7 Steps to Fighting Corruption

Transparency International is a global movement with one vision: a world in which government, business, civil society and the daily lives of people are free of corruption. Through more than 100 chapters worldwide and an international secretariat in Berlin, we are leading the fight against corruption to turn this vision into reality.

Cover photo: © A.M.Ahad © Photos: Proética, Transparency Maroc, Transparency International, Transparency International Hungary, Transparency International Lithuania, Lebanese Transparency Association, Transparency International Sri Lanka © 2013 Transparency International. All rights reserved.

It’s not long ago since corruption wasn’t talked about. Many people didn’t see corruption as a problem or felt powerless to do anything about it. In 1993, a few dedicated individuals decided it was time for change and set up the world’s first international anti-corruption organisation: Transparency International. A lot has happened since: the creation of international anti-corruption laws, corrupt leaders brought to justice and their illicitly gained riches seized, national elections won and lost on tackling corruption, and companies held accountable for their behaviour at home and abroad. Today, corruption is the most talked about issue in the world. Even more importantly, we’re active in more than 100 countries and doing a lot about it.

The complexity and scale of corruption means that no-one can stop it alone. Since our very first days, we have built coalitions with governments, business, NGOs and the public.

Lupita, our anti-corruption heroine in Peru, makes new friends.

Our International AntiCorruption Day activities in Morocco engaged young people through music, theatre and dance.

Change starts at home. Every country faces its own challenges and no one knows better than the people living in them. That is why our national level work is run by local anti-corruption activists.

They care about the future of their country and are committed to making a difference.

Neither do we. Our global network enables us to push for international anti-corruption laws and standards, and to make sure governments and companies live up to them. Our worldwide presence also means that our efforts in any one country benefit from the experience of fighting corruption in more than 100 others.

Gabonese activist GrĂŠgory Ngbwa Mintsa receives an Integrity Award at the 14th International Anti-Corruption Conference.

Students from around the world participate in our Summer School on Integrity in Lithuania.

Our national and global research looks at corruption from every angle. From assessing government and company anti-corruption efforts, to carrying out the world’s largest public opinion survey on corruption, we go beyond simply measuring corruption. We identify corruption’s side effects, its underlying causes, and, most importantly, we determine ways to stop it.

Politician, journalist, construction worker, banker, doctor or student, everyone can play a role in improving transparency and accountability. And whatever your background, we are striving to make sure that everyone, everywhere is able to join in.

A girl and her grandmother cast their vote during our youth shadow council elections in Lebanon.

Citizens and officials in Sri Lanka pledge their support for a corruption-free country.

With more than 20 years fighting corruption around the world, we rely on people like you to achieve much needed change. To find out more about what we do and how you can become a part of it visit www.transparency.org/getinvolved

Banning bribery abroad When we started, bribing foreign officials was tax deductible in some countries. Today, a backhander abroad could land you in jail. Change came in 1997, when the OECD heeded our calls with its Anti-Bribery Convention – an agreement by major economies to criminalise overseas bribery. Forty countries have since signed up and we’ve been tracking its enforcement.

1995

1997

2000

Public sector spotlight

Recognising inspirational integrity

The first-ever Corruption Perceptions Index is released, ranking countries on their perceived level of public sector corruption as seen by experts and business people. As the results hit the media, corruption moves out of the shadows and onto the front pages, triggering competition among governments to improve their scores.

Corruption fighters can be extraordinary people who risk everything to demand a world that is fair and just. Celebrating inspirational acts of courage and resilience, we hold our first-ever Integrity Awards, publicly honouring a Moroccan military officer who was jailed for blowing the whistle on an oil-andsupplies scam.

Global convention, global opinion

Benchmarking extractive companies

An international milestone on our 10th birthday – the United Nations adopts the Convention against Corruption.

More than 140 countries sign-up immediately, and 40 more follow in the next decade. In the same year, we release our first Global Corruption Barometer – the world’s largest public opinion survey on corruption.

Recognising the role extractive companies can play in combating the resource curse, our Promoting Revenue Transparency project uncovers just how transparent some of the world’s largest oil and gas companies are in their international operations and payments to host countries. The findings help lay the path for legislation in the United States and EU requiring such disclosure.

2003

2008

2004

Commitments and celebrations With more than 7,000 participating companies from 145 countries, the UN Global Compact is the world’s biggest corporate social responsibility initiative.

In 2004, a 10th principle is added to its core values: anti-corruption. And there’s a new date for the calendar: International Anti-Corruption Day – 24 hours officially dedicated to raising public awareness and speaking out.

Diagnosing European corruption Covering more than 300 institutions in 25 countries, we lay bare Europe’s corruption risks. Using our national integrity system model – in-depth assessments that examine a country’s key actors, from the media to parliament to the judiciary – we pinpoint the weaknesses and loopholes that allow corruption to creep in. To date we’ve conducted these studies in more than 100 countries.

2011

2012

Empowering corruption’s victims A milestone for our anti-corruption legal advice centres – more than 100,000 people have come forward to report corruption since our first centres opened in 2003. Offering support and guidance to the victims and witnesses of corruption, and targeted recommendations to policymakers, our network has since grown to 90 centres across 60 countries.

2013

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