Governments are failing to uphold the law. That is the main takeaway from Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).
The latest data signals slow progress from regions across the globe. Over two-thirds of the 180 countries included in the index scored below 50 out of 100, indicating that they have serious corruption problems, the publication said. The global average remained at 43, on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean), with the vast majority of countries having made no progress over the last decade. Twenty-three countries fell to their lowest scores dating to 2012.
Denmark sits at the top of the list with a rating of 90, the same as last year’s results. Finland remained steady with its ranking of second and a rating of 87, while New Zealand remained in third place with a rating of 85 — a two-point drop since last year.
A report on the latest findings illuminates the challenges imposed by weakening justice systems. “Governments across the political spectrum have undermined justice systems, restricted civic freedoms, and relied on nondemocratic strategies to address recent challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic,” the report said. “Where corruption is the norm, access to justice is often hindered for the most vulnerable, and justice institutions may be captured by political, economic, or special interest groups.”
The index scores are calculated using 13 different data sources from 12 different institutions that have captured perceptions of corruption within the past two years.
In the index, Western Europe & The European Union is the highest-scoring region with an average of 65. That drop of one point from last year was the region’s first decline in almost a decade. “Despite remaining the top-scoring region in the CPI, robust anti-corruption measures continue to be undermined by the weakening of checks and balances,” the report said.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the lowest-scoring region despite gaining one point since last year, with an average of 33, as “persistent challenges stem from decades of severe underfunding in public sectors”, the report said. “Corruption in justice delivery mechanisms disproportionately affects the poorest citizens and those who depend primarily on public services.”
Among many other challenges, every region is struggling with weakening justice systems and diminishing accountability for public officials, the report said. However, some countries have improved their scores, showing that progress is possible in any environment.
Transparency International suggests that governments seeking to tackle corruption, promote justice, and strengthen the rule of law should:
Shield the justice system from interference. Promote merit-based systems rather than political appointments, the report said, and ensure that the system has qualified personnel and is properly resourced.
Prohibit abuse of power. “Ensure that the special protections required by members of the justice system to perform their functions are not abused,” the report said. Abuse may be prevented through dedicated whistleblowing and reporting channels.
Make the pursuit of justice accessible. Protecting people’s right to access justice is a first step against impunity and corruption, the report said. Strategies to pursue this goal include simplifying complex procedures, making legal procedures accessible to all, and widening the definition of victims of corruption.
Increase transparency. “Ensure that relevant data on judgements, out-of-court settlements, and enforcement, as well as legal procedure and administrative rules, are openly available and can be scrutinised by members of the public,” the report said.
Encourage cooperation and collaboration. Given the widespread use of informal justice systems in some regions, reflecting on potential synergies between formal and informal systems could prove beneficial, the report noted.
Expand avenues for accountability to counter impunity. “Where grand corruption schemes are carried out in countries with justice systems that are ‘unwilling or unable’ to enforce against the offenders,” the report said, “justice institutions in foreign jurisdictions with stronger rule of law can play a crucial role in countering impunity by handling the grand corruption proceedings.”
Several high-ranking democracies, including Sweden (82), Netherlands (79), Iceland (72), and the UK (71), recorded their lowest-ever scores, the report said. Weak accountability and political corruption are creating a breeding ground of mistrust in government institutions.
“Notably, the UK has experienced a six-point decrease over the past five years,” the report said. “In the most alarming cases, narrow interest groups have too much control over political decision-making.”
Overall, the UK tied for 20th. The US tied for 24th with a score of 69.
— To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Steph Brown at Stephanie.Brown@aicpa-cima.com.