Transparency International's weekly newsletter and supplement to our Daily Corruption News, 13 October 2017

No Images? Click here
 
  Transparency International logo  
 

Hi there,

This week, we're excited to see our work on important issues having impact in the media, with politicians and with international organisations.

First, on Monday we published our Global Corruption Barometer for Latin America and the Caribbean. It’s a survey of how people experience corruption in their everyday lives, like whether they have to pay bribes to use basic services such as health or education. We also measured which institution people think is most corrupt. See below for more details.

The results demonstrate once again the need for stronger anti-corruption institutions, accountability mechanisms and safety guarantees for the brave people who speak up against corruption. We found too many of them still face retaliation.

The survey has been making headlines all across the region, proving that both citizens and journalists everywhere want a world free of corruption. 

Later in the week, 20 European Union member states took a big step towards ending the misuse of EU funds. There will now be an independent European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) that will investigate and prosecute cases involving corruption in EU spending and large-scale VAT fraud.

However, there is much to be done. Eight EU member states didn’t sign up – we’re looking at you Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and the UK. Regardless, the EPPO is a major breakthrough in the fight against cross border corruption in the EU.

Speaking of cross border corruption: remember the Azerbaijani Laundromat? On 6 October, the President of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Pedro Agramunt, resigned before a motion to remove him could be debated. 

A few days later the Assembly adopted a resolution overhauling its Code of Conduct, and two more resolutions criticizing the persecution of civil society, human rights and the flaws in the justice system in Azerbaijan. Also this week, Danske Bank, which was involved in the laundromat scheme, was charged with money laundering in France.

Thanks to all of you for helping us keep up the pressure!

 

News from Transparency International

Global Corruption Barometer Latin America and the Caribbean
 

About 1 in 3 people using public servces in Latin America and the Caribbean paid a bribe in past year

We asked more than 22,000 people in Latin America and the Caribbean about corruption in their daily lives. Based on the estimated population size of these countries, this means that around 90 million people paid bribes. The survey also looks at how institutions are perceived and how corruption has been developing in each country. 

 

How the IMF can have real impact on fighting corruption

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) met in Washington DC this week. We wanted to send a strong message about what the multi-lateral lender can do to have greater impact on fighting corruption. 

That's why on Wednesday 11 October, we handed Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the IMF, a summary of this article. She publicly thanked us then. Now it is time to deliver  

Impact of Azerbaijani Laundromat
 

The impact of the Azerbaijani Laundromat

Transparency International has been following up on the allegations and, along with OCCRP, calling for action to hold to account the politicians, businesses and intermediaries who were named in this complex money-for-influence scandal.

 

 

Corruption in the news this week

Focus on: Latin America and the Caribbean

Global: One in three Latin Americans have paid bribes to public employees, report says
Reuters (10 October, TI mention)
 
Global: Bribes for public services rife in Latin America and the Caribbean, survey finds
The Guardian (TI mention)
 
Global: Survey shows 90 million people in LATAM admit paying bribes
The Rio Times (9 October, TI mention)
 
Global: El país de América Latina donde más se pagan sobornos
CNN Español (TI mention)
 

Other News

South Africa: SCA dismisses Zuma appeal on corruption charges
Times Live (13 October)
 
Global: From Melbourne to Mugabe: The Australian accused of sprawling corruption scheme
The Sydney Morning Herald (12 October)
 
Global: Airbus corruption scandal may lead straight to the top
Der Spiegel (9 October)
 

Blog/Opinion

Guatemala: Protesting in Guatemala
Open Democracy (13 October)
 
Global: Africa’s political elites have built the same wealth plundering structures as the colonialists
Quartz (12 October)
 

Help put an end to corruption. Support our work.

 
Forward this message to a friend, or follow us on social media to keep up to date!
Join us on Facebook   Join us on Twitter   See us on Instagram   Connect on LinkedIn
Transparency International Secretariat • Alt-Moabit 96 • 10559 Berlin • Germany  |  Impressum
Email preferences  |  Unsubscribe