Our work on the G20
What’s at stake?
The Group of 20 (G20) leading economies were convened in 2008 to tackle the global financial crisis and the lack of transparency, accountability and integrity by public and private actors that contributed to it. Home to two-thirds of the world’s population, the G20 are responsible for 80 per cent of world trade and more than 80 per cent of overall gross national product. When the G20 released an anti-corruption action plan in 2010, it presented a huge opportunity to increase financial integrity across international markets. With ever more sophisticated means being used to facilitate corrupt acts, such as bribes and stolen assets running through intermediaries and subsidiaries in offshore havens, global measures are needed to confront a scourge that has become truly global.
What we’re doing about it
To prevent another global financial crisis it is essential to prevent illicit financial flows through secrecy jurisdictions (offshore tax havens) and to implement fair and clean governance of the financial sector. Taking advantage of our international network and its presence in 18 of the G20 members (including a liaison office at the European Union), Transparency International is actively advocating for the G20 to take action against corruption through enforcement of anti-money laundering regulations, facilitation of stolen asset recovery, prevention of bribery in the business sector, measures to address conflicts of interest in the financial sector, and integrity in climate finance and governance. The UN Convention against Corruption, which hasn’t yet been ratified by three of the G20 members – Germany, Japan and Saudi Arabia – provides the legal framework for our work.
Our advocacy includes:
- Constructive engagement with the G20 governments on our policy recommendations through public letters and meetings,
- Targeted media and press work to communicate what is at stake to citizens and mobilise public pressure, and
- Collaboration with the business sector as well as other civil society organisations to broaden our impact.
In addition, we are working with other non-governmental organisations to achieve a more transparent, accountable and inclusive G20 political process.
Who’s involved
We implement our G20 advocacy strategies through our chapters in 18 of the G20 members as well as a representation office at the European Union.
In 2012, our Chair Huguette Labelle was invited by the Mexican G20 Presidency to join the Business 20 (B20) Anti-Corruption Task Force as the only civil society member. The B20 is organised in various thematic task forces which come up with recommendations to the G20 leaders relevant for the business sector, and we are members of the B20 Anti-Corruption Task Force.
We are also a member of the Task Force on Financial Integrity – a coalition of NGOs (including Global Witness, Christian Aid, Tax Justice Network, Tax Research and Eurodad), government representatives and academics, led by Global Financial Integrity – which advocates for measures to prevent illicit financial flows.
Our approach
In 2010, the G20 set themselves the target to lead by example by achieving individual and collective progress on their anti-corruption commitments by 2012. But there is always a difference between agreeing to this on paper and implementing it in practice. That is why public pressure is needed to make progress on these commitments.
Civil society is closely monitoring the implementation of the G20 anti-corruption action plan and contributing to advancing the agenda by providing regular policy recommendations to the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group. We have also addressed the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors with a letter on fair and clean governance of the financial sector and enhanced transparency of financial flows. By making representations to G20 ministers and the G20 anti-corruption working group, we encouraged it to set high benchmarks and concrete goals on money laundering and tax evasion. Furthermore, we communicate what is at stake to a broader base of citizens and can mobilise public pressure where needed.
Together with other national and international NGOs we are advocating for formal civil society consultation mechanisms in the G20 and a more transparent and accountable political process, such as the publication of documents and working group membership. To parallel the B20 for business, we have been asking for a C20, a Civil Society Summit.
In addition, in 2012 we worked with the B20 Task Force on Improving Transparency and Anti-Corruption together with business and intergovernmental organisations including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on recommendations to the G20 leaders in areas relevant for business, including transparency in public procurement and sector-based initiatives. We have co-led the work stream on encouraging the adoption of codes of conduct with a specific focus on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) together with the International Chamber of Commerce.
Timeline and results
- 2008: The G20 was convened at heads of state level for the first time by then US President George W. Bush to address the global financial crisis. Transparency International constructively engaged with the G20 leaders to emphasise the lack of transparency, accountability and integrity by public and private actors which contributed to the global crisis.
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2010: We were rewarded with the publication of the G20 Anti-Corruption Action Plan at the Seoul G20 Summit in which the G20 committed to lead by example in achieving individual and collective progress on their anti-corruption commitments by 2012. The nine-point agenda, which drew directly on many of our previous recommendations, called on members to facilitate the recovery of stolen assets, curb the flow of illicit funds into G20 markets and protect whistleblowers.
Since then, we are closely monitoring the implementation of the G20 anti-corruption plan and contributing to advancing the agenda by providing regular recommendations to the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group together with other civil society organisations. - 2012: We were invited by the Mexican G20 Presidency to join the B20 Task Force on Improving Transparency and Anti-Corruption, which works closely with the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group, as the only civil society representative.
More…
Contact us
Angela McClellan
Senior Programme Coordinator, Global Outreach and Campaigns
amcclellan@transparency.org
List of communications to the G20
8 April 2013: Letter to the Ministers of Finance and Central Banks Governors ahead of meeting in Washington, D.C.
8 February 2012: Civil Society Submission to the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group
13 October 2011: Transparency International, CDM Watch and ETC Letter to Jacob Zuma, G20 on occasion of COP17 in Durban
25 August 2011: Joint Civil Society Submission to the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (Carta en español)
August 2011: Transparency International’s recommended criteria for G20 Anti-Corruption Action Plan Progress Report
20 May 2011: Letter to Nicolas Sarkozy, G20
11 February 2011: Joint Civil Society Submission to the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group
3 January 2011: Letter to G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group
26 August 2010: Letter to Stephen Harper and Lee Myung-bak, G20
August 2010: Recommendations to the G20 (updated)
19 May 2010: Letter to Stephen Harper and Lee Myung-bak, G20
February 2010: Recommendations to the G20
