The High Level Panel on International Financial Accountability, Transparency and Integrity for Achieving the 2030 Agenda (FACTI) launched officially on 2 March 2020 at United Nations headquarters.
Speaking at the launch’s opening, President of the UN General Assembly Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande described the overarching goal of the Panel’s work: “Our aim is to contribute to efforts which will enable the global economic and financial systems to work better for everyone, everywhere,” he said.
Joining President Muhammad-Bande at the launch were the President of the Economic and Social Council Ms. Mona Juul, FACTI Panel Co-Chair Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki, and Panel members Ms. Irene Ovonji-Odida and Susan Ms. Rose-Ackerman.
“We have a considerable deficit in development financing,” said Dr. Mayaki, speaking at a press conference after the launch. “We have not mobilized sufficient resources to achieve the 2030 Agenda.”
At the launch event, Mayaki called on United Nations Member States, civil society and the media to contribute to the work of the panel. “The voices and experiences of your authorities – from law enforcement to tax authorities, to financial intelligence units and anti-corruption agencies – will be very helpful to the panel in understanding the challenges you face on the ground,” he said. “We also need to hear from your policymakers about their vision for the future.”
The event at the Trusteeship Council Chamber included the formal announcement of 12 of the 15 panel members, and brief statements from the floor on the Panel’s establishment.
Members of the international community, including UN Member States and representatives of civil society organizations, urged the Panel to build on the work of existing platforms for financial accountability, transparency and integrity for the benefit of sustainable development. They welcomed the opportunity to engage with the panel from its inception. They requested to continue this engagement so that they could provide timely feedback. Such open approach was widely appreciated.
You can watch the launch here (1:47) and the press conference here.
The FACTI Panel’s full composition will be announced shortly. The Panel will begin substantive work despite restrictions on international travel and meetings.