document called the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.  Ratified by 173 States across the world, it consists of a body of Articles which enable the State Parties to formulate and introduce mechanisms to prevent, and combat corruption. Fiji has ratified the UNCAC, and undergone 2 review cycles.  The Summary Report of the Implementing Peer Review has been released, and indicates the positive responses to curbing corruption in Fiji.  The UNDP through its UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Office has also released two reports on the Pacific's Implementation of Chapters 3 and 4 of the UNCAC. A Youth Network which focuses on raising Youth Awareness on Corrupt behaviour and Unethical Practice is the Youths for Integrity.  With Integrity Promotion as their focus, the Youth Leaders have begun to equip themselves with the UNCAC and searched for ways to use the Convention to curb co

Affected more by corrupt behavior and unethical practice? "Are women"

A few weeks back @Abel Lalagavesi, a young Anti Corruption Advocate posed a question on whether men were more affected by corruption than women.  Straight out of our conscious minds (and fingers), there was a load of views expressed through our Youths for Integrity Facebook page.  This is one of the many questions asked of statisticians when trying to break down the hows and the whys. In most families, if not all, the woman holds the purse and the strings attached to it.  And this emotive power has influenced whether the family settles down for a nice badjhia and tuna dinner, or tea with biscuit breakfast.  This is by no means hinting that this is not healthy and the families that do so, have the right to eat and live with dignity.  The point is that the mother, wife, woman, young woman, or girl in the family is affected differently from corruption than our fellow brothers or fathers. Unfortunately, there has not been any recent findings to indicate this in our context, and underst

10 days to go!!

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As Mothers ...

Personal sharing of experiences … What does it mean to me as a mother, when I consent to my child attending Afternoon classes, and upon return from school, the class was cancelled for a reason unknown to us.  Where have you been?  What did you do instead?  These are questions that arise.  How does it affect me as a mother, when I only have $2.00 to spare until next pay, and my child insists on giving fifty cents for his mufti levy, which is never accounted for, nor do we know where the cents are going to.  When do I draw the line at CAPS meeting, when there is clearly a live electrical wire just beneath the blackboard, with a notice of DO NOT TOUCH pasted nearby.  How do I react to the nurse who has just given me a lecture saying “we close at 4 pm”, when my baby needs urgent immediate help?  Such is the daily fight that challenges mothers, and as resilient as we are, the refocusing of priorities to what is my Immediate need and foregoing an important part of child rearing, breaks

Why am I walking? #WOC_2day

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In my whole 7 years with an NGO that aims to eradicate Corruption, the challenge has been to mobilise young people, men, women, and those working at all levels of government.  Very recently this focus has been on unregulated areas of society eg. Sports clubs, faith based groupings, which exists on the ground, but do not get much participation in the national and municipal level activities.  My Message is thus shaped on my own personal ability to undertake a Challenge out on the Road.  So for me, there will be a pause to the advising, teaching, training and guiding.  I will put on the walking shoes and draw people’s attention to how we can fight corrupt behaviour, Together as a nation.  My target group will be Mothers, and how crucial a role they hold in decision making at ALL levels.  It is not only about speaking up, but about using their role, position and influence to cultivate a Society or community that despises unethical practices, and corrupt behaviour.  I am a mother
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Walking out Corruption campaign launched Charlene Lanyon FIJI TIMES Report Monday, November 14, 2016 THE Walking out Corruption campaign launched on Friday November 11 by Transparency  Fiji aims to promote the importance of integrity in the everyday lives of all Fijians. Executive director Koila Kabu said the campaign was a lead-up to the World Anti-Corruption Day that was celebrated globally on December 9.  Some of the YFI leaders relax during the debriefing held after the WOC Launch on Friday Nov 11. "In 2013 67 per cent of youths between 15 and 35 said they had participated in corrupt activities but since 2013 we found out that more than 82 per cent of the young people interviewed actually said they could do something against corruption," Ms Kabu said. "This year we have moved our campaign away from the workshops and training centres and decided to conduct a three-day walk from the Nayavu research station in Wainibuka to Suva City. "

DAY 1 - #WOC2day LAUNCHED

WALK OUT CORRUPTION TODAY #WOC2day  LAUNCHED Friday 11th November, 2016 Transparency Fiji in partnership with its youth and research arms - the Youths for Integrity (YFI) , Center for Research on Integrity and Development (CRID), board members, corporate partners and invited guests officially launched the #WOC2day event on the 11th of November, 2016.  The Walk Out Corruption event is an activity spearheaded by Transparency Fiji that leads up to December 9th, which is celebrated globally as the International Anti-Corruption Day.  The public is encouraged to document their positive messages of anti-corruption or anti-corruption elements such as integrity, transparency, good governance, accountability etc....and use the hashtag #WOC2day.  http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=378385 About the Event (#WOC2day) Ten (10) members of Transparency Fiji including its youth and research arms will be participating in the challenge walk.  The party will be walking from Nay