PARAGUAY: DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000090 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/BSC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR KJUS PREL PGOV EAID PA SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A CULTURE OF LAWFULNESS PROGRAM ¶1. Action request: See para. 7. ¶2. SUMMARY. Corruption in Paraguay is an endemic problem that many Paraguayans characterize as cultural. Post is using INL funds effectively to develop law enforcement initiatives to address the problem of corruption, particularly as it relates to Paraguayan institutions that are combating drug trafficking and IPR violations. We anticipate the approval of an MCA Threshold Program will enable Paraguay to undertake significant structural reforms to address impunity and the black market. New legislation is increasing the incentives to formalize business here. However, transforming cultural attitudes about the costs of corruption at the grassroots level is a necessary corollary of any comprehensive effort to help Paraguay turn the page on corruption. A U.S. NGO, Culture of Lawfulness, has developed successful programs in this area in many regions including Sicily, Hong Kong, the Republic of Georgia, Botswana, Colombia, and along the U.S.-Mexican border. We understand the Department has set aside USD 3 million to combat corruption in the Western Hemisphere and propose the modest amount of USD 250,000 be earmarked to develop and implement a Culture of Lawfulness program in Paraguay. END SUMMARY. ¶3. While Post is actively addressing the problem of corruption relating to Paraguayan institutions such as those that combat narcotics trafficking and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) violations, we have not tackled transforming the cultural attitudes toward corruption at the grassroots level. In particular, Post has not addressed corruption or the establishment of the rule of law within primary educational institutions, the media, and centers of moral authority. Attacking corruption at the grassroots is a necessary corollary of Post,s comprehensive effort to help Paraguay turn the page on corruption. ¶4. The American NGO, Culture of Lawfulness, has developed a strong program that works with youth, media organizations, local police officials, and religious/secular centers to transform attitudes towards the rule of law at the grassroots level. Their program works with national and local leaders to identify appropriate, effective, and sustainable approaches. Typically, culture of lawfulness initiatives begin with school-based programs. This outreach to the next generation and their teachers, and through them, to their parents and communities, helps to provide a shared understanding of the potential for positive change. ¶5. To reach other key sectors of society, and to reinforce school based education the COL Project teams up with researchers and civil society leaders to mobilize key local and national media managers, as well as centers of moral authority - both religious and secular organizations. A plan is developed to provide training for local leaders ) particularly from the mass media, religious institutions, NGOs, business, and labor ) on their individual roles in fostering respect for the rule of law in their society. Experiences in such diverse societies as Sicily, Hong Kong, Mexico and Colombia have shown that there is often measurable impact in the short term, and as the culture of lawfulness approach matures and takes hold, real change can be expected within a generation. ¶6. A first step towards implementation of a culture of lawfulness program includes the completion of an assessment by the NGO staff. The assessment will enable local officials to understand the ways in which their sector can be most effective, over what period of time, and with what resources. ¶7. Action Request: Post understands the Department has allotted USD 3 million in funding for regional anti-corruption initiatives, including for the promotion of ethics and anti-corruption awareness through training of journalists and children's media programs, as well as programs for youth. Post proposes using a modest portion of these funds to support the development and implementation of a Culture of Lawfulness program in Paraguay. Such a program is estimated at USD 250,000 per year to address two sectors, such as schools and local law enforcement officials, and USD 150,000 for only one sector. Typically, the NGO requires a commitment of three to four years for the development, implementation, and institutionalization of such a program. The NGO, Culture of Lawfulness, already is familiar with the Department of State grant process and have dealt with these contracting issues before. CASON