SPECIALIZED GROUP ON THE PREVENTION AND

FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION

Operational Guidelines

CHAPTER I. SCOPE OF THE GUIDELINES

Article 1. Scope. The purpose of these Guidelines is to organize the operation and
activities of the Specialized Group on the Prevention and Fight against Corruption,
hereinafter referred as ‘The Group’.

‘The Group’ will fulfil its functions founded the objectives, commitments and
agreements of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), in
strict respect to the sovereignty of each country to promote the exchange of
information, experiences and good practices in the prevention and fight against
corruption.

CHAPTER II. ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONING OF ‘THE GROUP’

Article 2. Composition. ‘The Group’ shall be comprised of the representatives

designated by each of the CELAC States members with technical experience in the
prevention and fight against corruption, and/or in anti-corruption policies. When
more than one (1) representative is appointed, the States members shall indicate the
name of the person who shall lead the Delegation and the order of precedence of
the other representatives that can supply in case of absence. Each State member
shall notify the Chair, through its national coordination at CELAC, the designation or
modification of its representatives to ‘The Group’ by informing full name, position,
address, e-mail and telephone.

Article 3. Functions. ‘The Group’ will fulfil the following functions:

a. Endorse and adopt its Annual Working Plan,

b. Enhance cooperation between the States members to achieve the fulfilment
of the international commitments on anti-corruption matters,
c. Exchange on an annual basis good practices and strategies implemented in
the region on anti-corruption matters,
d. Fortify the cooperation mechanisms referred in paragraph 12 of the Political
Declaration of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, derived from the V Summit
of Heads of State and Government of CELAC in 2017.
e. Prepare an annual report of its activities.

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Article 4. Organization. ‘The Group’ shall have a Chair occupied by the country´s
National anti-corruption authority that holds the Pro Tempore Presidency or
whoever designated for that purpose.

Likewise, it shall have a Support Mechanism occupied by the country that held the
Pro Tempore Presidency in the immediately preceding period.

For the finest performance of its functions, the Chair of ‘The Group’ may also be
assisted by the anti-corruption authorities of the other two countries of the CELAC
Quartet1, or the authorities designated by them for that purpose.

Article 5. Functions of the Chair.

I. Define and establish the coordination mechanisms among the States

members which promote the exchange of information, experiences and good
practices in matter,
II. Coordinate together with the Quartet, the necessary activities for the
operation of ‘The Group’,
III. Issue the convocation notices to the sessions of ‘The Group’, with due
anticipation, in order to ensure the participation of the members,
IV. Organize and host in coordination with the Quartet the ordinary meetings of
the Group,
V. Authorize the draft order of business for each meeting and submit it for the
approval of the representatives,
VI. Declare the beginning of the sessions when the necessary quorum is present,
as well as the end of the same,
VII. Conduct discussions, grant the right to speak and coordinate the negotiation
of decisions and documents to be adopted,
VIII. Declare breaks and the end of sessions,
IX. Following up on the agreements and decisions of ‘The Group’ and inform the
results to the States members,
X. Propose and integrate the next year Working Program, which should be
aligned to the CELAC Action Plan,
XI. When appropriate, organize together with its National Coordination to CELAC
the Ministers and High Authorities on the Prevention and Fight against
Corruption meeting.

Article 6. Functions of the Mechanism of Support.

I. Prepare the draft order of business for the meeting of ‘The Group’ and send it
to the Chair for approval,
II. Verify the existence of a quorum at the beginning of the sessions,

1
Besides the country that holds the Pro Tempore Presidency of CELAC, the Extended Troika (CELAC Quartet)
is composed of 1) the country that preceded it, 2) the successor country and 3) the States members that chairs
CARICOM.

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 III. Advise the Chair and the members of ‘The Group’ in the correct performance
of their functions,
IV. Keep the record, control and follow-up of the decisions agreed by ‘The Group’,
prepare the minutes and assure its file and safeguard,
V. Prepare the draft Group's Annual Results Report in coordination with the
Chair;
VI. Suggest studies, research or analysis for the consideration of issues of
collective interest by the Group, and promote the implementation of technical
cooperation programs in coordination with other international organizations
and co-operation agencies to support the States members in their efforts to
prevent and fight corruption, and
VII. All other provisions entrusted by these Guidelines.

Article 7. Meetings of the Group. ‘The Group’ will meet at least twice in an ordinary
manner per year. In order to carry out the sessions it will be necessary the presence
of the simple majority of designated specialized representatives from the CELAC
membership.

Meetings may be held in person, or virtual means of communication may be used

when the host contemplates. The organization and development of the meetings
will be responsibility of the country that holds the Chair of the Group. No financing is
anticipated except that which the Presidency Pro Tempore obtains through
cooperation with other extra-regional partners and international organizations.

Article 8. Decisions. Decisions will be adopted by consensus.

Article 9. Languages. The official languages of ‘The Group’ are Spanish and English.

Article 10. Communications and distribution of documents. The use of electronic

communications will be privileged to speed up their distribution and make efficient
the flow of information.

The Chair of ‘The Group’ may enable the institutional means of electronic mail that it
deems convenient for the distribution of official documents and communications.

Article 11. Presentation of Projects and Proposals. The States members may also
present initiatives to carry out projects, research or proposals to contribute to the
works, which should be debated in ‘The Group’ and achieve agreement among all
members on them.

Article 12. Presentation of results and reports. At the first annual meeting of ‘The
Group’ each year, the States members shall verbally report on the main progresses
on preventing and tackling corruption in their respective country.

The Mechanism of Support will collect in a brief written report the key actions by each
country identified in this matter, which will be submitted for the approval of ‘The
Group’ to be later published by the Pro Tempore Presidency under the name of

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“CELAC Report on the Prevention and Fight against Corruption in Latin America and
the Caribbean”.

At the end of its term, the Chair will accountability on the achievements of ‘The
Group’ under its mandate, including the meetings held, the documents adopted and
the works carried out during the year. The report should be published through the
official media of the Presidency Pro Tempore.

CHAPTER III. REGIONAL POLITICAL CONCERTATION, COOPERATION AND

DIALOGUE BETWEEN COUNTRIES

Article 13. Political concertation and Cooperation. ‘The Group’ will always consider
as one of its purposes the promotion and facilitation of the regional political
concertation and cooperation between the States members to prevent and fight
against corruption.

In its annual work program, it may include Community topics of interest in order to
establish action lines that foster cooperation among the CELAC States. For this
purpose, specialists may be invited to present the results of their studies or research
in areas related to the group or suggest the conduct of studies, investigations or
analyses that allow it to obtain more information for decision-making.

Article 14. Accompaniment and exchange of experiences. The accompaniment

between countries of the region for the exchange of knowledge, experiences and
good practices, shall have the objective of knowing the activities that a State member
has carried out on determined issues, and take benefit of the experience it has in
carrying them out. For this purpose, the States members may establish the channels
of direct dialogue that they deem appropriate.

The Chair of ‘The Group’ may act as a facilitator of communication between the
States when a request is made in writing.

CHAPTER IV. VALIDITY AND AMENDMENT OF THE GUIDELINES

Article 15. Validity. These Guidelines will enter into force upon the approval of the
Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the CELAC States members, or within ‘The Group’ that
shall be mainly integrated by the representatives of the Ministries and High
Authorities on the Prevention and Fight against Corruption.

Article 16. Amendment. The present Guidelines may be amended a posteriori by

request of any State Party with the consensus of all the States members.

Article 17. Diffusion of the Guidelines. The Pro Tempore Presidency will
communicate these Guidelines to the CELAC States members and will publish it
through electronic means and/or any other means of communication.

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