BERLIN (AP) — 95% of countries have made little or no progress since 2017, and most countries in the world continue to fail to fight corruption.
Transparency International’s 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index, which measures the perceptions of public sector corruption by experts and business people, shows that governments hampered by corruption lack the ability to protect their citizens, and public dissatisfaction We also know that it can lead to violence.
“Corruption is making our world a more dangerous place. Governments collectively have failed to make progress against it, fueling the current rise in violence and conflict that endangers people everywhere.” said Delia Ferreira Rubio, President of Transparency International.
“The only solution is for the state to work hard to eradicate corruption at all levels and ensure that governments work for everyone, not just the elite few,” she added. I got
The report ranks countries on a scale from 0 “extremely corrupt” to 100 “extremely clean.” Denmark is seen as having the least corruption this year with her 90, followed closely by Finland and New Zealand both with her 87. Respect for human rights makes these countries some of the most peaceful in the world, the report says.
However, the report also shows that while Western Europe remains the top-scoring region, parts of the country are showing alarming signs of decline.
The UK fell 5 points to 73, its lowest score ever. The report said numerous scandals ranging from public spending to lobbying and revelations of cabinet ministers’ misconduct have highlighted dire deficiencies in the country’s political integrity system. Worryingly low, the paper said.
Countries like Switzerland with a score of 82 and the Netherlands with a score of 80, despite maintaining high scores compared to the rest of the world, have been criticized for their weak regulation of integrity and lobbying. There are signs of a decline inside.
Corruption is seen as rampant in Eastern Europe as many countries have reached historic lows.
Russia in particular was highlighted as a clear example of the impact of corruption on peace and stability.
Its invasion of Ukraine almost a year ago was a stark reminder of the threat that corruption and lack of government accountability pose to global peace and security, the report said. Russia’s kleptocrats at 28 points have pledged allegiance to President Vladimir Putin and have amassed enormous wealth in exchange for beneficial contracts with the government and the protection of their economic interests, he added.
The report concluded that “the absence of any checks on Putin’s power allowed him to pursue his geopolitical ambitions with impunity.” “This attack destabilized the European continent, threatened democracy and claimed tens of thousands of lives.”
Ukraine, which had a low score of 33 before the invasion, had made significant reforms and steadily improved. Even after the war broke out, the country continued to prioritize anti-corruption reforms. But war disrupts normal processes, exacerbates risks, and allows corrupt actors to pocket funds for recovery, the report notes.An investigation earlier this month uncovered allegations of war profiteering by several high-ranking officials..
The index rated 180 countries and territories. Somalia was last with her 12 points. South Sudan tied with Syria for her 13th place for her second to last.
Only eight countries improved last year: Ireland by 77 points, South Korea by 63 points, Armenia by 46 points and Angola by 33 points.
The report also said that after decades of conflict, South Sudan is facing a severe humanitarian crisis, with more than half of the population facing severe food insecurity and corruption exacerbating the situation. also points out.
In the 16-year-old Yemen, where allegations of corruption sparked a civil war eight years ago, the report said the country was crumbling, leaving two-thirds of the population without enough food. , one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. .
Created since 1995, the index is calculated using 13 different data sources that provide perceptions of public sector corruption by businessmen and country experts. Sources include the World Bank, World Economic Forum, private risk and consulting firms.
