United States To Target Corrupt Officials Through Visas
United States has said it would continue to use visa denial, including revocation of already issued visas, as an effective tool for targeting corrupt officials, their family members, those that corrupt them, and their assets.
Making this known at a high level meeting of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Elizabeth Verville, also said US would continue to complement multilateral engagement with “bilateral assistance to equip states with the ability to successfully investigate and prosecute criminals in full conformity with the rule of law and respect for human rights, while also protecting victims and witnesses.”
Noting that corruption greases the wheels for organised crime groups, leading officials that citizens depend upon turn a blind eye or even facilitate criminal activity, the US official said, “Targeting these corrupt facilitators sends a strong message that such illicit behavior is not tolerated, and responsible states can demonstrate that they will not be complicit with those who help victimize their own citizens.”
The US official said apart from increasing multilateral cooperation, there are other steps states could take in the short-term to prevent their territories from being used as safe havens for criminal organisations or their assets.
Making reference to her country’s recently released National Security Strategy, she said “combating transnational organised crime requires a multidimensional strategy that safeguards citizens, disrupts illicit trafficking networks, breaks the financial strength of criminal networks, fights government corruption, strengthens the rule of law, bolsters judicial systems and improves transparency.”
Such actions, she said, also reinforces the UN Convention against Corruption.
While reiterating the country’s commitment toward combating the problem, Verville said though there is no silver bullet to end the scourge of organised crime, “each state must undertake a range of short- and long- term actions with a view to enhancing international cooperation and strengthening the international framework of the UN Convention against Transn-ational Organised Crime.”
Buttressing her argument, she said: “In the US experience, visa denial, including revocation of already issued visas, has proven an effective tool, particularly for targeting corrupt officials, their family members, those that corrupt them, and their assets.”
Source:Ghananational
Making this known at a high level meeting of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Elizabeth Verville, also said US would continue to complement multilateral engagement with “bilateral assistance to equip states with the ability to successfully investigate and prosecute criminals in full conformity with the rule of law and respect for human rights, while also protecting victims and witnesses.”
Noting that corruption greases the wheels for organised crime groups, leading officials that citizens depend upon turn a blind eye or even facilitate criminal activity, the US official said, “Targeting these corrupt facilitators sends a strong message that such illicit behavior is not tolerated, and responsible states can demonstrate that they will not be complicit with those who help victimize their own citizens.”
The US official said apart from increasing multilateral cooperation, there are other steps states could take in the short-term to prevent their territories from being used as safe havens for criminal organisations or their assets.
Making reference to her country’s recently released National Security Strategy, she said “combating transnational organised crime requires a multidimensional strategy that safeguards citizens, disrupts illicit trafficking networks, breaks the financial strength of criminal networks, fights government corruption, strengthens the rule of law, bolsters judicial systems and improves transparency.”
Such actions, she said, also reinforces the UN Convention against Corruption.
While reiterating the country’s commitment toward combating the problem, Verville said though there is no silver bullet to end the scourge of organised crime, “each state must undertake a range of short- and long- term actions with a view to enhancing international cooperation and strengthening the international framework of the UN Convention against Transn-ational Organised Crime.”
Buttressing her argument, she said: “In the US experience, visa denial, including revocation of already issued visas, has proven an effective tool, particularly for targeting corrupt officials, their family members, those that corrupt them, and their assets.”
Source:Ghananational
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