By Michael Sidwell

RESIST ( Resisting Extortions and Solicitations in International Transactions) was jointly developed by Transparency International (TI), the World Economic Forum Partnering Against Corruption Initiative (PACI), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and the UN Global Compact (GC). Primarily a training tool to help employees counter solicitation and extortion demands in the most efficient and ethical manner, acknowledging they might be accompanied by a threat, RESIST also aims to help companies reduce the probability of such demands being made. Over 20 companies and organisations contributed to designing RESIST, based on 21 real-life scenarios of solicitation and extortion demands.

TI has also published the 2009 edition of its Business Principles for Countering Bribery. An effective and practical tool for companies dealing with the challenge and risks posed by bribery, the tool reflects recent developments in anti-bribery practice worldwide and incorporates approaches by business, academia and civil society.

The 2009 edition places greater emphasis on public reporting of anti-bribery systems and in recommending that enterprises commission external verification or assurance of their anti-bribery programme.

Originally published in 2003, the Business Principles have been adopted by many leading companies around the world to benchmark their own anti-bribery policies, as well as being used by such global frameworks as the UN Global Compact and the WEF’s Partnering against Corruption Initiative.

By Michael Sidwell

Failure to establish such a mechanism this year would be a major setback, undermining the value of the UNCAC and its ability to develop momentum in curbing corruption around the world.

The UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) is a comprehensive global treaty providing a framework for collective action against corruption. Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2003 and signed by 140 states, it includes provisions calling for government transparency and accountability, for regulation of the private sector and for improved civil society participation. As of April 2009, 133 countries were parties to the Convention.

To support efforts, the UNCAC Coalition has launched a new website. The new site features a main forum and an international section, where forum users can exchange views on all topics. Users can also subscribe to the forum and receive all postings directly in their mailbox. Guest columnists will contribute to the site’s new blog and registered Coalition members can upload UNCAC related documents produced by their organisations. Other resources will also be available, such as the Coalition statement, Transparency International recommendations, press releases and all documentation produced around the Conferences of States Parties.

The UNCAC Coalition is a network of more than 50 civil society organisations (CSOs) established in August 2006, committed to promoting the ratification, implementation and monitoring of the UNCAC. It aims to mobilise broad civil society support for UNCAC and to facilitate strong civil society action at national, regional and international level in support of UNCAC.

By Michael Sidwell

The report “ Role of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) and other stakeholders in Bangladesh’s road transport system: problems and ways out” highlights corruption and indiscipline in road transport management and among motor vehicle owners, trade unions and the traffic and highway police.

According to the experiences of those polled during the two-year survey: a person can bribe officials Tk 100 (€1.14. US $1.50) to Tk 7,000 (€80, US $106) to receive a driving licence, and Tk 100-500 to pass a driving exam; the registration of a car or motorcycle may be obtained with a bribe of Tk 1,000-50,000 or Tk 100-10,000 to receive a certificate of roadworthiness without having the vehicle tested.

As a result of the study and based on the recommendations of the chapter, the country's Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain said at a roundtable event that a committee would be formed to discover misappropriation and corruption in the road transport system. Hossain also suggested an online system of paying fees, tax and other bills to the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority.