Keite Camacho
Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília - A series of measures to combat corruption has been announced by the head of the government's Anti-Corruption Office (Controladoria Geral da União) (CGU), minister Waldir Pires. In a partenership with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime in Brazil and the Southern Cone area, the CGU will have US$3 million for modernizing and strengthening its operations.

According to the representative of the UN office, Giovanni Quaglia, the partnership will bolster the CGU, making it the center of anti-corruption combat, as well as permitting it to train other government agencies, offices and ministries to crack down on malfeasance wherever it occurs.

The announcement of the partnership is part of commemorations of International Day Against Corruption, which is today, Friday, December 9.

The CGU also reports that it now has a page on the internet with updated information on its own expenditures, budgets, procurement processes, contracts and travel expenses by civil servants. According to a presidential decree, by the end of next year all the country's ministries must also present such information on the internet in a timely fashion.

Translation: Allen Bennett