Guest guest Posted February 23, 2008 Report Share Posted February 23, 2008  home about us contact us jobs at TI sitemap faq TI Chapter Zone news room global priorities regional pages policy and research tools publications support us latest news corruption in the news in focus multimedia faq speeches & articles events iacc integrity awards acd home > news room > in focus > 2007 > gcb 2007 news room 2008 past editions 2007 corruption analysis in southern africa global corruption barometer 2007 anti-corruption day 2007 ten years OECD convention democracias latinoamericanas latin american democracies TI annual membership meeting cpi2007 back to school whistleblowers 3rd oecd progress report G8 gcr 2007 AR2006 uncac Africa revenue transparency NIS in East and Southeast Asia RECREA world economic forum youth and corruption year in review 2006 2005 2004 send this page to a friend search news room page editor:Inken Denker last modified: 06/02/2008 06 December 2007 Global Corruption Barometer 2007 - pressure is rising “This year’s Global Corruption Barometer has made it clear that too often, people must part with their hard-earned money to pay for services that should be free.†(Huguette Labelle, TI Chair) Corruption is a constant presence in the lives of people around the world. And poor families are hit hardest by demands for bribes. These are the unsettling results of the Global Corruption Barometer 2007, published by Transparency International (TI) on 6 December, ahead of International Anti-corruption Day. After five years of surveying the general public's views and experiences of corruption, the report shows that bribery is still prevalent in many countries, but that citizens are increasingly demanding accountability from their governments. Read this special section on the Global Corruption Barometer to learn more about the every day experience of corruption made by citizens in countries across the globe, and how they see the future. Contents: TI press release: Poor families hit hardest by bribery, even in rich countries, finds new TI poll. Political parties and parliaments seen as institutions most compromised by corruption worldwide. What is the Global Corruption Barometer? Key findings of the Global Corruption Barometer 2007 Critical public perceptions TI Barometer analysis Statement by Huguette Labelle, TI Chair Official Barometer launch in Berlin and launches by TI national chapters Corruption is not a magic trick: Break the spell on Anti-corruption Day 2007 The Magician: New public service announcement Selected links News coverage Media contacts Barometer materials for download: Global Corruption Barometer 2007 (full report) Barometer materials in Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian Complete country data What is the Global Corruption Barometer? The Global Corruption Barometer 2007 reflects the findings of a public opinion survey that looks at the citizens’ perceptions and experiences of corruption in 60 countries and territories. It explores the issue of petty bribery in greater depth than ever before, identifying the sectors most affected by corruption and highlighting people’s personal experience of bribery, its frequency and how much individuals must pay. It also asks how people see corruption evolving in the future and how effective they rate their governments’ efforts to fight it. Now in its fifth edition, the 2007 Barometer polls around 63,000 people in 60 countries and is carried out by Gallup International on behalf of Transparency International. As a complement to TI's Corruption Perceptions Index, which is based on expert opinion, the Barometer captures the views of a broad public. The Barometer allows for comparisons about perceived and experienced levels of corruption over time, providing an indicator of the success of anti-corruption efforts around the world and trends in public opinion. If you want to know more about the Barometer and other Transparency International tools, please see Frequently Asked Questions. back to top Key findings of the Global Corruption Barometer 2007 The poor, whether in developing or highly industrialised countries, bear the greatest burden when it comes to bribe demands. They are also more pessimistic about the prospects for less corruption in the future. About one in ten people around the world had to pay a bribe in the past year; reported bribery has increased in some regions, such as Asia-Pacific and South East Europe. Bribery is particularly widespread in interactions with the police, the judiciary and registry and permit services. The general public believes political parties, parliament, the police and the judicial/legal system are the most corrupt institutions in their societies. Half of those interviewed – and significantly more than four years ago – expect corruption in their country to increase in the next three years, with some African countries the exception. Half of those interviewed also think that their governments' efforts to fight corruption are ineffective. back to top Critical public perceptions This year's barometer indicates a gloomy outlook when it comes to corruption. Over the past five years, the general public's expectation of the development of future corruption has become more pessimistic seen globally – with some African countries the exception. Expectations that corruption will worsen in the future have risen to 54 per cent of respondents compared to 43 per cent in the first barometer in 2003. Only one fifth of citizens polled expected change for the better. Interestingly, a few African countries exhibited a relatively high level of optimism about anti-corruption efforts in their countries. The Barometer finds that poor households are hit hardest by bribe demands, in developing as well as developed countries. One out of ten respondents reported having paid a bribe in the past year. In some countries up to one third of respondents resorted to paying a bribe for access to public service. These are often services that should be free, such as health care or education. Governments, in citizens' overwhelming view, don't do enough to fight corruption. Political parties, parliaments and the judiciary on average are seen as the most corrupt sectors of society – as they have been in the past five years. But civil society organisations need to be alert as well. Even though still considered fairly clean compared to other sectors, public opinion of their integrity dropped in 2007. The police and the judiciary featured as the services most likely to demand bribes. This result shows a serious threat to rule of law worldwide and proof that the basic right to equal treatment before the law is not guaranteed. This year's Global Corruption Barometer once again shows that urgent action from all parts of society is needed to successfully fight corruption: Governments must show the political will to make change; civil society and the private sector should join hands to keep up pressure in demanding accountability. back to top Poor families hit hardest by bribery, even in rich countries TI Barometer analysis Poor families are hit hardest by demands for bribes in developed as well as developing countries, according to Transparency international’s Global Corruption Barometer 2007. The public opinion survey, published today ahead of International Anti-Corruption Day on 9 December, also found that citizens in countries across the globe continue to see political parties and parliaments as the institutions most compromised by corruption. Transparency international’s Global Corruption Barometer 2007, published today, surveys 63,199 respondents in 60 countries, and offers a broad spectrum of data on common experiences of corruption. “Citizens do not see enough commitment when they look to their governments and leaders. We are heartened though, that the public is increasingly demanding the accountability of the very institutions that most affect their lives, as this is a powerful driver of change,†said TI Chair Huguette Labelle. Bribery: A tax on poor families everywhere The Barometer 2007 finds that it is the poor who are most often confronted with requests for bribes, in wealthy and poor countries alike. Extortion hits low-income households with a regressive tax that saps scarce household resources. More than one in ten respondents reported having to pay a bribe for access to a service. Corrupt police and judiciary mean rights denied When asked about dealing with services, the police and the judiciary were named as the most frequent sources to demand bribes. "The Barometer reveals that the police and the judiciary in many countries around the world are part of a cycle of corruption, demanding bribes from citizens," said TI Managing Director Cobus de Swardt. "This troubling finding means that corruption is interfering with the basic right to equal treatment before the law.†Transparency International has been campaigning strongly against corruption in the judiciary, based on its Global Corruption Report 2007, which details how bribery affects the courts. Bribes by sector The Barometer asks citizens which institutions they perceive as most affected by corruption. Year after year, political parties and parliaments take in first place. The institutions which fared best in the eyes of ordinary citizens were religious bodies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Although still relatively clean, the perception of NGOs has worsened in comparison to 2004 survey results, as did the perception of private enterprises, indicating that these two sectors are under increasing public pressure to demonstrate transparency and accountability. Public ready for a change Public expectations about the extent of corruption in the future are gloomy: 54 per cent of respondents feeling that corruption would increase in the coming years – up from 43 per cent four years ago. Attitudes towards government anti-corruption efforts were similarly sobering, with over half of all respondents rating their government as ineffective. Notably, some of the African countries surveyed showed evidence of far greater optimism than that seen in the countries of North America and Europe. "Turning promises into action is essential if anti-corruption efforts are to have an impact on the lives of ordinary people. Governments are key to making good on commitments to fighting corruption. But governments are not alone in their responsibility. We need to see concerted action from civil society and the private sector too,†concluded TI Chair Labelle. "The Global Corruption Barometer 2007 is a wake-up call – a reminder that people around the world are increasingly demanding an end to corruption and its terrible cost.†See full press release for more analysis. back to top Official Barometer launch in Berlin and launches by TI national chapters Global launch in Berlin: Listen to the TI press conference in Berlin (55 Mb) GCB_2007_press_conference_2007-12-02.mp3 55.00 MB TI GermanyBerichterstattung über Skandale stimmt Bevölkerung in Deutschland pessimistisch. Transparency International stellt Global Corruption Barometer in Berlin vor Scandals in the news have made Germans pessimistic. Transparency International presents the Global Corruption Barometer in BerlinBerlin, 06 December 2007 TI IndiaGovernment action needed to curb corruptionNew Delhi, 06 December 2007 TI IrelandPublic corruption survey shows why Tribunals should be allowed to continue their work“The debate around the length and cost of tribunals misses one important point: overall, they are good value for moneyâ€Dublin, 06 December 2007 TI KoreaStatement by TI Korea on the Global Corruption Barometer 2007 resultsIn the run-up to presidential elections, corruption in Korea is still severe. New president expected to introduce a new era.Seoul, 06 December 2007 TI RomaniaBarometrul Global al Coruptiei 2007Global Corruption Barometer 2007 TI SwitzerlandGlobal Corruption Barometer 2007. Keine grossen Veränderungen in der SchweizNo big changes in Switzerland Towards Responsible and Sustainable Development A Discussion on Corruption Thursday 6 December 20076.30 pm (local time)Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Potsdamer Platz 3, Berlin(by invitation only) with Dr. Eduard Westreicher, Head of Division, Governance, Democracy, Human Rights and Gender, German Federal Ministry for Economic ation and Development (BMZ) Stulb, Global Leader, Fraud Investigation & Dispute Services, Ernst & Young Cobus de Swardt, Managing Director, Transparency International back to top Corruption is not a magic trick Break the spell on Anti-corruption Day 9 December is Anti-corruption Day. Worldwide, Transparency International chapters organise events to give visibility to the many people all over the world believing in and fighting for a world free of corruption. The Magician: New public service announcement In time for Anti-corruption Day 2007, Transparency International releases a new public service announcement – The Magician. With the help of a non-profit production agency, TI filmed ‘The Magician’ to raise awareness on corruption and to encourage people to question the abuse of power. The clip shows a fast-talking magician who makes a hundred-dollar bill - ‘your money’ - disappear in a puff of smoke. The money has apparently disappeared without a trace. But watch again in slow motion and you see that the money has not really disappeared. Just as the mystery has been lifted here, TI encourages citizens across the globe to challenge the inevitability and the impenetrability of corruption. Watch "The Magician" in English, Spanish, French, Mandarin, Arabic and Russian here: Transparency_Magician_2007.mov 1.09 MB Transparency_Magician_2007.avi 4.44 MB Transparency_Magician_2007.mp4 2.59 MB Or on youtube.com at www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBYTh19gi7g Transparency International chapter activities This is just a snapshot of the activities taking place around Anti-corruption Day in countries in Asia and Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East and in the Americas. National Integrity Awards by TI’s national chapters AMAN in the Palestinian Authorities and Sri Lanka will honour successful and brave anti-corruption fighters. Concerts organised by TI chapters in Bangladesh and Croatia will gather young and old to rock corruption. TI Japan is going to publish the 2007 top ten anti-corruption news stories. Workshops, lectures, seminars and conferences in Fiji, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Serbia, will give an insight why putting a spotlight on corruption is so important. Join the fight against corruption. Contact your local chapter to take part in their anti-corruption day activities. back to top Selected links Transparency International's policy & research pages Transparency International's work on political corruption U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre: Corruption and gender "Living with Corruption" (How to get ahead in Africa)This film shows corruption from the perspective of the poor. It gives a picture of the reality of corruption as experienced by many ordinary people. The film will be screened on CNN International (all times GMT):Saturday, 8 December: 7 am, 3 pm, 8 pm Sunday, 9 December: 7 am, 8 pmSaturday, 29 December: 7 am, 3 pm, 8 pmSunday, 30 December: 7 am, 8 pm News coverage Survey says world's poorest people are hardest hit by public corruptionInternational Herald Tribune, 06 December 2007 Global watchdog says police and judiciary take most bribesReuters, Africa, 06 December 2007 One in 10 'forced to pay bribes'BBC News, 06 December 2007 Group Names Global Hotspots for Corruption (audio)NPR, The Park Project, 06 December 2007 Poorest suffer most from corruption, study saysGlobeandmail, Canada, 06 December 2007 Sont-ils tous corrompus?Libération, France, 08 December 2007 La police, championne du CamerounLa Nouvelle Expression, Cameroon, 12 December 2007 Transparency International graft barometer evokes silent responseGulfnews, Pakistan, 08 December 2007 Malaysia Needs To Improve Delivery System To Fight CorruptionBernama.com, Malaysia, 06 Dedember 2007 Poor targeted most for bribes -- anti-corruption watchdogAFP / Inquirer.net, Philippines 06 December 2007 Según la gente, cada vez hay más corrupciónLa Nación, Argentina, 06 December 2007 Watchdog Lists Most Corrupt JobsAlalam.ir, Iran, 06 December 2007 Bulgarians Pessimistic on Govt Fight Against Corruption - Transparency IntlNovinite Sofia News Agency, Bulgaria, 06 December 2007 Survey reports concerning growth in political corruptionPanorama.am, Armenia, 06 December 2007 Most Czechs do not expect govt to fight corruption - TI pollÄŒeskéNoviny.cz, Czech Republic, 06 December 2007 Germans Expect to See Increase in CorruptionDW-World Deutsche Welle, Germany, 06 December 2007 Korruption in Österreichs GesundheitssystemÖ1 Inforadio, Austria, 06 December 2007 Media contacts Tel: +49 30 3438 20 666 jgarcia@... Gypsy Guillén KaiserTel. +49 30 34 38 20 662ggkaiser@... back to top Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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