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Corruption and large-scale land acquisitions: an analysis of the role ...

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Voluntary Guidelines on <strong>the</strong> Responsible Govern<strong>an</strong>ce <strong>of</strong> Tenure <strong>of</strong> L<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong>, Fisheries <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> Forests in <strong>the</strong>Context <strong>of</strong> National Food Security (VGs) 21 ).The international community needs to pay greater attention to its potential <strong>role</strong> in facilitating, or tackling,corruption in l<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> investments. A first step would be to ensure <strong>the</strong>y are fulfilling <strong>the</strong>ir own obligationsunder UNCAC <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> implementing <strong>the</strong> recommendations <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> G20 Anti-<strong>Corruption</strong> Working Group <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> <strong>the</strong>VGs. It is also essential to recognise <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> endorse <strong>the</strong> Tir<strong>an</strong>a Declaration definition <strong>of</strong> “l<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> grabbing” <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong><strong>the</strong> devastating social, environmental <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> govern<strong>an</strong>ce impacts such forms <strong>of</strong> <strong>large</strong> <strong>scale</strong> l<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> <strong>acquisitions</strong>have, as outlined in <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Special Rapportuer on <strong>the</strong> Right to Food as well as <strong>the</strong> High Level P<strong>an</strong>el<strong>of</strong> Experts on Food Security <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> Nutrition. These frameworks should form <strong>the</strong> basis <strong>of</strong> measures to combatcorruption within all diplomatic, trade <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> development assist<strong>an</strong>ce relations.The design <strong>of</strong> accountability mech<strong>an</strong>isms promoted by <strong>the</strong> international community must be streng<strong>the</strong>nedto ensure <strong>the</strong>y are adequately robust to counter “interference” from corruption in Shadow States whilstnot relying on overly technocratic “silver-bullet” solutions. One step towards this would be to prioritise <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong>fin<strong>an</strong>ce tailored <strong>an</strong>ti-corruption <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> <strong>an</strong>ti-bribery measures, including specific procedures to tacklecorruption associated with l<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> grabbing (as outlined above). In addition to this, greater efforts must bemade to raise public awareness <strong>of</strong> <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> capacity to engage with such mech<strong>an</strong>isms, ensure independentoversight <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> connect national level mech<strong>an</strong>isms with international structures, such as <strong>the</strong> EITI. Donorsmust target reforms which separate <strong>the</strong> executive, administrative <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> judicial powers <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> responsibilitieswithin government, <strong>the</strong>refore reducing <strong>the</strong> high level capture <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> state by vested interests.Finally, governments must introduce effective legislation (at both national <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> international levesl) whichgovern <strong>the</strong> operations <strong>of</strong> comp<strong>an</strong>ies overseas, to ensure <strong>the</strong>y act tr<strong>an</strong>sparently (through disclosingcontracts), identify politically exposed persons <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> beneficial ownership, fulfil <strong>the</strong>ir hum<strong>an</strong> rightsobligations <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> tackle corruption.21 Available for download at: http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/newsroom/docs/VGsennglish.pdf (last accessed3rd October 2012).__________________________________Global Witness <strong>Corruption</strong> <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> Large-Scale L<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> Acquisitions, Global Witness, October 2012 Page 10 <strong>of</strong> 10

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