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Add to Preferred SourcesA landmark set of measures to support international efforts in tackling corruption has been launched by the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The Commonwealth Anti-Corruption Benchmarks are designed to help governments and public sector organisations:
- assess laws;
- procedures and actions against international good practice; and
- make improvements if needed.
United Nations figures indicate that corruption costs the global economy $3.6 trillion each year. Global proceeds from criminal activities are estimated at between $1 trillion and $1.6 trillion per year.
The amount of money lost globally through corruption is equal to the total amount needed to successfully implement the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Roadmap to reduce corruption
In development since 2018, the new benchmarks offer a comprehensive roadmap to reduce corruption across 25 areas of public and commercial life.
The benchmarks also include mechanisms for engaging and mobilising the public and private sectors in educating, reporting, and providing independent support and oversight.
Robust set of recommendations
“Our Commonwealth Anti-Corruption Benchmarks are a robust set of recommendations and good practices brought together as an interlocking identification, prevention and reporting system designed significantly to reduce the risk of corruption in the public and private sectors. The Commonwealth Anti-Corruption Benchmarks package is a landmark initiative, unrivalled in scope and ambition, which I firmly believe provides a basis for transformational action in the Commonwealth and more widely towards ending the destructive scourge of corruption in all its forms,” said Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland.
Holistic system
Designed to be achievable, practical, and auditable, this set of measures provides a holistic system that aims to reduce and deal with the risk of corruption. The benchmarks promote honesty, impartiality, accountability, and transparency and provide for specific anti-corruption measures. In cases where there may be no recognised international good practice, the benchmarks propose good practice measures.
Corruption causes enormous damage
Neill Stansbury, Director of GIACC, and one of the authors of the benchmarks, said: “Corruption causes enormous damage in developed and developing countries, and primarily impacts on the poor.”
“The benchmarks are designed to assist governments and the public sector achieve this objective.”