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Anti-corruption day 2014

Every year on 9 December, activists around the world take to the streets to protest against corruption.

Through demonstrations, concerts, human chains, talks and exhibitions, they strive to make people aware that they have the power to stop corruption.

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 honour 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
Around the world people have had enough of corruption and they want to do their part to stop corruption. And everyone can act. They can make a declaration against corruption. They can refuse to pay bribes, promote the struggle to stop corruption, report it when they see it and support leaders who espouse integrity."

– Cobus de Swardt, Managing Director, Transparency International

Celebrations around the world

Here are just a few of the activities happening on Anti-Corruption Day 2014. You can follow events around the world via social media using the #breakthechain hashtag:

  • Transparency International will launch a Declaration against Corruption.
  • In Bangladesh, in the run-up to 9 December, students formed a human chain around the University of Dhaka calling on the government to fight corruption (pictured above).
  • In Palestine, our chapter will present its 2014 Integrity Award.
  • In South Africa, activists will release an anti-corruption song to expresses the exasperation that many people feel about the high levels of corruption there.
  • NGOs will call on European Union finance ministers to include rules on beneficial ownership when they meet in Brussels.

Corruption highlights and low points of 2014

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

22 February – Protests topple the corrupt regime of Viktor Yanukovych in Ukraine.

20 March – Turkey bans Twitter amid a corruption scandal 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 and 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 – A UN General Assembly resolution on future sustainable development goals includes 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 economies and highlights the need for global action to stop money laundering that enables the corrupt to get away with it.

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