Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy, Strengthening integrity in Leadership

In 2001 Forum Leaders adopted 29 guiding principles of best practices for FIC Legislatures in strengthening parliamentary democracy within the constraints of small jurisdictions. The principles became the Regional Action Plan to help guide legislative reform in Forum Island Countries. This led to in-depth assessment of FIC Legislatures on their capacity to carry out their constitutional functions. This has led to serious examination by some countries of their political structure and the relevance of some parts of their Constitutions.

 

In 2003 Forum Leaders adopted and committed their countries to implement Nine (9) Principles of Good Leadership. We have since assisted four countries so far in developing Leadership Code or Code of Conduct legislation to assist country implement their commitment to the Forum's Principles of Good Leadership.

 

The legislation we have developed through wide national consultation provided leadership ethics and minimum acceptable standards of conduct with punitive measures to punish leaders who fail to comply. The new law also provides for the establishment of new governance institutions and the mechanism to enforce the legislation.

Outcomes are filed in the Forum Secretariat

We conducted legislative needs assessment and reviewed legislations and practices. Workshops and in-country visits and consultations were organised. Participants at the workshop were Forum country officials, civil society representatives and academics. During in-country visits, information would be sourced form government officials and civil society representatives.

Four countries are now progressing well towards enacting their leadership code or ethics in Government Acts. Majority of Forum legislatures are now seriously considering legislative reform while some have already start implementing reform to lawmaking process, oversight procedures and powers, election into Parliament, etc., based on the findings of legislative needs assessment carried out for them.