Transparency International (TI) chapters, representing 16 Spanish-speaking countries, signed a resolution demanding that their governments take steps to fight corruption and increase transparency in their countries, and calling for businesses to implement anti-bribery programmes. The First Ibero-American Conference on Transparency, hosted by Transparency International España (TI’s chapter in Spain) on 16 and 17 April, brought forth anti-corruption proposals from the participating organisations, multilateral banks and academia, focussing on political financing, access to information, business and corruption measurement tools. The conference also showcased a variety of tools to fight corruption developed by the national chapters present.
Read the conference declaration (in Spanish only) here: www.transparency.org/news_room/latest_news/press_releases_nc/2007/2007_04_17_madird_declaration

Transparencia Mexicana, TI´s chapter in Mexico, developed an online information system to increase communication and promote partnership between civil society organisations and potential donors by systematising and referencing development initiatives. The system was developed as an information platform and virtual meeting point for the 2007 Development Marketplace of projects developed by young Mexicans for the Development Marketplace, organised by the World Bank in Mexico in 2007. The Marketplace’s 2007 thematic focus is on transparency and accountability, and touches also on the topics of sustainable community development and the development of indigenous communities. The information platform is very well received, and discussion of adapting the platform for other countries of the region is underway. To learn more about the project, please visit (in Spanish only): www.ideasjovenes.org.mx

Poder Ciudadano, TI’s chapter in Argentina, has urged candidates running for presidency of the city government of Buenos Aires to sign a “Transparent Electoral Agreement” in preparation of the municipal elections in June. The agreement is a tool created by Poder Ciudadano that establishes 11 commitments related to campaign funding and scheduling of campaign activities and electoral debates. To guarantee transparency in campaign funding and to hold candidates accountable, candidates who have signed the agreement are asked to prepare weekly reports on the sources of their campaign funding, that Poder Ciudadano will published on the website www.aquieneselegimos.org. The website provides an opportunity for civil society to monitor the campaign funds and spending, and to request clarification from candidates. To date, two candidates have signed the Transparent Electoral Agreement.

On 28 March Transparencia Venezuela, TI´s chapter in Venezuela, launched a new diploma programme on Justice Systems and Crime-related Topics (Sistema de Justicia y Temas Contemporáneos de Delincuencia) in co-operation with the Metropolitan University in Caracas. The participants consist mainly of representatives from Venezuela’s judicial system. The Justice Systems and Crime-related Topics diploma was developed as part of a capacity building project for managers in the Venezuelan justice system organised by Transparencia Venezuela and the British Embassy. For further information, please visit (in Spanish): www.unimet.edu.ve/dpc/dip-avan-fac-der.htm

In April, Chile Transparente, TI’s chapter in Chile, published a report on financial transparency and probity evaluating parliamentarians after their first year in office. The report shows that nearly all Deputies published their personal assets, but that only 20 percent of Senators did the same. Only one in ten of all officials asked disclosed their spouses’ assets. These results are based on a questionnaire monitoring the level of civil society’s access to information on the activities and the assets of parliamentarians. For more information please contact Maria Jose Rodriguez (mrodriguez@extend.cl), or go to: www.chiletransparente.cl/home/noticia30.html.

TI’s chapter in Papua New Guinea (PNG) organised a forum on “Empowering Papua New Guinea (PNG): The Way Forward” together with the Community Coalition Against Corruption (CCAC) in March 2007 at the Forest Research Institute in Lae, Morobe Province. The Forum provided citizens with the time and space to network, express their views, and come up with practical solutions for fighting corruption at the grassroots level. More than 170 people attended the forum, including public officials from the federal and local governments, representatives from civil society organisations and the church, as well as students. The CCAC is a joint initiative of TI PNG and the Media Council PNG, and aims to strengthen civil society and give a voice to the people of PNG in the fight against corruption. To join the CCAC, contact TI PNG at communitycoalition@gmail.com

AMAN (The Coalition for Accountability and Integrity), TI’s chapter in the Palestinian Territories, has drafted an access to information law that is currently awaiting a second reading in the Palestinian Legislative Council. AMAN conducted analytical reviews of four different public sector organisations – the Palestinian Legislative Council, the Palestinian Judiciary System, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, and the Ministry of Finance – in terms of providing timely and objective information to the public. Two additional studies on official newspapers and the national archive system are currently being finalised. Workshops, meetings and trainings targeted the employees working in the six institutions to discuss recommendations and suggestions to improve their capacity to provide information to the public.

The National Private Sector Survey in Cameroon (Enquete Nationale 2006 aupres des enterprises sur la corruption au Cameroon) was jointly published by TI Cameroon and the TI secretariat in February. The survey, prepared by the Centre de Recherche et d’Etudes en Economie et Sondage (CRETES), presents empirical data on the effect of corruption on society and the economy in Cameroon.
According to the survey, respondents from the private sector named the level of corruption in the public sector as the most serious obstacle for their business development, more so than even problems with financing their businesses and the reliability of the judiciary. The public services said to be most corrupt by those surveyed are customs, tax services and the police force. To download the full report (in French), please click here: www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/africa_middle_east

TI Ireland is developing an executive education programme for business leaders to discuss opportunities to address the legal, financial and reputational risks of doing business in countries where the rule of law is weak. The programme begins with a three-part series of breakfast workshops hosted by TI Ireland and the School of Business at the Trinity College Dublin. The workshops are moderated by corporate governance and anti-corruption experts and look at specific issues such as preventing corruption in construction and engineering. The first workshop on 11 May focussed on TI’s Business Principles for Countering Bribery. More information is available at: www.transparency.ie/news_events/events.htm

Citizens’ Advocacy Office (CAO), TI’s chapter in Albania, launched a national campaign “Vote 4 Presidential Standards” to enhance electoral standards in July’s upcoming presidential elections. Hundreds of lawyers, students and citizens participated in an initial meeting organised by the CAO in Vlorë, in April. At the meeting, Mr Kreshnik Spahiure, Director of the Citizens’ Advocacy Office, highlighted the need for presidential candidates to be transparent, free of conflicts of interests, legal problems and corruption allegations. The meeting produced a set of criteria for the selection of the presidential candidates, which has been presented to the Albanian Parliament.

Transparency International (TI) has opened a call for nominations for its 2007 Integrity Awards, honouring individuals and organisations that have demonstrated exceptional courage and outstanding leadership in fighting corruption.
TI’s Integrity Awards may be awarded to a person or an organisation discharging official duties or activists fighting corruption in all walks of life. The Integrity Awards recognise efforts of courageous individuals in civil society, the private sector and government throughout the world. For more information on the Integrity Awards and how to nominate someone who has made a difference, please go to:

www.transparency.org/index.php/news_room/award/integrity_awards/call_for_entries