Fighting Corruption: What Role for Civil Society?

Published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), this 27-page report aims to provide an analysis of civil society's role in the process which led to the adoption of the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions.

From the publication
"Civil society plays a key role in fighting corruption. Today, this statement is unchallenged: it has become a leitmotiv of anti-corruption discourses. But what does it mean in practice? To what extent is it true in all contexts? What is the nature of civil society's involvement? What can be learned from past experience? These are some of the questions that this report addresses by taking stock of the experience that the OECD has developed working with civil society organisations on corruption.

This report provides an analysis of civil society’s role in the process which led to the adoption of the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and the Recommendation on Combating Bribery in International Business Transactions and its contribution to the implementation of these instruments. It also shows how the anti-corruption initiatives developed with non-member countries contribute to strengthen the role played by civil society actors.

Drawing lessons from the OECD’s experience, this report will help policy-makers in member and in non-member countries, as well as anti-corruption experts in aid agencies and other international organisations, make the most of civic forces. Furthermore, civil society actors will find practical suggestions to define their strategy."