Transparency International Integrity Awards 2003 open for nominations of ‘unsung heroes fighting corruption’

Elf Aquitaine judge Eva Joly and Zimbabwean human rights campaigner John Makumbe join TI Integrity Awards selection committee

The annual awards programme established by Transparency International (TI), the leading non-governmental organisation engaged in the fight against corruption, honours the courage and determination of individuals and organisations fighting corruption around the world.

This year's committee includes Eva Joly, who was the investigating judge in the Elf-Aquitaine affair in France. Well-known for her courage in standing up to the establishment, she investigated leading politicians, including Roland Dumas and Bernard Tapie, despite numerous death-threats, and earned the TI Integrity Award 2001 in recognition of her courage. She is now a special adviser to the Norwegian government on international corruption and money laundering.

The past year has seen unparalleled corporate scandals that might have gone unchecked if it where not for the bravery of whistleblowers. In order to keep the spotlight on such efforts to curb corruption in both the developed and developing world, this year TI is calling on all sectors of society to help raise awareness of this important programme. The closing date for nominations for the awards is 31 January 2003. The awards will be presented at the opening ceremony of the 11th International Anti-Corruption Conference in Seoul, Korea on 25 May 2003.

The Award winners will be chosen by a truly global panel of distinguished corruption fighters. Committee members include Zimbabwean human rights campaigner John Makumbe, TI Advisory Council member and Chancellor of the University of Ottawa Huguette Labelle, Argus Purnomo of TI Indonesia, Jan Borgen of TI Norway, Fernando Berguido of TI Panama, Anke Martiny of TI Germany, Sion Assidon of Transparency Maroc, and Susan Côté-Freeman of TI UK.

The committee is chaired by TI board member Cláudio Weber Abramo of Transparência Brasil. "Nominate somebody today," said Abramo, "to help keep the fight against corruption at the forefront of the agenda in every country."

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