Taiwan’s first national report on the implementation of the U.N. Convention against Corruption was released March 30, underscoring the country’s commitment to ensuring clean governance and corporate practices.
According to the Agency Against Corruption under the Ministry of Justice, the Chinese-language document examines progress in the five main UNCAC areas of preventive measures, criminalization and law enforcement, international cooperation, recovery of illegally obtained assets, and technical assistance and information exchanges. It also explores efforts to boost transparency as well as tackle bribery, money laundering and other financial crimes.
An English version is set to be released later this month and distributed to international experts and representatives from nongovernmental organizations. They are expected to visit Taiwan in August to review the report and share recommendations.
The publication and review will help bring the nation’s legal framework in line with international standards, the AAC said. This process will also help expand Taiwan’s contributions to global anti-corruption initiatives, the agency added.
Specific policies outlined in the report include amendments to the Money Laundering Control Act cracking down on tax fraud that took effect in June last year, updates to the Company Act approved by the Cabinet in December 2017 aimed at preventing illicit transactions and a draft bill on mutual assistance in transnational criminal matters currently under review in Legislature. According to the AAC, such efforts spotlight the government’s determination to curb all forms of corruption.
The UNCAC was adopted by the U.N. General Assembly Oct. 31, 2003, and entered into force Dec. 14, 2005. The act implementing the convention was passed by the government in 2015, codifying related measures into domestic law across such areas as the recovery of illegally acquired assets and strengthening of law enforcement and international cooperation. (KWS-E)
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