On 9 August 2013, twenty parliamentarians from the small Pacific island nation of Kiribati voted to set up GOPAC Kiribati, the first GOPAC national chapter in the Pacific Islands. Meeting in the Kiribati Parliament at Tarawa, the legislators with representation from all parties signed up to ensure there was transparent oversight of anti-corruption measures as Kiribati prepares to join 166 other nations which have signed the UNCAC.

The members of GOPAC Kiribati are also part of GOPAC Oceania joining with members from Australia and New Zealand to advocate against corruption both at home and abroad.

GOPAC Kiribati is being led by Dr Mareko Tofinga who was elected Chair of the chapter at the launch meeting. Dr. Tofinga is joined by Ruhiano Benetito as Vice-Chair, and Mote Terukaio and Alexander Teabo as treasurer and secretary respectively.

The United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime were instrumental in the development of GOPAC Kiribati.  Their work in Kiribati, made possible through funding from AusAID’s new four- year USD$4.3 million Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption Project in 15 Pacific nations, helped attract nearly half of the nation’s legislators to form the chapter.