 Uruguay scored 6.4, sharing rank #28 with
Malta and Slovenia, and in second place to Chile in Latin
America. |
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Washington – Reducing corruption
in the Americas is critical to the region’s long-term
stability and to eliminating poverty, the chair of the nongovernmental
international anti-corruption organization Transparency International
said November 28.
In her remarks to the Organization of American
States (OAS) in Washington, Huguette Labelle said there
are between 220 million and 240 million people in Latin
America living in poverty. Corruption makes these poor people
poorer because they have to pay and sometimes offer bribes
for basic services that should be free, she said.
"Essential goods and services –
food and medicines – are often diverted by corruption,
leaving people desperate and struggling to obtain food,
education and medical care for themselves and their children,"
Labelle said.
Fighting corruption is a prerequisite to
reducing poverty and increasing economic development, Labelle
said. She cited data from the Inter-American Development
Bank showing that about 10 percent of the Americas’
gross domestic product is lost to corruption each year.
Corrupt officials use illegal monetary transactions,
opaque campaign financing, trafficking in influence, control
of information and extortion for private gain, Labelle said.
"As a result, public policies are seriously distorted,
and resources misallocated."
Countries need a comprehensive approach
to fighting corruption, Labelle said. Such an approach must
involve the judicial, legislative and executive branches
working in cooperation with civil society organizations
and businesses. Effective, independent and accountable institutions
that ensure public policies are pursued in the public interest
and not for private gain are needed as well. "Most
importantly, though, the people must demand accountability
from their leaders," she said.
Countries must institutionalize a "culture
of accountability," Labelle said. "Transparency
and accountability are preconditions to the full empowerment
of citizens." Public authorities systematically must
provide transparent access to information dealing with public
administration issues such as public contracting or public
finance, Labelle said. Currently, five countries in the
Americas have laws on access to information, and others
are considering enacting similar laws, according to Labelle.
Democracy is a fundamental precondition
for social and economic development, Labelle said, and key
to fighting corruption. Labelle said the Inter-American
Charter on Democracy states that "democracy is essential
for the social, political, and economic development of the
peoples of the Americas." Many countries have established
formal democratic systems, some with new leaders elected
on anti-corruption platforms. However, there are concerns
about the durability of these new democracies, Labelle said.
Civil society organizations can mobilize
broad public support for reforms because they are the "voice
of the people," Labelle said. However, some countries
have enacted or proposed laws that significantly would restrict
these organizations’ activities. Transparency International
is "deeply concerned about the freedom and protection
of civil society and its ability to function without government
interference," said Labelle. "Given the essential
role of civil society in the fight against corruption, it
is vital that the OAS takes a strong stand in support of
civil society freedom to organize and operate without restriction."
There has been recent progress in fighting
corruption in the Americas, Labelle said. "Transparency
has increased considerably, reflecting the trend around
the world to acknowledge its importance," she said.
Business and political leaders, journalists, civil society
organizations and others are recognizing the cost of corruption
and pushing for reforms and monitoring progress, Labelle
said.
This year’s 10th anniversary of the
Inter-American Convention Against Corruption is an important
milestone, Labelle said. This multilateral framework against
corruption and its monitoring mechanism plays an important
role ensuring that governments translate their commitments
into action, she said.
In a list of recommendations issued recently,
Transparency International urged leaders in the Americas
to show what progress they have made in fulfilling the obligations
outlined in this convention. The list of recommendations
also called for parties to publish annual progress reports
and enhance civil society participation. By doing so, leaders
will assure citizens in these countries that they are "moving
beyond words and paper and are acting against corruption,"
Labelle said.
Of the 30 countries in the Americas listed
in Transparency International’s 2006 Corruption
Perceptions Index released earlier in November, 25
scored below five on a scale of zero to 10, meaning corruption
there is perceived by experts as a serious problem, Labelle
said. More than a third scored below three, meaning corruption
is seen as rampant. (See related
article.)
Uruguay scored 6.4, sharing rank #28 with
Malta and Slovenia, and in second place after Chile in Latin
America.
The full
text of Labelle’s remarks is available on the
OAS Web site.
More
information on the 2006 Corruption Perceptions Index
is available on the Transparency International Web site.
For more information on U.S. policies and
concerns, see Bribery
and Corruption.
Michelle Austein
USINFO Staff Writer
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