Fighting corruption - a national challenge: the role and responsibility of non-governmental organisations

Transparency and fairness are fundamental principles of any democratic society. Corruption poses a serious threat to these principles and creates an atmosphere of mistrust between the state and citizens. Therefore, the fight against corruption should not only be the task of state bodies, but also a common responsibility of the whole society. Systematic measures are being taken in this direction in our country, and the role of public and non-governmental organisations is increasing.

Today, in his speech at the extended session of the National Council on Combating Corruption, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed representatives of the public and non-governmental organisations, calling the fight against corruption a national task and a conscientious work of every patriotic citizen. He stressed the importance of ensuring the active participation of non-governmental organisations in this process.

Today, non-governmental organisations play an important role in strengthening public control and ensuring transparency. They act as a link between government agencies and citizens, helping to protect the interests of the population, improve legal literacy and ensure transparency in public affairs.

The President stressed that the participation of non-governmental organisations in the fight against corruption is a crucial factor in strengthening civil society. In this regard, the need to strengthen parliamentary cooperation with non-governmental organisations and to make extensive use of their capabilities was noted. Because without civil society institutions it is difficult to ensure the effectiveness of the fight against corruption. In particular, the involvement of non-governmental organisations in monitoring the requirements of the Convention against Corruption was identified as one of the important tasks.

✅Several important directions can be noted in this respect. In particular, strengthening public scrutiny - NGOs promote transparency by monitoring public procurement, social projects and bureaucratic processes.
✅Improving legal literacy - contributes to strengthening anti-corruption propaganda among the population, increasing legal knowledge and creating an environment of zero tolerance for corruption.
✅Independent analysis and monitoring - non-governmental organisations contribute to efficiency by analysing the anti-corruption activities of public authorities and preparing independent ratings, reports and proposals.
✅Co-operation with the media - this includes bringing cases of corruption to the attention of the public and making proposals to state authorities on identified shortcomings.

The head of state said that 10 billion soums will be allocated annually to support the participation of non-governmental organisations in this process. This is an important step towards strengthening public control and implementation of anti-corruption projects.

In conclusion, it should be noted that the fight against corruption is a common task not only for state bodies, but also for society as a whole. Non-governmental organisations should play a crucial role in this process, as they are an important force in ensuring public control, increasing the legal literacy of citizens and enhancing transparency. This evil can only be eradicated when the state and society work together to fight corruption.

Azamat Pardaev

Director of the Centre for Analysis of Democratic Processes