OECD Secretary General Angel Gurría Most countries are not meeting their international commitments to fight bribery and corruption in business, according to a report released by the OECD on 20 April.
While the OECD Anti Bribery Convention has been in force since 1999, only 13 countries have sanctioned either an individual or a company. In 2010, only five countries sanctioned individuals or companies, according to the annual report by the OECD's Working Group on Bribery.
While the OECD Anti Bribery Convention has been in force since 1999, only 13 countries have sanctioned either an individual or a company. In 2010, only five countries sanctioned individuals or companies, according to the annual report by the OECD's Working Group on Bribery.
OECD Secretary General Angel Gurría was quoted on the OECD website as saying, “Despite some progress in the past year, we need to see clearer signs that all countries are committing the political leadership and resources that effective enforcement requires.”
“The US and Germany continue to set the benchmark in the fight against corruption that more countries must follow. It's encouraging that France, Switzerland and the UK were active last year in sanctioning bribery,” he added.
According to the report, the US imposed penalties on eight individuals and 11 companies in 2010, which Germany imposed penalties on three individuals. The UK penalised two individuals, and France and Italy penalised one each.
Gurría reiterated his message at a conference cohosted by the French G20 Presidency and OECD in Paris on 27-28th April. The G20 has placed the issue of corruption high on its agenda, and in November 2010, it adopted an ambitious Anti Corruption Action Plan in its meeting in Seoul, South Korea.
The Action plan calls for the development of closer ties between buinesses and governments, and a G20 business task force was put in place with about 100 CEOs.
The World Economic Forum has also agreed to support the French G20 Presidency in its fight against international corruption. Its Partnering Against Corruption Initiative (PACI), a global anti corruption initiative, will engage G20- based companies in its activities.
A number of major countries have yet to sign up to the OECD Anti Bribery Convention, including Russia, China and India. Russia said in early 2009 that it wanted to join the convention, and recently passed a new anti bribery bill through its lower house. China criminalised foreign bribery in February 2011 and a bill has been presented to the India parliament to prohibit bribes to foreign public officials.
Sources: OECD, Wall Street Journal, TrustLaw, CFO Innovation
For more information, please see the Menas ACCS website, here.
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