Anti-corruption Activists

• Fighting corruption at a price
• Why anti-corruption work is targeted
• Risks around the world
• Protecting activists
• Learn more on protecting anti-corruption advocates
• Contacts

Fighting corruption on the front lines can come at a devastating personal price. Those who persevere in exposing corruption are often subject to grave physical threats and state scrutiny. In many parts of the world, anti-corruption activists are at constant risk by those who wish to silence individuals involved in the fight against fraudulent ruling powers and corporations.

Looking back at recent events, Transparency International (TI) reflects on the precarious situations that those entrenched in the fight against corruption are faced with, from Gabon to Nicaragua, Zimbabwe to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In Sri Lanka violent threats and murder have been used to silence those who speak out against the political regime. In Gabon, four civil rights activists were detained, refused access to lawyers or medical care and consequently accused of “propaganda”. In Zimbabwe, activists speaking out against the regime this year have found themselves locked up for an indefinite amount of time and denied legal rights.

The situation is escalating in many countries and TI is gravely concerned about the harassment and intimidation of all those involved in the front line fight against corruption.

Corruption undermines democracy, human rights, civil liberties and sustainable development and, as such, is often deeply embedded within varying factions of society. The fear of economic loss drives many to threaten and target anti-corruption advocates.

Those involved in illicit enrichment through corrupt practices will often stop at nothing to protect their unlawful gains. Not only are fraudulent financial gains at stake, but reputations, influence and relationships as well. Exposing corrupt acts, therefore, becomes a significant threat.

Where embezzlement goes hand in hand with nepotism or entrenched networks of corruption, it is even riskier to expose or even inquire about questionable practices. Activists, investigative journalists and whistleblowers are on the front lines as they work to deter and detect corruption both in the private and public sector. One telephone call to the media or one letter to the right public official from a worker who has decided to expose individual or institutional malpractice and a whistleblower can potentially bring a corrupt system to its knees. TI is lobbying for stronger measures to protect anti-corruption fighters from retaliation.

Wickramatunga, a leading investigative journalist and TI’s first Integrity Award winner, joins a venerated group of anti-corruption fighters who paid the greatest price of all. The hostile situation for journalists in Sri Lanka continues. TI has called on the government of Sri Lanka to demonstrate its commitment to the rule of law and human rights, especially the right of individuals to freedom of expression.

These actions negate the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which the country has ratified and contradict the Gabonese constitution. The rights of these citizens, some of which have filed a civil lawsuit together with TI France on the misappropriation of public assets, have been forfeited through their arbitrary detention.

The civil society activists and journalists have now been released on bail, but charges against the activists remain. Moreover, there are concerns that the visa of a French lawyer assigned for the activists’ defence was cancelled, reportedly in breach of the Franco-Gabonese convention on mutual legal assistance.

Serious concern was voiced over whether the Supreme Electoral Council carried out its duties in upholding the country’s electoral laws both preceding, during and subsequent to polling. Etica y Transparencia managed to coordinate a network of thousands of volunteers to monitor transparency in the elections. The chapter closed their office for weeks, to protect staff against violent threats.

During this time various cases of harassment of civil society organisations and the media were reported, including the kidnapping of a member of the Nicaraguan Youth Network in the run up to the elections. The Inter-American Press Association has expressed alarmed at the level of violence against journalists and overall freedom of expression in Nicaragua, and has made public calls for their protection.

Following the temporary closing of its office, the chapter received support from NGOs and the EU among others.

For further information, please see our press releases.

In response to the kidnappings of human rights activists in December, TI Zimbabwe has expressed solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe and those members of civil society who have demonstrated courage and determination by speaking out. The chapter implores the international community to exert more pressure on the government and to support the work of civil society.

TI’s 2008 Annual Membership Meeting brought the anti-corruption movement together to discuss the most pressing issues and priorities. The safety of anti-corruption advocates was cause of great concern, resulting in a resolution adopted by TI members from over 90 countries and territories.

The document is a collective call to meet the challenges of threats and intimidation by taking all measures necessary to protect anti-corruption fighters at national and international level. Activists fighting corruption are also considered human rights defenders and, as such, can turn for support and protection advice to the Front Line Defenders.

In response to the dangers facing activists at a global level, The Coalition of Civil Society Friends of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) is calling on the UN to establish an internal procedure to uphold the rights of anti-corruption advocates. The UNCAC urges state parties to respect and take action in accordance with Article 13, which focuses on the work of anti-corruption advocates. Recognising that combating corruption is not only a matter for governments but also for civil society, the UNCAC calls for governments to promote the active participation of civil society.

Andrea Figari
Global Programmes Manager
E-mail: afigari@transparency.org