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A year of corruption-busting in South Africa

Exactly a year ago, in the clinical hall which once housed an infamous women’s prison, South Africa’s Corruption Watch was born. The imposing space was packed to capacity with political heavyweights, anti-apartheid luminaries, journalists and human rights activists who had come to welcome the launch of the first civil society watchdog of its kind in […]

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Stop misuse of presidential pardons

This article has also appeared in the Korean Times and is authored by Kim Geo-sung, Chair of Transparency International, Korea. In many countries around the world, leaders have the right to pardon individuals. In some hands this is a responsible tool used to right a miscarriage of justice. But it can also be a political act that […]

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Cyprus: a chance to strengthen its fight against money laundering

The issue of whether or not to bail out the troubled banking sector in Cyprus has taken on serious political overtones as the crisis deepens. During the past few weeks Cyprus has been accused of failing to combat money laundering and fraud and that Russian oligarchs seek refuge for their money in this “tax haven” […]

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Bringing the fight against corruption to the Millennium Development Goals

In a few days, an array of world leaders and thinkers – from politicians to Nobel Prize winners- will meet in Liberia to debate the state of the world’s development and where we are going. They have been called together as part of a high level panel put together by the United Nations to set […]

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West African youth leaders unite to fight corruption

In Sub Saharan Africa 60% of the population are under the age of 35, making Africa the most youthful continent. Young Africans are the key to reform, as they soon enough will become key players and advocates of social transformation.   In December, 38 youth leaders from six different West African countries united in Yamoussoukro, […]

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Parliamentarians at the IACC? What are you doing here?

This text was originally published in the 15th IACC blog and is authored by Vicki Baxter Amade,  GOPAC’s Global Task Force Advisor for the Participation of Society.   In November 2012, the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) led its first formal delegation to the IACC, with a panel workshop about the role of parliamentarians and GOPAC speakers […]

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Spain’s scandals indicate need for reform

Following days of intense public and media pressure, Spain’s governing Popular Party finally announced that it will investigate the financial activities of former treasurer, Luís Bárcenas, who the national court (La Audiencia Nacional) allege has accumulated an unexplained €22 million in Swiss bank accounts. On top of this, media reports state that during Bárcenas’ time […]

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La declaración patrimonial de Peña Nieto, una oportunidad perdida

This text was originally published in CNN Mexico. La declaración patrimonial es una figura que busca recuperar algo de la confianza que los ciudadanos tuvieron alguna vez en la clase política. Me parece que expresa, legal y simbólicamente, la oferta sincera de un funcionario de mantenerse honesto durante su gestión. La declaración patrimonial es preventiva: […]

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Anti-money laundering: In pursuit of the hidden owners

This text was crossposted from Transparency Internarional EU’s blog. The author is Neil Clark. On 10 January, advocates from the Transparency International EU Office attended a presentation unveiling the results of Project BOWNET. Carried out with financial support from the Prevention of and Fight against Crime Programme of the European Union, the project aimed at understanding the feasibility of developing an intelligent system able […]

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Zero integrity in Slovenian politics

Thousands of Slovenians have been taking to the streets to protest corruption. At the time of high public distrust in politics and rule of law, scandal is purring oil on the fire.

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