International Anti-Corruption Day 2023: An annual observance of International Anti-Corruption Day occurs on December 9. It functions as a poignant reminder that every individual should proactively oppose corruption in their personal lives and the lives of those around them. The United Nations has designated this day to emphasize the significance of taking an anti-corruption stance.
International Anti-Corruption Day: A Historical Context
Corruption has persisted since the beginning of time. Anti-corruption texts of the earliest documented periods include the Code of Hammurabi from Babylon, the Great Edict of Horemheb from Egypt, and Arthashastra from India. The aforementioned texts discussed bribery practices that were prevalent among state and law enforcement officials. In the 19th century, Western society began to recognize the importance of public welfare and interest, and the escalating malfeasance in professional services such as the bureaucracy received increased scrutiny. Corruption was increasingly recognized not only as an undesirable phenomenon but also as one that imposed significant societal costs.
Presently, Transparency International stands as a globally recognized organization that actively confronts corruption across nations. Peter Eigen, a World Bank official who had observed the detrimental effects of corruption in East Africa, established the organization in an effort to bring attention to the matter through the operation of a nonprofit. In 1993, the secretariat was established in Berlin. Currently, every two years, it hosts the International Anti-Corruption Conference, which brings together political leaders, administrators, members of civil society, and nonprofit organizations to discuss unique, cross-cutting challenges posed by corruption. The inaugural virtual conference was conducted in 2020 and is presently accessible for online viewing.
In 1995, Transparency International additionally formulated the Corruption Perception Index with the purpose of quantifying and comparative ranking corruption across different sectors and practices in numerous nations. At present, the index amasses data pertaining to 180 countries. Similar to the World Bank, additional organizations collect data on corruption by means of their Worldwide Governance Indicators.
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FAQs for International Anti-Corruption Day
Is it International Anti-Corruption Day’s founder?
The General Assembly, upon adopting the United Nations Convention Against Corruption in 2003, resolved to observe a special day in opposition to corruption.
What is the United States’ score for corruption?
The United States has an anti-corruption rating of 67 out of 100, as reported by Transparency International in its 2020 Corruptions Perception Index.
Which nation has the lowest level of corruption globally?
With a score of 88 out of 100 on the same index in 2020, New Zealand and Denmark have the least amount of corruption.
Observing International Anti-Corruption Day: A Guide
Adopt a stance that opposes corruption.
As private service providers, consumers, and public officials, we can all contribute to the fight against corruption by being forthright about instances in which we, as recipients, have fallen victim to corrupt practices and by conducting our own transactions in an ethical and transparent manner.
Consult the Index of Corruption Perceptions.
Since 1995, Transparency International has compiled comprehensible, well-organized data on the extent of corruption across the globe. Examine the nations with the best and worst performance and determine whether this has changed over time in response to the country’s political climate. In addition to Worldwide Governance Indicators, the World Bank provides access to additional indices.
Investigate the United Nations’ anti-corruption effort.
“Recover with Integrity” is the slogan of a special campaign against corruption that the United Nations has launched over the past two years. It emphasizes corruption in the healthcare system in particular. Further information is available on their specialized website.
Five Facts Regarding Corruption
Numerous nations perform poorly.
Over two-thirds of the 180 countries included in the Corruption Perception Index have obtained a rating below 50 on a scale of 100.
Conflict-affected nations receive lower scores.
The countries Somalia, Venezuela, Yemen, Syria, and South Sudan rank last on the Corruption Perception Index.
Canada has the greatest score in the region.
The Americas earn an average score of 43 on the Corruption Perception Index, while Canada scores 77.
No international court exists.
As an independent body or as a subordinate to the International Criminal Court, the concept of an International Anti-Corruption Court has been circulating but has not been implemented.
A global secretariat is present.
The United Nations Convention on Corruption is administered on a global scale by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
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 |
