By Lillian Sopera Keneqa – EMTV News, Port Moresby
Statistics from the Transparency International Papua New Guinea’s complaints desk shows that vulnerable members of society must be empowered to report corruption.
These statistics were collected by the Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC) between 2016 and 2018.
ALAC is a public service offered by TIPNG for victims and witnesses of corruption to seek free and confidential legal advice.
In a media briefing by Transparency International PNG, last week Friday, statistics collected by ALAC in regards to corruption complaints over the last two years showed that women, youths, the illiterate and rural populations have not been able to report corruption.
Over 80 percent of complainants were men, with over 60 percent aged between 40 to 45 years old.
In the presentation, it showed that a lack of transparency and conflicts were the two most common corrupt practices reported by clients to the Advocacy and Legal Advice Center.
The sectors that received the most complaints were Public Administration and Land and property.
Although TIPNG has an office in Port Moresby, they have attempted to reach the rural communities by doing outreach activities and also promoting a toll-free hotline, that anyone from across the country can call to seek assistance.
TIPNG Chairman Stephen Lawrence calls on state agencies to have an anti-corruption policy, to empower vulnerable citizens.
(TIPNG toll-free number: 180 6000)
