International Anti-Corruption Day 9 Dec 2015 is an opportunity to raise awareness to the damage it causes. Systemic bribery, among other things, lowers economic growth and discourages investment. It goes hand in hand with poverty and social inequality. But, most importantly, it is very difficult to eradicate.
CFA representative Alan Asher is a member of the Standards Australia Technical Committee QR-016 Anti-bribery. The committee is contributing the Australian position to the development of ISO 37001, a new anti-bribery management systems standard which is currently under development by ISO. More than 80 experts from 44 countries are involved in its development. ISO 37001 is expected to be finalized by the end of 2016.
Corruption is a complex social, political and economic phenomenon that affects all countries. Corruption undermines democratic institutions, slows economic development and contributes to governmental instability.
Australia was ranked number 11 on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index in 2014, its position falling for two years in a row. A study by accounting group KPMG found that fraud, bribery and corruption had increased in Australia by 82 per cent from 2010 to 2012.
The United Nations Anti-Corruption Day aims to raise public awareness of corruption and what people can do to fight it. It has been observed on December 9 each year since 2004.
The 2015 joint international campaign focuses on how corruption undermines democracy and the rule of law, leads to human rights violations, distorts markets, erodes quality of life and allows organized crime, terrorism and other threats to human security to flourish.
The CFA provides volunteer representatives on Standards Australia Technical Committees as part of the CFA Standards Project; if you are interested in finding out more about the Project and/or becoming a volunteer CFA Standards Representative please contact the Standards Coordinator standards@consumeraction.org.au