BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group agree on network proposed by India
Hyderabad, Aug 5
The second meeting of the BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group and the BRICS Expert Network on Asset Recovery, which concluded here on Wednesday, reached an in-principle agreement on the proposed BRICS Network of Law-Enforcement Practitioners for Enhancing International Cooperation on Fugitive Offenders Sought for Corruption and Supporting Extradition.
During the two-day meeting, BRICS members made significant progress on the Indian Presidency's proposal for a BRICS network.
Members held constructive discussions on the objectives, scope and operational modalities of the proposed network and reached an in-principle agreement on the initiative and decided to continue deliberations on establishing a dedicated practitioner-level platform, said an official release.
The initiative is expected to facilitate informal cooperation, support the tracing of fugitive offenders and complement existing formal mechanisms for extradition and international cooperation.
Members also welcomed the BRICS Repository on Informal Cooperation for Tracing Fugitive Offenders Sought for Corruption and Supporting Extradition. This would serve as a practical, practitioner-oriented resource bringing together information on national practices and existing channels of informal cooperation.
The second meeting of the BRICS Expert Network on Asset Recovery made substantive progress on practical deliverables aimed at strengthening direct cooperation among competent authorities. Members reached consensus on the standardised formats to facilitate timely practitioner-level information exchange during the preliminary stages of investigations while complementing formal mutual legal assistance mechanisms.
The Centre's Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) successfully hosted the meetings in line with the theme of India's BRICS Presidency, "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability".
Senior policymakers, experts, practitioners and representatives of anti-corruption, financial intelligence and law-enforcement agencies from BRICS member countries shared their views on various anti-corruption-related matters.
The meeting was inaugurated by Rachna Shah, the Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training, who welcomed the delegations and highlighted India's policy of zero tolerance against corruption.
She emphasised that integrity is fundamental to good governance, sustainable development and public trust, and underscored the importance of strong institutions, technology-driven governance, transparency, accountability and sustained international cooperation.
The Secretary observed that the BRICS Anti-Corruption Working Group was increasingly evolving from a platform for developing common understanding into a platform for practical action. She emphasised that effective international cooperation requires timely exchange of information, early engagement among competent authorities and trusted practitioner-level channels capable of complementing formal mutual legal assistance and extradition mechanisms.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good initiative, but I hope this doesn't remain just on paper. We've seen many such agreements in the past. The real test will be whether there's actual information sharing and quick extradition. Actions speak louder than words.
This is a big win for India's BRICS presidency. With so many high-profile fugitives like Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya, we need such platforms. The informal cooperation network will help in sharing intelligence much faster than formal legal channels. Well done DoPT!
As someone who works in international law, I find this initiative very promising. The establishment of a dedicated practitioner-level platform for informal cooperation could significantly expedite cross-border corruption cases. However, success depends on the political will of all member states to cooperate genuinely.
Great to see Hyderabad hosting such important international meetings. The BRICS repository and standardized formats for information exchange will make a real difference. Corruption has no borders, so our cooperation shouldn't have borders either. Proud of India's leadership in this! 💪
The emphasis on technology-driven governance and transparency is crucial. While I appreciate India's zero tolerance policy on corruption, I hope this network includes robust safeguards to protect the rights of accused individuals. Extradition processes must still follow fair legal procedures.
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