MIA and NATO hold joint training on anti-corruption legislation, professional ethics and integrity
On September 17-20, the Main Directorate of Internal Affairs of Ukraine hosted training on the main provisions of anti-corruption legislation, professional ethics and integrity for authorized persons for the prevention and detection of corruption of the Ministry of Internal Affairs subordinate institutions.
The event was organized with the support of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in close cooperation with NATO's Building Integrity (BI) Program. Following the training, State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Inna Yashchuk presented the participants with certificates.
At the beginning of the exercise, State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Inna Yashchuk welcomed the participants and said: «Sharing with our partners from the European Union and NATO common values of integrity and behavior and responding to the insistent demand of society to take far-sighted, effective steps in the implementation of anti-corruption measures, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is doing its best to take practical steps to organize a policy of transparency, integrity and zero tolerance to corruption.»
In addition, the rector of the university, police colonel Dmytro Shvets, welcomed the participants. He noted that the purpose of the training is to increase the level of knowledge on preventing and detecting corruption, familiarize with the requirements of ethical and virtuous behavior, provide methodological recommendations and discuss problematic issues that arise in the daily work of authorized persons in institutions and establishments under the management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
– «In January-September 2024, significant changes were made to anti-corruption legislation, including the approval of the Rules of Ethical and Integrity Conduct for MoIA employees, so this training is especially relevant and important for all those present, » added Dmytro Shvets.
Nadia Milanova, Acting Head of the NATO Building Integrity Team (NATO Headquarters, Brussels), said:
- This regional training, organized with the support of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Odesa State University of Internal Affairs, is extremely important and very well demonstrates Ukraine's commitment to fighting corruption, strengthening integrity in the security and defense sector in these very difficult times for the country in terms of security, stability while you are also trying to fight Russian aggression. For us, it is very important to make sure that the country pays attention to strengthening good governance and building integrity. There is a direct link between good governance and integrity, stability and security, so we believe that good governance and integrity are the main factors of security - this is something that should be a priority, in terms of crisis, in terms of war, in terms of peacetime, at any time. Corruption destroys any security framework and operational efficiency. It means the loss of financial, security, and defense resources at a time when the state needs them. That is why the political commitment we made many years ago is important to NATO. As early as 2016, we started implementing policies to build and strengthen integrity, and member governments have consistently emphasized the importance of preventing corruption.
In his turn, Anatoliy Fodchuk, Head of the Corruption Prevention Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, said: «We are working in the same direction, in the same area, where our task is to make progress in preventing and combating corruption. We have to reach the level where corruption will be eradicated from the MIA system. I am very grateful to our international partners, the NATO Representation in Ukraine, who are so actively cooperating with us now, helping us to ensure the level of training of our specialists that is necessary for the quality performance of various tasks. We have a great influence on this system, which makes it possible to gradually achieve steady progress and sustainable development that will prevent future violations of anti-corruption legislation and help our employees realize, in the context of the law, that this is the most effective way to perform their tasks and functions. »
Sergiy Yaremenko, Deputy Head of the Corruption Prevention Department, Head of the Corruption Risk Management and Methodological Support Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, familiarized the participants with the practical aspects of organizing the work of anti-corruption commissioners of the Ministry's subordinate institutions, including anti-corruption training activities.
Iryna Tymchenko, Head of the Public Sector Capacity Building and Integrity Division of the NACP's Department of Outreach and Training Programs, told the participants of the training about the peculiarities of organizing the work of the Anti-Corruption Commissioner, interaction of the Commissioner with other entities in the process of preventing corruption and ensuring integrity, coordination of anti-corruption activities in other bodies, enterprises, institutions and organizations, management of corruption risks, organization of work on the preparation and implementation of anti-corruption measures.
Olena Leonchuk and Olha Onikienko, Chief Specialists of the Whistleblowing Institution Development Department of the NACP's Public and Private Integrity Policy Development Department, also joined the discussion to highlight the issue of creating conditions for reporting violations of anti-corruption legislation, establishing effective interaction with whistleblowers, taking into account the functioning of the Unified Whistleblower Reporting Portal.
Police Captain Ihor Polyakov, an operative of the Internal Security Department of the National Police of Ukraine, was invited to discuss some practical aspects of prosecution for corruption and corruption-related offenses.
Academic staff of the Department of Police Administrative Activities and the Department of Administrative Law and Process of the Faculty of Training for Preventive Activities of the National Police of Ukraine, as well as the Department of Administrative and Legal Disciplines of the Institute of Law and Security were involved in the training.
Practical exercises were also conducted through group work on preventing and resolving conflicts of interest and organizing work related to financial control.
All participants received printed materials of the short-term training on the main provisions of anti-corruption legislation, professional ethics and integrity for authorized persons on prevention and detection of corruption, institutions, establishments and enterprises belonging to the sphere of management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The final stage of the short-term training was personally attended by State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Inna Yashchuk personally attended the final stage of the short-term training and presented the participants with certificates and thanked the partners from the European Union and NATO for their active participation in preventing and combating corruption in the MIA system.
