Message-ID: <199809231938.PAA06773@outpost.ietc.ca> Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 16:36:29 -4000 From: "George(s) Lessard" <mailto:media@IETC.CA> Subject: [SITE] Transparency International was->World's Most Corrupt Nati To: mailto:INTDEV-L@uriacc.uri.edu
Transparency International English Language Pages http://www.transparency.de/ Spanish Language Pages http://www.transparency.de/index.es.html German Language Pages http://www.transparency.de/index.de.html
BRUSSELS, Sept 22: Pakistan is viewed as the 11th most corrupt nation in the world, according to the latest "corruption perception index" published by the Berlin-based Transparency International, an NGO campaigning against graft and corruption worldwide.
In its 1998 survey of 85 nations, TI identifies Denmark, Finland and Sweden as first, second and third cleanest nations in the world but puts Cameroon at the bottom of list. Pakistan is number 71 on the list, along with Latvia, while India shares the number 66 spot with Bulgaria and Egypt.
The agency said its latest "poll of polls" was based on numerous surveys of "expert and general views of the extent of corruption in many countries across the world."
"The 1998 Corruption Perception Index is a wake-up call to political leaders and to the public at large to confront the abundant corruption that pervades so many countries," TI Chairman Peter Eigen commented. "We hope that the publication of the CPI will be an incentive to governments to confront the corruption in their countries," he added.
The poor scores of many countries proved "just how serious the global cancer of corruption really is," Eigen noted. Out of score of ten, Pakistan was given a rating of 2.7. India fared marginally better with 2.9 points. Singapore, viewed as the 7th cleanest nation in the world, was the only Asian country in TI's "top ten" least corrupt nations, scoring 9.1 points.
Ten countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Russia, Nigeria, Honduras, Paraguay and Cameroon were seen as a more corrupt than Pakistan, scoring under 2.5 points out of 10.
TI said that it was determined to continue its anti-corruption drive, adding that "securing democracy, alleviating poverty and human suffering and sustaining investment and commerce are inextricably dependent upon curbing corruption."
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Transparency International is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to increasing government accountability and curbing both international and national corruption.
Our movement has multiple concerns:
- humanitarian, as corruption undermines and distorts development and leads to increasing levels of human rights abuse;
- democratic, as corruption undermines democracies and in particular the achievements of many developing countries and countries in transition;
- ethical, as corruption undermines a society's integrity;
and practical, as corruption distorts the operations of markets and deprives ordinary people of the benefits which should flow from them.
Our Agenda
Combating corruption sustainably is only possible with the involvement of all the stakeholders which include the state, civil society and the private sector.
Through our National Chapters http://www.transparency.de/organisation/chapters/index.html we bring together people of integrity in civil society, business and government to work as coalitions for systemic reforms.
As we outline in our Mission Statement, http://www.transparency.de/mission.html we do not "name names" or attack individuals, but focus on building systems that combat corruption.
We are playing an important role in raising public awareness and our Corruption Perceptions Index http://www.transparency.de/documents/cpi/index.html has triggered meaningful reform in many countries.
Building National Integrity Systems We take an holistic view of National Integrity Systems. http://www.transparency.de/activities/national-integrity.html Simply strengthening prosecution and judicial powers cannot by itself curtail corruption.
Our National Integrity Source Book http://www.transparency.de/documents/source-book/index.html provides a framework. A standard reference point for reformers, it describes practical steps that can be taken in each sector of society and contains a vast best practice documentation.
Building an International Framework
Corruption often transcends the national level. This is increasingly acknowledged by key international actors. Working closely with a growing number of international organisations now starting to address the issue, we play a catalytic role in defining and implementing the international agenda against corruption. There are practical ways in which men and women of all ages can play a part in this unique global enterprise. You, too, can help and I urge you to join us http://www.transparency.de/contact/support.html in our efforts.
Peter Eigen, Chairman of the Board Transparency International http://www.transparency.de/organisation/board.html#p.eigen
Please note that most of the material on the WWW Site is in English. We are working on increasing the amount of foreign language materials.
Please sign our Guest Book! http://www.transparency.de/contact/guestbook.html
:-) :-) Message Ends; Signature File Begins (-: (-: CAUTIONS, Disclaimers & NOTE TO EDITORS :- Because of the nature of email please check ALL sources & subjects. Original material (c) copyright 1998 G.A.Lessard & may be quoted, resent, reproduced, stored or forwarded provided the copyright notice is attached. Forwarded or mined material is the property of the original copyright owners. Some material is provided to a limited and defined audience without permission from the copyright owner, only for purposes of criticism, comment, background information and research under relevant provisions of some copyright laws. These materials may not be distributed for other purposes without permission of the copyright owner. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
George Lessard, Media Activist Community Communication Arts, Training, Management & Mentoring http://members.tripod.com/~media002/index.html This message may be archived mailto:@ MediaMentor list searchable public archive http://www.findmail.com/list/mediamentor/ For a free subscription to MediaMentor send a blank message to mailto:mediamentor-subscribe@makelist.com
It doesn't bother me and I suggest that if it bothers you - that's why God (or Bill Gates) gave us a delete key. (David NL Day)
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