Take action against Corruption

The Declaration Against Corruption

Every year on December 9, activists around the world take to the streets to protest against corruption. Through demonstrations, concerts, human chains, talks and exhibitions, people show that we have the power to stop corruption.

Take the pledge

“If justice is to be achieved, we all as citizens have to raise our voice, promote social sanctions, speak loudly to expose problems and demand change.”

José Ugaz, chair, Transparency International

“Today we honor people who take risks to stop corruption. Activists around the world face growing risks from holding leaders to account. Governments must accept that free, open societies have less corruption.”

Elena Panfilova, vice-chair, Transparency International

“Now is the time for everyone to declare they will fight corruption wherever. They must declare against corruption, refuse bribery, promote the struggle to stop it, report it when they see it and support leaders who espouse integrity.”

Cobus de Swardt, managing director, Transparency International

CORRUPTION MILESTONES IN 2014

29 January — Brazil passes an anti-corruption law targeted at firms who use bribes

22 February — Protests topple the corrupt regime of Viktor Yanukovich in Ukraine

20 March — Turkey bans Twitter amid a corruption scandals and protests

23 April — Greece passes legislation protecting whistleblowers who denounce big corruption cases

14 May — A Chinese investigation accuses pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline of bribing hospital officials, later in the year it fines the firm US$490 million.

5 June — G7 meeting in Brussels commits to fighting tax evasion, money laundering.

25 July — China launches a “fox hunt” targeting corrupt officials who have gone abroad to avoid prosecution

15 August — At a US-Africa summit, leaders from across the African continent pledge to tackle corruption

10 September — UN general assembly resolution on future sustainable development goals include a goal aiming for “justice for all” and accountable institutions

26 October — Tunisia holds its first free democratic parliamentary elections, with election monitors watching every step

7 November — Denmark becomes the second European Union country, after the UK, to commit to creating a public registry for beneficial ownership information, a move to prevent money laundering.

16 November — The G20 passes High Level Principles targeting the issue of Beneficial Ownership

3 December –Corruption Perceptions Index 2014 shows rising corruption in emerging economy and highlights need for global action to stop money laundering that allows the corrupt to get away with it