International Anti Corruption Day DEC 9
The National UN Volunteers-India
𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜 𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗨𝗣𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗗𝗔𝗬
𝘋𝘌𝘊𝘌𝘔𝘉𝘌𝘙 9
▪️HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY
Corruption has existed from time immemorial. Some of the earliest records of anti-corruption texts can be found in the Code of Hammurabi of Babylonia, the Great Edict of Horemheb in Egypt, and Arthashastra in India. These texts spoke about bribery practices among officers of the state and law. The concept of public interest and welfare began to gain stronghold in Western society in the 19th century and more attention was paid to the rising corruption in professional services like the bureaucracy. Corruption was beginning to be understood not just as an unwanted practice but a practice that was levying a great cost in society.
Today, Transparency International is one of the most well-known organizational faces tackling corruption in countries all over the world. It was founded by Peter Eigen, a World Bank official who had witnessed the negative impact of corruption in East Africa and decided to start a non-profit to shed more light on the issue. The secretariat was set up in Berlin in 1993. It currently hosts the International Anti-Corruption Conference every two years to convene civil society, bureaucrats, nonprofits and political leaders around special, cross-cutting challenges posed by corruption. It held its first virtual conference in 2020, and it is available to watch online.
Transparency International also developed the Corruption Perception Index in 1995 to measure corruption across sectors and practices in various countries and rank them comparatively. The index now collects data from 180 countries. Other organizations like the World Bank also capture corruption data through their Worldwide Governance Indicators.
▪️INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY TIMELINE
1754 B.C.
The Babylonian legal text is one of the earliest, most well-preserved ethical codes governing legitimate state and judicial practices.
331 A.D.
Emperor Constantine Outlaws Corruption
The Roman emperor passes a decree banning corruption.
1995
Corruption Perception Index: Transparency International launches a comparative, global index ranking corruption across countries and regions.
2003
U.N. Convention Against Corruption: The United Nations Convention is signed by 140 countries after the Iraq Oil-for-Food scandal, making it a sanctionable offense.
▪️HOW TO OBSERVE INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY
• Take a pledge against corruption
Whether you’re a consumer or public official or private service provider, we can all do our part to help tackle corruption by being outspoken about being subject to corrupt practices when we’re at the receiving end and being transparent and ethical in our own transactions.
• Look up the Corruption Perceptions Index
Transparency International has organized, easy-to-read data on corruption levels around the world starting from 1995. Take a look at the countries that fare the best and worst and whether this has changed over time according to the political situation in the country. There are other indices like Worldwide Governance Indicators available with the World Bank too.
• Learn about the U.N. campaign against corruption
The U.N. has launched a special campaign on corruption in the last two years with the theme ‘Recover with Integrity’. It especially highlights corruption in the healthcare system. You can learn more about it on their dedicated website.
▪️WHY INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY IS IMPORTANT
• It reminds us of corruption
Many of us have faced some form of corruption in our dealings with business or government, but we may have discounted the significance of it in order to “get things done”. This day reminds us that we don’t have to accept these practices and can speak out against them.
• It is a call to action
The UN and other bodies have compiled resources that make us more aware of the extent of corruption around the world, and they tell us how to take steps to eliminate corruption.
• It highlights the importance of ethics
While we have been taught ethical conduct from the time we are kids, we may have forgotten about them in the daily grind and hustle. This is the time to reopen and even relearn those lessons to guide our own conduct.
𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗗𝗚𝗘
I pledge to:
𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆: Uphold the highest standards of honesty and integrity in all my actions.
𝗥𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Refuse to participate in or tolerate any form of corruption.
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆: Advocate for transparency and accountability in all sectors.
𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶-𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀: Encourage and support initiatives aimed at combating corruption.
𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Report any corrupt activities I encounter to the appropriate authorities.
𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀: Raise awareness about the negative impacts of corruption and the importance of ethical behavior.
By taking this pledge, you contribute to a global movement towards a more just and transparent world.
