Haiti: Training the next generation to fight corruption
Corruption and related financial criminality come in many forms in the embattled Caribbean island nation, according to the regular quarterly report of the UN Secretary-General
Corruption and related financial criminality come in many forms in the embattled Caribbean island nation, according to the regular quarterly report of the UN Secretary-General. They include Money laundering Financial crimes Illicit trafficking of weapons and ammunition Financing of armed groups Political and business collusion with gangs Non-transparent public contracting in security, customs, immigration and penitentiary services Impunity that enables corruption and organized criminal networks Learning to choose integrity Recently, 60 students and young civil society leaders – selected from 180 applicants – took part in the first Summer School on Anti-Corruption, organized by Haiti's Anti-Corruption Unit (ULCC) with support from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). During an intensive week of lectures, interactive workshops and practical exercises, participants learned how to identify, prevent and report corruption. Using real-life scenarios, they confronted ethical dilemmas, deciding whether to report corrupt practices depending on the role they had been assigned. They also practiced filing complaints through the ULCC's anti-corruption hotline (5656), gaining firsthand experience with official reporting mechanisms. For Adamson Junior Lavéus, the programme was transformative. “As a citizen, this activity enabled me to understand the phenomenon of corruption through its various manifestations: extortion, illicit enrichment, misappropriation of public assets, and bribery, among others,” he said in a testimonial collected by UNODC.
Beyond expanding his knowledge, the training reinforced his belief that everyone has a role to play. “Civic education is essential. It contributes to the empowerment of Haitian society and allows us to build our foundations on moral values.” The programme's success has sparked strong interest. This year, a second Summer School is being organized, attracting hundreds of applications within just a few days. © Courtesy of ULCC/UNODC Investing in the next generation For Adrian Banu, UNODC's anti-corruption adviser in Haiti, the Summer School is far more than a training programme. In a country where more than half the population is under 25, it is an investment in the generation that will one day rebuild public institutions. “This is not work that will yield an impact in a year or two,” he said in an interview with UN News. “It is work whose results might only be seen in 20 years, but it is work that can truly bring about profound societal change.” The initiative forms part of a broader prevention strategy. With UNODC support, around 50 integrity clubs have already been established in schools across Haiti, where students take part in role-playing exercises, short plays and awareness campaigns highlighting the consequences of corruption and the importance of civic responsibility.
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