“Throughout the year, I witnessed the extraordinary contribution that individuals make to the fight against corruption. In this report you will find portraits of just a few of these remarkable people. I hope they will inspire you.” – TI Chair Huguette Labelle

Around the world, hundreds of people convened in seminars and discussions to debate anti-corruption issues and look for new solutions. In Nepal, discussions concentrated on the role of political parties and media figures in minimising corruption. In Sri Lanka, the focus was on the right to information to fight corruption. Other conferences dealt with implementing conventions – as was highlighted by TI Bosnia and Herzegovina activities – and discussed the links between corruption and poverty and human rights, for example TI Cambodia and TI UK. Many national chapters issued press releases to draw the attention of the media, the public and the governments to the importance of anti-corruption work.

TI Bangladesh organised an eight-hour concert to mark the day, which was attended by more than 25,000 of the nation’s youth. It also hosted various and creative activities such as rallies, debates and painting competitions, a human chain, street theatre shows, and a cross-country nine-hour bicycle ride to Dhaka. TI Bosnia and Herzegovina also organised a concert to mark the day. The concert, featuring a performance by the Youth Symphony Orchestra South Eastern Europe was attended by 350 people.

The Transparency International secretariat in Berlin launched new web pages on Anti-Corruption Day to illustrate the importance of fighting corruption to a general audience and to highlight a new television advertisement that was created to raise awareness about the impact of corruption. TI’s television advertisement reminds the movement and the public why anti-corruption work remains so important: “Corruption marks children, families and societies for life”.

“I was able to experience first-hand how distortions caused by graft and other manifestations of corruption sabotage the implementation of even the best thought-out policies,” she says. “It dawned on me that more rapid progress in achieving social justice will be made by tackling corruption in its various manifestations and mutations.”

For Ms Ekeanyanwu, one of the greatest challenges is the widespread acceptance of corruption as the normal way of life. In her eyes, “an effective solution must combine both a serious commitment from government to overhaul the system, implementing sanctions for corrupt actions, and an end to the people’s tolerance of corruption.” To make this vision a reality, she raises her voice in Nigeria and campaigns tirelessly as an international spokesperson for TI.

Ms Calzadilla has fought corruption since 1999, when she joined the investigative unit of a Venezuelan daily newspaper. This was a period of “growth, of new experiences and of learning ‘on the streets’”, she recalls. “Our working hours didn’t matter; we worked with a lot of passion.” She says that through her work, she recognised the widespread nature of corruption in Venezuela, and saw that for many, it is a way of life.

The work of journalists like Ms Calzadilla is becoming more difficult every day. Her

recent investigations into the salaries of public officials proved impossible because of secrecy surrounding the figures and state documents. Against this background, she has become a champion of public access to government information.

They wouldn’t tell me where they were to take me.” Dr Panday was held captive with other political prisoners in harsh conditions for nearly 100 days.

Dr Panday later learned that he had been arrested for “spreading misinformation” and “threatening national security” – charges related to his work in promoting democracy and fighting corruption after the 2005 coup by King Gyanendra. “To me, anti-corruption and democracy are inseparable. Accountability requires structures and processes that are possible only when people can question their leaders.”

Despite the atmosphere of anxiety and apathy about corruption in Nepal, Dr Panday remains optimistic that today’s “youthful leadership... can inculcate new values and commitments.”

Optimistic about his ability to improve his financial situation, Mr Aliev followed the example of his neighbours and applied to the Baku Executive Committee for permission to undertake changes to his apartment to set up a small business. Shortly thereafter, he was visited at home by “intermediaries” who offered to facilitate the planning permission for a fee of US $10,000 that he was unable to pay. Mr

Aliev’s request was later denied. His only option was to fight for his rights.

Mr Aliev fought for five years to have the decision overturned. Finally, he turned to

the Baku Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC) for assistance. The ALAC staff agreed that the denial of planning permission was illegal. The ALAC advised him how to pursue his case in court. Against all odds, he won.

Mr Aliev is now struggling to ensure that the court decision is implemented by the Baku Executive Committee. His courage and perseverance in standing up to corruption have led to an important legal milestone: administrative decisions are subject to the rule of law, a precedent lacking in many transition countries.