International Anti-Corruption Day 2023: December 9 is International Anti-Corruption Day each year. It acts as a prompt for each of us to take proactive measures to combat corruption in our own lives as well as the lives of others. The UN has designated this day to raise awareness of the need of taking an anti-corruption stance.
The background of the worldwide anti-corruption day
Corrupt practices have existed for ages. The Great Edict of Horemheb in Egypt, the Code of Hammurabi in Babylonia, and the Arthashastra in India contain some of the earliest known examples of anti-corruption literature. These texts discussed the practice of bribery among law enforcement and state officials.
In the 19th century, the idea of public interest and welfare started to take root in Western society, and growing attention was given to the rising levels of corruption in professions like bureaucracy. It was starting to become clear that corruption was not only an undesirable behavior but also one that was having a significant negative impact on society.
One of the most well-known organizations fighting corruption in nations all over the world these days is Transparency International. Peter Eigen, a World Bank official, founded it to raise awareness of the problem of corruption in East Africa by establishing a non-profit. In 1993, the secretariat was established in Berlin.
Every two years, it currently organizes the International Anti-Corruption Conference, which brings together political leaders, bureaucrats, nonprofits, and members of civil society to discuss unique, interdisciplinary issues related to corruption. Its first virtual conference took place in 2020, and you can watch it online.
In 1995, Transparency International also created the Corruption Perception Index, which ranks and measures corruption across sectors and practices in different nations. Currently, 180 countries provide data for the index. Other organizations, such as the World Bank, also compile data on corruption using their Worldwide Governance Indicators.
International Anti-Corruption Day: How To Observe It
Commit to combat corruption.
We can all contribute to the fight against corruption, whether we are private service providers, public servants, or customers, by being honest about the corrupt practices we have personally experienced and by conducting business with integrity and transparency.
Check out the Index of Corruption Perceptions.
Transparency International has compiled easily comprehensible data on levels of corruption worldwide since 1995. Examine which nations perform the best and worst, and note if these have altered over time about the nation’s political climate. The World Bank also provides other indices, such as the Worldwide Governance Indicators.
Study up on the United Nations’ anti-corruption campaign.
In the past two years, the United Nations has initiated a unique campaign against corruption under the banner of “Recover with Integrity.” It draws particular attention to corruption within the medical field. On their dedicated website, you can find out more details about it.
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Numerous nations receive low marks.
According to the Corruption Perception Index, less than two-thirds of the 180 countries have a score of less than 50 out of 100.
Conflict-ridden nations receive lower scores
Venezuela, South Sudan, Yemen, Syria, and Somalia rank lowest in the Corruption Perception Index.
In the region, Canada receives the highest score.
Canada ranks 77th out of the Americas’ countries in the Corruption Perception Index, with an average score of 43.
An international court does not exist.
There have been discussions about the possibility of an independent or subordinate body operating under the International Criminal Court to replace the International Anti-Corruption Court, but this has not materialized.
It’s got a worldwide secretariat.
The global secretariat of the United Nations Convention on Corruption is the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The significance of International Anti-Corruption Day
It makes us think of corruption.
In our interactions with businesses and the government, many of us have encountered corruption in one form or another; however, we may have undervalued it in our rush to “get things done.” This day serves as a reminder that we can speak out against these practices and that we are not forced to accept them.
It’s an exhortation to act.
Resources compiled by the UN and other organizations help us understand the scope of corruption worldwide and provide guidance on how to eradicate it.
It emphasizes how crucial ethics are.
Even though ethical behavior is something we are taught since we are young, we might have forgotten about it in the daily shuffle. Now is the perfect time to revisit those lessons and even re-learn them to inform our own behavior.
INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | December 9 | Saturday |
| 2024 | December 9 | Monday |
| 2025 | December 9 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | December 9 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | December 9 | Thursday |
