GOPAC-Nepal
Introduction
The Global Organization Against Corruption (GOPAC), established in 2002 during a global conference hosted by the Parliament of Canada, is an international network of parliamentarians devoted to promoting good governance and combating corruption worldwide. It was formally incorporated as a not-for-profit organization under Canadian law in September 2003. GOPAC comprises self-governing regional and national chapters of parliamentarians dedicated to reducing corruption by enhancing the effectiveness of parliaments as institutions of democratic oversight and accountability. The regional and national chapters operate within their respective local and regional contexts to empower parliamentarians in addressing corruption issues and advancing good governance at regional and national levels. During its second international conference, GOPAC formed eight goal-oriented task forces to drive global anti-corruption initiatives in key areas. These task forces are as follows:
- Code of Conduct for Parliamentarians
- Parliamentary Immunity
- Parliamentary Oversight
- Access to Information and Media
- International Convention Against Corruption
- Anti Money Laundering (AML)/ Combating Terrorist Financing (CFT)/ Repatriation of Assets
- Resource Revenue Transparency
- Development Assistance Loans and Grants
In April 2007, Mr. Kedar Khadka, Chairperson of the National Coalition against Corruption (NCaC), held initial informal consultations with a group of energetic and enthusiastic young parliamentarians from the Interim Legislature-Parliament. The discussions centered around the idea of integrating the Interim Legislature-Parliament into the Canada-based ‘Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption’ (GOPAC) at www.gopacnetwork.org/main_en.html. The aim was to reaffirm the Legislature-Parliament’s role not only as a legislative body but also as a sovereign supreme body overseeing democracy in the country, with authority extending across all three branches of the State.
Simultaneously, the GoGo Foundation, dedicated to promoting good governance and combatting corruption, engaged in informal discussions with select Legislators-Parliamentarians interested in issues of good governance and anti-corruption. The idea was to join GOPAC International, establish the GOPAC–Nepal Chapter, and participate in the GOPAC South-Asia Regional Chapter. The response was positive, leading to around fifteen Legislators-Parliamentarians from various parties in the Legislature-Parliament filling out the GOPAC membership form.
Subsequently, it was decided to establish an ‘Interim Steering National Chapter Board’ consisting of six members, with MP Jagannath Khatiwada serving as Chairperson and Mr Khadka, an anti-corruption activist, designated as the coordinating person. GOPAC International was formally notified of these developments and the intention of Nepalese Legislators-Parliamentarians to join the global network of Parliamentarians.
The engagement of Legislators-Parliamentarians from Nepal proved successful, culminating in a formal decision to establish the Secretariat of the GOPAC South-Asia Chapter in Kathmandu, Nepal. Additionally, Nepal was entrusted with organizing a Regional Conference in February 2008 to formally establish the South-Asia Regional Chapter of GOPAC. Thus, formation of the GOPAC Regional Chapter has been in progress. GoGo Foundation has been designated the GOPAC-Nepal Chapter including GOPAC Regional Secretariat. As a result, GoGo Foundation has been providing Secretariat support to the GOPAC-Nepal/Regional Chapter.