Movie: Make sure your presents arrive
by Georg Neumann on 5:56 pm on Friday, 17. December 2010 | No Comments
Here’s a humorous approach to explain how corruption hurts everyone: even Santa Claus.
Beyond Cancun: civil society and climate change finance
by Lisa Elges on 12:22 pm on Thursday, 16. December 2010 | 4 Comments
On 9 December, International Anti-corruption Day, Transparency International hosted an event at the COP 16 Climate Change conference in Cancun to discuss the role of civil society in the climate debate.
Lisa Elges, TI’s climate governance programme organiser, reports on what was said and why it is important
Last week’s UN Climate Change Conference in Cancún (COP 16) has been lauded for its inclusive and transparent negotiations. But the many rules and definitions supporting climate governance remain unclear.
We all know that climate change is a problem. However, when it comes to combating it, many of options on the table are very complex. We need clear rules and criteria that give everyone a common understanding of what it means to achieve both effective climate finance and emissions reductions. As climate governance develops, ensuring at minimum that decision-makers are guided by integrity is crucial.
Who defines the recipients of adaptation funding? That depends on the definition of “vulnerability” to climate change, something which delegates have not agreed.
How will “new and additional” funding be sourced now and in the long term? Who will make sure that funds are spent wisely?
Tags: Cancun > civil society > Climate Change > climate finance > Climate Governance > COP16 > financing
Human Rights Day and the link to anti-corruption
by Georg Neumann on 6:34 pm on Friday, 10. December 2010 | 2 Comments
Human Rights Day 10 December follows closely on the heels of Anti-Corruption Day, 9 December, which is not just a coincidence. They stand together because human rights are far more likely to be safeguarded in a world where there is no corruption.
Andrea Figari, programme manager for Advocacy & Protection of Anti-corruption Advocates at Transparency International (TI) reflects on the important juxtaposition of these two awareness- raising days and what it means for a just society.
On this double anniversary, it is appropriate for organisations like Transparency International (TI) to emphasise this link with governments around the world for everyone and especially for the activists and campaigners who stand up against corruption.
Much of the work of anti-corruption advocates relates directly to advocacy for and in defence of human rights, as one of our joint publication with the International Council on Human Rights Policy shows.
When we talk of guaranteeing access to education without the need to pay bribes, or access to information without obfuscation, at best, and the threat of violence at worse, we see clearly how these agendas are linked. The human rights campaigner and the anti-corruption activist both work to eliminate the corruption and petty bribery that denies ordinary people the public services they are entitled to, their human rights.
Tags: anti-corruption day > Global Corruption Barometer > global corruption report > Human Rights
Your country, your say
by Michael Sidwell on 7:00 am on Thursday, 9. December 2010 | 29 Comments
We asked more than 91,500 people around the world about their perceptions and experiences of corruption. You’ve seen the results, now we would like to hear from you. Have you paid a bribe? Do you think corruption in your country is increasing? Use this page to let us know.
Anti-corruption Day 2010: Talking about corruption is talking about our lives!
by Georg Neumann on 7:00 am on | 8 Comments
Today is Anti-Corruption Day, created in 2003 by the United Nations to raise awareness of corruption and of the role of the UN Convention against Corruption in combating and preventing it.
But when we refer to corruption, what do we talk about? What does it mean for people’s lives?
Looking at it closely, we don’t talk so much about corruption. We talk about the very practical and real, but often silent effect corruption has on our lives. How, in so many ways, corruption can hurt us, everyday.
Let’s take access to education, particularly in poor countries. A report we launched at Transparency International (TI) this year looked at corruption in the education sector in seven African countries, where meeting the Education for All goal by 2015 is still a long way off. The Africa Education Watch report shockingly showed that although primary education is supposed to be free of charge in all the countries surveyed, 44 per cent of parents said they had paid fees. Just think how corruption affected the parents who couldn’t afford to pay. Just think how it disadvantaged their children.
And when looking at the devastating humanitarian catastrophe this year in Haiti and Pakistan, we have to make sure that monies are not siphoned off and reach the people that are the most vulnerable, most in need, and save lives.
And when we look at healthcare, the effects of having to pay a bribe for a service that one should be entitled to could take a deadly turn if the money is just not there to pay. On a more international level, corruption can undermine international efforts to combat deadly diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
Tags: AIDS > anti-corruption day > business > Citizens > Education > GCB > Global Corruption Barometer > health > HIV
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