International Anti-Corruption Commitments

Title of the document

G20 High-Level Principles for Preventing and Managing ‘Conflict of Interest’ in the Public Sector

(http://www.g20.utoronto.ca/201...)

Issuing body

G20

Brief description

G20 High-Level Principles identify a set of key concrete actions that G20 countries commit to undertake, in accordance to their needs, country context and domestic legal principles, to prevent actual, potential and apparent conflicts of interest. The Principles focus on three core pillars: 1) developing standards and a system to prevent and manage ‘conflict of interest’, 2) fostering a culture of integrity and 3) enabling effective accountability.

Relevant excerpts

The G20 is further committed to taking concrete steps to prevent and manage ‘conflict of interest’, which arise when there is an actual, potential or apparent conflict between the public duty and the private interest of a public official, in which the official’s private-capacity interest could improperly influence the performance of their official duties and responsibilities.

1. G20 countries should establish specific, coherent and operational standards of conduct for public officials. These standards should provide a clear and realistic description of what circumstances and relationships can lead to a ‘conflict of interest’ situation.

3. G20 countries should put into place clear means for developing, implementing and updating conflict-of-interest policies at the appropriate level in the public sector.

6. G20 countries should ensure that effective management policies, processes, and procedures are established for preventing and managing conflicts of interest in public decision making in order to safeguard the public interest and avoid undue influence.

12. G20 countries should implement adequate mechanisms to resolve identified conflicts of interest, as well as enforcement mechanisms for proportionate and timely sanctions for violations of conflict-of-interest policies. This could include a specific set of disciplinary measures.