Business Against Corruption - A Framework for Action - International ...

2 Business Against CorruptionForewordIn the six years since the initial 2005 publication of Business Against Corruption: A Framework ForAction, corruption has remained one of the world’s greatest challenges. Now as then, it is a majorhindrance to sustainable development, with a disproportionate impact on poor communities,and it is corrosive to the very fabric of society. Its impact on the private sector is considerableand costly: It impedes economic growth, distorts competition and represents serious legal andreputational risks.While the threat of corruption has not declined in significance since 2005, the world is betterequipped to fight it than ever before. So far, 140 countries have become signatories to theUnited Nations Convention against Corruption, an international anti-corruption instrumentadopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2003 and entered into force in 2005.Further, the number, scope and severity of national laws intended to fight corruption worldwidehave increased substantially, with initial, promising results visible in all regions of the globe.Overall, governments are increasingly proactive in enforcing their anti-corruption laws, oftenwith international effect. Finally, a simple Internet search reveals a multitude of tools andinitiatives—many of which did not exist in 2005, or have grown much since—that, together,can assist companies in this endeavour. Despite such noteworthy efforts, business participantsof the UN Global Compact consistently indicate that the 10th Principle against Corruption is themost difficult principle to implement, and call for more clarity and guidance on existing toolsand resources that would assist companies in implementing anti-corruption measures.While the core principles and challenges remain unchanged, this document has been revisedto reflect the developments of the past six years. Most significantly, the introduction tracesrecent developments in the field. This document now incorporates both the UN Global CompactManagement Model (2010) and the Global Compact-Transparency International Reporting Guidance onthe 10th Principle against Corruption (2009) as well as other new tools and active initiatives.Business Against Corruption is a guide to companies preparing themselves to implement theUN Global Compact’s 10th Principle against Corruption and to deal with corruption in anyand every aspect of their operations. It provides a road map and tools that will assist in thepractical application of policies designed to eliminate corruption. We hope that all who readthis document, especially participants of the Global Compact, will use this framework foraction to help eliminate the threat of corruption within their respective business structures.More important, we hope that, six years from now, business (as well as government) will haveeffectively advanced the anti-corruption agenda, and that we will be able to report a declinein corruption’s significance as a threat to sustainable development.Georg KellExecutive DirectorU.N. Global CompactHuguette LabelleChairTransparency InternationalClare MelfordChief Executive OfficerInternational Business Leaders