International Anti-Corruption Day

9th December, 2018

1. Background:

Bhutan Transparency Initiative joined the Nation in celebrating the International Anti-Corruption

Day on 9th December 2018 at Gelephu, Sarpang Dzongkhag, on the theme, “Say No to

Corruption - Every No Count.”

Corruption is a complex social, political and economic phenomenon that affects all countries.

Corruption undermines democratic institutions, slows economic development and contributes to

governmental instability. Corruption attacks the foundation of democratic institutions by

distorting electoral processes, perverting the rule of law and creating bureaucratic quagmires

whose only reason for existing is the soliciting of bribes. Economic development is stunted

because foreign direct investment is discouraged and small businesses within the country often

find it impossible to overcome the “start-up costs” required because of corruption.

On 31 October 2003, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against

Corruption and requested that the Secretary-General designate the United Nations Office on

Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as secretariat for the Convention’s Conference of States Parties

(resolution 58/4).The Assembly also designated 9 December as International Anti-Corruption

Day, to raise awareness of corruption and of the role of the Convention in combating and

preventing it. The Convention entered into force in December 2005.

Ever since its establishment, BTI either in collaboration with Donors, National Institutions

(ACC) have been observing this day and disseminating inform against corruption. This year was

the 4th year that BTI is observing this important day. BTI have managed to bring on board local

partners like the Thromdhe, the Business Community, the Committees of Concerned Citizens

and the Committees of Legal Experts, Youth Supporters ( ALAP-Gelephu), EU/ Helvetas and

the Government of Netherlands and T-Bank as our partners. To create a better understanding on

corruption BTI also organized a panel discussion on the topic “Values vs. Corruption-

Contemporary Bhutanese perspective.”

The Day had two components. In the Morning we had Official Ceremony (IACD) and an

Advocacy program on ALAP in the afternoon.

The chief guest for the program was graced by Dasho Dzongda of Sarpang Dzongkhag and the

other guest includes Sarpang Dzongkhag Tshogdu member led by Dasho Thrizin, officials from

Sarpang Dzongkhag, Rabdhey, Gelephu Thromdhe led by Dasho Thrompoen, officials from

various regional sector head, officials from corporations, financial institutions, civil society

organizations, BBS, Media house and public participants from Gelephu Thromdhe and nearby

gewogs and the teachers and the students. We also had the Resident Coordinator of UNDP-

Bhutan as the special guest to deliver the UN message.

As a part of the awareness program, BTI also distributed kuper of both His Majesty the King and

the 4th King with special message on corruption. BTI also distributed stickers and bookmarks

with the message on corruption to the participants.

1. Marching Ceremony and Welcome Dance:

The celebration of IACD opened with the signing of pledge book. The official celebration begins

from 10 am with the marching ceremony and the welcome dance presented by the youth

volunteer of BTI, Gelephu.

2. Welcome Address by Dasho Thrompoen, Gelephu Thromdhe:

The Thrompoen of Gelephu

Thromdhe welcomed all the

distinguished guests and participants.

He thanked the guests and

participants for accepting the

invitation of BTI and the Gelephu

Thromdhe to be present at such

important day. He welcomes the

Resident Coordinator of UNDP-

Bhutan travelling all the way from

Thimphu for making his presence on

Dasho Thrompoen of Gelephu Thromdhe giving welcome address

the day. He thanked the participants who have travelled from various places of Gelephu and

Sarpang Dzongkhag. Finally, he declared the official opening of the daylong celebration and

wished successful program with interesting and valuable outcome.

3. Address on the Significance of the International Anti- Corruption Day in the Context of

BTI by Executive Director of BTI:

The Executive Director of BTI stated that Bhutan targets to make it to the 20th position in the

global corruption perception index by 2020. Executive Director said the answer to it lies within

everyone. “It depends on how prepared we are to challenge corruption and how willing we are to

say ‘No’ to corruption.”

She said the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has made significant progress in the fight

against corruption. “The number of backlog cases has reduced significantly, investigation and

prosecution has been more effective and preventive measures have been mainstreamed in the

development agenda of the plan document, the Executive Director said.

She said Bhutan has made a tremendous advancement in combating corruption and has come a

long way. “However, responding to the challenges of fast-evolving time and context requires

concerted efforts from all stakeholders.”

The executive director said that as a civil society organization, BTI has already made efforts to

complement the efforts of the ACC and has generated a national corruption perception report, a

citizen report card on the 11th Plan and government to citizen (G2C) services.“On the part of

BTI, we’re daring and venturing to expose corruption slowly but tactfully,” she said. BTI

executive director said that in a move towards strengthening the voice of the mass against

corruption, BTI will soon begin implementing a project on ‘Amplying the voice of women’ in

Zhemgang and Sarpang.

Executive Director of BTI Addressing on the Significance of the International Anti- Corruption Day in

the Context of BTI by Executive Director of BTI

4. Delivery of UN Message:

The resident coordinator of

UNDP- Bhutan delivered

the United Nation (UN)

message on corruption for

the day. The resident

coordinator of United

Nations (UN), Gerald Daly,

spelt out three key messages

to the people of Gelephu –

preserve honesty that is deep in our

culture, the importance of ‘Sem-

dha No-Sam Thing-go’ and keep investing today in anti-corruption so we can keep harvesting

tomorrow. “As much as possible, we the UN wish to look for ways to do holistic development

and this often looks like combining heart and kind thinking with action,” he said.

The resident coordinator of UNDP- Bhutan delivering UN Message

5. Remarks by the Chief Guest:

The chief guest for the day Sarpang dzongdag, Dasho Karma Galay, said that at the local level,

the recent reforms such as introduction of service delivery standards and icitisation of delivery of

public services have reduced the turnaround time and interfaces between the service deliver and

the recipients.

He said such reforms have brought about significant impacts in reducing corruption at local

level. “As much as we made tremendous headway, we still have a long way to go,” he said.

“ACC alone can’t fight corruption. We need all agencies, both public and private to come

forward and support ACC.”

Chief Guest for the event Dasho Dzongdag of Sarpang Dzongkhag delivering remarks address

6. Skit: Corruption and its Impacts – A Youth Perspective:

7. Penal Discussion:

BTI organized a penal

discussion on the topic –

‘Value vs. Corruption-

Contemporary Bhutanese

perspective’ where BBS

moderated the session. The

penal members comprised of

five members and included

Thrompoen of Gelephu

Thromdhe, Dzongkhag

Tshogdue Thrizin of Sarpang

Dzongkhag, Chairperson of the Committees of Concerned

Citizens (CCC) of BTI, Principal of Gelephu Middle Secondary School and one youth

representatives Ms. Kuenga Wangmo of Gelephu Higher Secondary School.

Youth Support Group of BTI, Gelephu and BTI official performing skits on the script - Corruption and its Impacts – A Youth Perspective

Penal members addressing their opinion

8. Launch Rap Music- ‘Unwrapping Corruption with Rap’:

As a part of the program, BTI launch Rap music-‘Unwrapping corruption with Rap’ by rapper

Nima Tshering popularly known as (Nala). The rap music was performed live and released on

sound cloud.

9. BTI Theme Song and Cultural Dance:

After the rap music the Committees of Concerned Citizen (CCC) members, Committees of

Legal Experts (CLE) members of BTI Gelephu and Thimphu, Youth Group of BTI, Gelephu,

and the BTI officials performed and sang BTI theme song. The Sarpang Dzongkhag Dancers

also performed cultural dances as part of the entertainment program.

CCC & CLE members of BTI Gelephu and Thimphu, Youth Group of BTI, Gelephu, and the BTI officials performing BTI

theme song. On the right, the Sarpang Dzongkhag Dancers performing cultural dances.

10. Vote of Thanks:

The vote of thanks was delivered by the executive director of BTI. The executive director

thanked Dasho Dzongda, Sarpang Dzongkhag for gracing the event as the chief guest. She

thanked dasho Dzongda for sharing the development agenda of Bhutan in relation to corruption.

The executive director extended gratitude to the Resident Coordinator of UNDP- Bhutan for

taking time out from his tight schedule, covering almost 300kms to join the event in observing

the International Anti- Corruption Day, 2018. She thanked for enlightening address on the UN

and UNCAC.

The executive director extended grateful to Dasho Thrompoen of Gelephu Thromdhe and his

staff for partnering with BTI in hosting the International Anti-Corruption Day, 2018, in Gelephu.

The executive director also thanked the principal of Gelephu Middle Secondary School for

allowing using the school

premise. The executive

director also thanked the

Committees of

Concerned Citizen

(CCC), Committees of

Legal Expert (CLE),

Youth Support Group of

BTI, Gelephu, who have

worked so tirelessly to

make all such a success,

and especially the

Chairperson of the CCC

of BTI, Gelephu, who has taken the noble initiative to network and mobilize sponsors for the

refreshments and the sumptuous meal.

The executive director also extended special thank to the colleagues of BTI officials who have

worked tirelessly to make sure everything ran smoothly. The executive director also thanked the

The Executive Director of BTI giving Vote of Thanks

sponsor without whose support the event would not have contemplated hosting. She thanked

Helvetas and European Union (EU), The Kingdom of Netherlands (Embassey grant), T-Bank Ltd

and Big-Way Company and the Business Think-Tank Group of Gelephu, for their generous

support.

The executive director also extended deep appreciation to the invitees for most kindly accepting

invitation and being present in the event. She thanked all participants who ventured on the stage

and conquered it and thanked the fantastic MC and moderator Mr. Chimi Dorji of BBS. The

executive director also thanked Mr. Karma Drupchu of BBS for covering the event and ensuring

the event to be aired on the BBS news.

The executive director finally extended thanks and gratitudes to everyone and concluded with the

remarks, “Let us all united against Corruption and Say No to Corruption- Every No Counts.”

11. Photo Session with the Guests and the Participants:

The Guests and the Participants in the photo session

Afternoon Session of the Day:

The afternoon session began from 2:30 pm and ended at 5 pm. The main objective for the

afternoon program was to launch various advocacy programs to the public of Gelephu Thromdhe

and the nearby Gewogs. The various advocacy programs included – Presentation on

Introduction to BTI; Presentation on Corruption in Bhutan; Presentation on Judiciary

Process; Presentation on Introduction to Advocacy and Legal Advice Program (ALAP) and

finally, Advocacy on Relevant Laws and Acts.

i. The presentation on Introduction to BTI was presented by Ms. Sanu of BTI;

ii. The presentation on Corruption in Bhutan was presented by Ms. Tenzin Deki who is the

ALAP Facilitator of BTI, Thimphu;

iii. The presentation on Judiciary Process was presented by Executive Director of BTI;

iv. The presentation on Introduction to Advocacy and Legal Advice Program (ALAP) was

presented by Mr. Jamyang Lodey who is the ALAP Facilitator of BTI, Gelephu;

v. The presentation on relevant Laws and Acts (the Local Government Act; the Local

Government Rules and Regulation; the land Act of Bhutan; the Penal Code of Bhutan and

the Environment Act of Bhutan) was presented combined by Mr. Jamyang Lodey, Ms.

Tenzin Deki, and Mr. Dorji Samphel who is the CLE vice Chairperson.

Executive Director of BTI presenting on Judiciary Process

ALAP Facilitator of BTI, Gelephu, presenting on Advocacy and Legal Advice Program (ALAP)

Conclusion:

The advocacy program for 2nd half day ended with a question and answer session and the

daylong event concluded with the evening tea and Snacks.