The International Anti-Corruption Day is observed annually on 9 December, since the United Nations Convention Against Corruption was passed on 31 October 2003 to raise public awareness against corruption.
Corruption is considered the abuse of the power by higher authorities ruling a country or organisation, with over 1 trillion USD wasted on bribes every year. It negatively impacts several aspects of society and is intertwined with conflict and instability jeopardising social and economic development and undermining democratic institutions and the rule of law.
Sweden, New Zealand, and Denmark are some countries with fewer corruption cases as compared to other nations. In contrast, Syria and Sudan are both corrupt countries in the world, according to eventuff.com
Does the International Anti-Corruption Day make a difference?
The International Anti-Corruption Day on 9 December is a welcome step in the right direction to highlight the menace of corruption. It is meant to cultivate ideas and unite the world to take action and limit this evil.
As per nationaltoday.com this day:
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Reminds us of corruption
Many of us have faced some form of corruption in our dealings with business or government, but we may have discounted the significance of it in order to “get things done”. This day reminds us that we don’t have to accept these practices and can speak out against them.
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Is a call to action
The UN and other bodies have compiled resources that make us more aware of the extent of corruption around the world, and they tell us how to take steps to eliminate corruption.
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Highlights the importance of ethics
While we have been taught ethical conduct from the time we are kids, we may have forgotten about them in the daily grind and hustle. This is the time to reopen and even relearn those lessons to guide our own conduct.
ABAC® supports International Anti-Corruption Day 2022
ABAC® Center of Excellence is a crusader of the International Anti-Corruption Day and supports the fight against corruption at all levels. We at ABAC® continued educating businesses and professionals across the world about bribery and corruption risks through the Covid pandemic. We did this by publishing multiple thought leadership pieces and guides on anti-bribery, anti-corruption, risk and compliance management as tools for global organisations in this fight.
ABAC® also launched the ISO 31000 Risk management e-training. Though this course is for risk management in general, ISO 31000 implementation and training gives businesses a broader view of all risks associated with their organisations and how to overcome them. ISO 31000 training is focused on improving your and/or your team’s skills in implementing ISO 31000 Risk Management which will help organisations see both the positive opportunities and negative consequences associated with all types of risk, and allow for more informed, and thus more effective, decision making, in the allocation of resources.
How ABAC® can help you fight bribery and corruption
Corruption and bribery can affect any organisation. It has the potential to cause severe harm to businesses including financial loss, dire legal consequences, brand damage, damage to an organisation’s reputation and prevent sustainable development. ISO 370001 training and accredited ISO 370001 certification will help you promote transparent business relations and foster a global ethical business culture.
ABAC® offers a complete suite of services and solutions designed to help organisations against bribery and corruption even when operating in multi-jurisdiction and multi-cultural environments.
ISO 37001 training
An organisation’s individual personnel are its best protection against corruption. Statistics show that most corruption is first detected internally. Give your personnel the tools they need to prevent bribery and mitigate related risks. Achieving ISO 37001 Awareness, Internal Auditor, Lead Auditor and/or Lead Implementer training is a proactive way of demonstrating your organisation’s commitment to ethical sustainability. Your employees will be able to recognise any form of corruption and report it.
Learn more about the ISO 370001 ABMS training.
ISO 37001 certification
The ABAC® program helps ensure that your organisation has implemented a management system that prevents, detects, and responds to bribery and complies with anti-bribery laws, internally and externally (i.e., agents, consultants, suppliers, distributors and other third-parties).
ABAC® works with clients of all industries, sizes and organisation types to develop robust programs using the latest techniques and best practices that help foster an ethical business culture. ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management System certifies that your organisation has implemented reasonable and proportionate measures to prevent bribery. These measures involve top-level leadership, training, bribery risk assessment, due diligence adequacy, financial and commercial controls, reporting, audit, and investigation.
Achieving ISO 37001 certification is the first step to ensure you have “adequate procedures” in place to prevent bribery and corruption inside and outside your organisation. Learn more about the ISO 370001 ABMS certification.
In recent years, third-party risk management has become a primary concern for organisations, amid increased outsourcing against a backdrop of rising costs, digitisation and low-interest rates, which have put downward pressure on margins. While there are many benefits driving outsourcing, e.g., increased efficiency and scale, it naturally also increases the level of risk and complexity of third-party relationships. Coupled with increased lengths of agreements, on average five to seven years, the need for ongoing performance management becomes that much greater.
Prove that your business is ethical
ABAC® published the free Highest Ethical Business Assessment (HEBA) to evaluate businesses’ current Corporate Compliance Programs. Find out if your organisation’s compliance program is in the line with worldwide Compliance, Business Ethics, Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Frameworks. Let ABAC® experts prepare a complimentary gap analysis – the HEBA survey is designed to evaluate your compliance with adequate procedures to prevent bribery and corruption across the organisation. This survey is monitored and evaluated by qualified ABAC® professionals with Business Ethics, Legal and Compliance backgrounds. The questions are open-ended to encourage a qualitative analysis of your Compliance Program and to facilitate the gap analysis process.
Extend your knowledge
Find below ABAC®’s case studies and webinar recordings helping you to know more about bribery and corruption risks. Bribery and corruption do not wait and can happen anytime.
We encourage you to think about anti-bribery and anti-corruption not only on the International Anti-Corruption Day 2022 but all year round. Explore our other resources, or sign up for risk management, compliance, anti-bribery and anti-corruption related news, solutions, events and publications in your inbox. We will be happy to hear from you if you have any questions at all – contact us today or get a quote for any anti-bribery, anti-corruption, risk or compliance management solutions.
