Within the framework of the International Anti-Corruption Day, The U.S. Embassy and Consulate, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Bureau of Counternarcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and the Universidad Espiritu Santo (UEES) joined forces to organize a crucial event to strengthen transparency in our country: “Towards a Culture of Legality, Integrity and Transparency”.
The meeting was attended by Art W. Brown, U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador, together with specialists and representatives of the aforementioned international institutions through discussions and panels.
Isidro Fierro, rector of UEES, welcomed the event: “Corruption is a monster that affects our children, youth and adults, and it is our duty to mend the course. I wish this event to be a moment of empowerment, knowledge and growth, where each of us can contribute our grain of sand to build a better future.».
Art W. Brown, U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador, said: “One of the pillars of a healthy democracy is an independent judiciary, free of political pressures, that does not respond to criminal organizations”.
“The effort of all spheres of society is needed so that Ecuador can win the fight against corruption, recover its institutionality and rebuild its social fabric,” he added.
During the event, essential topics were addressed such as: The prevention of corruption in Public Administration; The recovery of lost assets through forfeiture of ownership; The importance of public policies and inter-institutional coordination; among others.
In addition, in the afternoon there were private sessions with success stories of institutions in anti-corruption issues and the awarding of the winning essays and comics of the National University Contest for the Culture of Legality, Prevention and Fight against Corruption.
In the essay category were recognized: Mary Mar Samaniego, Master's student in Criminal Law at the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar, for her article: Judicial Compliance: route to eradicate corruption and restore confidence in the judicial system and Paolo Harnish, Psychology student at the Universidad Internacional SEK, for his article: Application of behavioral sciences to promote integrity: an ethics of resistance.
In the Comics category received their recognition: Daniela Jumbo and Paula Vilema, from the Universidad Estatal Amazónica, with the Comic entitled Guardianes Amazónicos (Amazonian Guardians), as first place. Second place went to Byron Limon, from the State University of Milagro, with the Comic entitled What is Corruption and Why Should We Care?.
