Overhaul Moroccan anti-graft bodies, say campaigners

Campaigners in Morocco called Thursday for a complete overhaul of the country’s national anti-corruption bodies, just days before the opening of a UN-sponsored conference on the topic. For real reform to be carried out, Morocco needed measures to stamp out corruption, ensure the independence of the judiciary and raise awareness among the people, Rachid Filali Meknassi of Transparency Maroc told reporters. Morocco’s signing up to the UN convention against corruption was not enough, he added, because such texts were unrealistic and often did not get applied. The UN Convention against Corruption (UNODC) is holding its fourth convention between October 24 and 28 in Marrakesh. Morocco ratified the convention in 2007 and the same year set up an anti-corruption body, the ICPC, under the authority of the prime minister. But the constitution, which was revised in July, proposes to replace it with a body that has more wide-reaching powers. Earlier this month, parliament passed a law protecting the victims of corruption as well as whistleblowers who speak out to expose it. The new law also provides for a special hotline on which people can tip of the police about corruption.