Public prosecutor Ana Cecilia Magallanes single-handedly took on the corrupt regime of Peru’s former President Alberto Fujimori. While most of Magallanes’ colleagues were too afraid to fight these powerful people, she had the courage to speak the truth in this dangerous situation. What’s more, she did so without the support that a prosecutor in another country might have had. She had no car, no computer, no protection. Even so, Magallanes’ work brought about the arrest of Fujimori and many of those surrounding him. She was honoured in 2006 with TI’s Integrity Award for her outstanding achievement.

Police constable Naftali Lagat was on duty at the airport in Kenya one night in 1991 when a director of Goldenberg International arrived, carrying a suitcase full of gold. Lagat bravely refused orders from senior officials and exposed this director. Lagat never changed his statement, refusing to be pressured by corrupt officials. In doing so, Lagat, and his colleague David Munyakei, helped to expose one of the largest and most complex financial scandals in Kenyan history.

Lagat and Munyakei received TI Integrity Awards in 2004.

Ana Hazare is a renowned anti-corruption activist in the Indian state of Maharashtra. At the age of 64, he has been campaigning for more than 20 years to end corruption in local government. As a result of his efforts, two ministers in Maharashtra’s ruling party were forced to resign amid allegations of corruption, and the government launched a drive against corrupt officials in the forestry department. His work has made him his fair share of enemies, even resulting in jail time for defamation charges made against him. Hazare and a team of lawyers now handle corruption cases brought to their attention by citizens.