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Anti-Corruption Work Around the World
| Highlighting the work of the anti-corruption movement, championing a world free of corruption: |
Petty corruption cost Mexicans US $1.8 billion in 2005
By Marta Erquicia
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| A newly released corruption index by TI’s national chapter in Mexico shows that petty corruption has increased in the last two years, costing low income households 24 percent of their earnings in 2005, an increase of 10 percent since 2003. The National Survey on Corruption and Good Governance (INCBG) measures bribes paid by Mexican households to obtain public services at municipal, state and national level, and by private businesses. |
Examples include paying bribes to apply for various permits, having mail delivered or avoiding parking and driving tickets.The index found that Mexicans paid US $1.8 billion in bribes last year, through nearly115 million payments averaging 175 pesos (US $16) each. Parents of young children and wealthy or highly educated citizens were more likely to pay bribes. This was interpreted by Federico Reyes Heroles, President of Transparencia Mexicana’s Board of Directors, as a way of “buying time”. For many, paying a bribe is simply more efficient.
2005 was the third year the national survey was conducted. Reyes Heroles emphasised that the survey “is an instrument that is sensitive to public policy initiatives from governments. The INCBG registers whether an anti-corruption strategy has been consistent over time or if a government or government agency has lowered the guard, to put it bluntly”.
This project was funded by Fundación Televisa, Cemex, Consejo Coordinador Empresarial, Corporación Interamericana de Entretenimiento (CIE) and Televisión Azteca. For more information, see (in Spanish): www.transparenciamexicana.org.mx/ENCBG/
TI Switzerland launches whistleblower hotline
By Kate Sturgess
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| TI Switzerland has been crusading for the rights and protection of whistleblowers for four years. In an encouraging move, the chapter developed and supported legislation demanding better protection for whistleblowers against unfair dismissal and other forms of discrimination that was adopted by the Swiss Government earlier this year. |
The chapter launched an anonymous hotline for whistleblowers in March, a first point of contact where whistleblowers can learn their rights and find out who to contact with an allegation of corruption.
Although it receives the calls through the hotline, TI Switzerland does not investigate cases. It is up to the police or relevant authority to decide how to proceed. In cases where a whistleblower is hesitant or frightened to go public, the chapter may forward the case anonymously to the relevant authority. Where warranted, after examination of the cases the chapter may transfer them to the Institute of Law at Zurich University, which will also monitor the hotline’s efficiency in fighting corruption.
The widely reported launch of the hotline was very successful, and the response among users has been positive. The whistleblower hotline is a pilot project, and is currently seeking funding to continue its work. For more information, see: www.transparency.ch/wDeutsch/dokumente/PressemeldungenPDF/PM_Wistleblower-Hotline_27.03.06.pdf.
TI chapters running Advocacy and Legal Advice Centres in Southeast Europe, Czech Republic and Azerbaijan have anti-corruption hotlines in place that offer legal advice to citizens affected by corruption. These centres are supported by a variety of donors, including the German Foreign Ministry, the European Commission and the US Agency for International Development. For more information, see: www.transparency.org/regional_pages/europe_central_asia/projects_and_activities#alac
Anti-corruption efforts in EU accession states
By Christian Pfeifer
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| The European Commission recently delayed a final decision about the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union, pressing for greater inroads on corruption and judicial reform. |
Transparency International has worked to combat corruption in the Balkans since the late 1990s, implementing three central programmes in the region:
- Strengthening Civil Society’s Capacity to Combat Corruption in South Eastern Europe, funded by the German Development Ministry;
- Western Balkan Accountability Programme, funded by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
- Advocacy and Legal Advice Centres Programme, funded by the German Foreign Ministry and the European Commission.
TI’s national chapters play an active role in monitoring progress against corruption in the candidate countries, contributing to the EU’s annual reports on progress towards membership and drafting and promoting anti-corruption laws. In Bulgaria and Romania, chapters have successfully campaigned for anti-corruption legislation, drafted laws, assisted citizens affected by corruption and monitored enforcement of new anti-corruption standards.
Results of these programmes include the foundation and strengthening of anti-corruption civil society groups; drafting and promoting anti-corruption reforms; raising awareness of corruption in the public and media; and establishment of 11 Advocacy and Legal Advice Centres where citizens can receive legal advice on corruption-related problems. For more information on the EU-accession process, see: www.transparency.org/news_room/in_focus/2006/eu_accession