Global corruption worsens – Transparency International

More than one person in two thinks corruption has worsened in the last two years, according to the world’s largest public opinion survey on corruption.
The survey was conducted by the global anti-corruption body, Transparency International.
However, the survey participants also firmly believe they can make a difference and have the will to take action against graft, TI said in a statement on Tuesday announcing the outcome of its Global Corruption Barometer 2013 from its Berlin, Germany, base.
The Global Corruption Barometer is a survey of 114,000 people in 107 countries and it shows corruption is widespread.
Some 27 per cent of respondents have paid a bribe when accessing public services and institutions in the last 12 months, revealing no improvement from previous surveys.
Still, nearly nine out of 10 people surveyed said they would act against corruption and two-thirds of those who were asked to pay a bribe had refused, suggesting that governments, civil society and the business sector need to do more to engage people in thwarting corruption.
“Bribe paying levels remain very high worldwide, but people believe they have the power to stop corruption and the number of those willing to combat the abuse of power, secret dealings and bribery is significant,” said TI chair, Huguette Labelle.
The Global Corruption Barometer 2013 also found that in too many countries, the institutions people rely on to fight corruption and other crime are themselves not trusted.
Some 36 countries view police as the most corrupt, and in those countries an average of 53 per cent of people had been asked to pay a bribe to the police.
Opinion poll in 20 countries view the judiciary as the most corrupt and in those countries an average of 30 per cent of the people who had come in contact with the judicial systems had been asked to pay a bribe.
“Governments need to take this cry against corruption from their citizenry seriously and respond with concrete action to elevate transparency and accountability,” Labelle said. “Strong leadership is needed from the G20 governments in particular.”
In the 17 countries surveyed in the G20, 59 per cent of respondents said their government is not doing a good job at fighting corruption.
TI said politicians themselves have much to do to regain trust.
The Global Corruption Barometer 2013 shows a crisis of trust in politics and real concern about the capacity of those institutions responsible for bringing criminals to justice.
In 51 countries around the world, political parties are seen as the most corrupt institution, while 55 per cent of respondents think government is run by special interests.
The anti-corruption body said politicians can lead by example by publishing asset declarations for themselves and their immediate family.
Political parties and individual candidates, meanwhile, must disclose where they get their money from to make clear who funds them and to reveal potential conflicts of interest.
PANA/NAN.