Transparency International - the global coalition against corruption

Transparency International is an organization is a global civil society organisation fighting against corruption world wide. The importance of a worldwide coordinated effort to fight corruption is intuitive. Therefore I've chosen to add a link to the organisation's Homepage (also on my link list).

The following map charts the organisation's corruption perceptions index (CPI) for 2007. The countries perceived as most corrupt are brightest red:

The link between corruption and human rights, equal opportunities, democracy, higher living standards and everything we hold dear can easily be spotted.

The organisation has set 5 defined global priorities in the fight against corruption:

1. Corruption in politics
2. Corruption in public contracting
3. Corruption in the private sector
4. International anti-corruption conventions
5. Poverty and Development

Among the impacts of corruption the organisation lists the following:

1. Direct impacts - Most obvious impact of corruption portraying itself by one's need to bribe officials in order to maintain himself (whether for medicine, food or education)
2. Unfair global competition - Bribes by multinational corporations to ensure a winning contract bid which create poor standards of quality and safety, damage to the global economy and perpetuate corrupt regimes.
3. Global consequences - Perpetuation of poverty, misery and political unrest.
4. Undermining democracy.
5. Jeopardising sound governance and ethics in the private sector.
6. Threatening domestic and international security and the sustainability of natural resources.
7. Those with less power are particularly disadvantaged in corrupt systems.

The definition of corruption according to the organisation is as follows: Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. It hurts everyone whose life, livelihood or happiness depends on the integrity of people in a position of authority.