How business can help fight corruption

The Compendium is a free, one-stop-shop for anti-corruption and supply chain due diligence tools which aim to reinforce the capacity of companies both large and small to tackle corruption.

Corruption continues to blight the global economy and is estimated to divert more than 5% of global GDP on an annual basis – yet it often goes unnoticed. Through integration of strategic compliance programmes that contribute to a culture of integrity across company departments, locations and sectors, business continues to play a vital role in tackling corruption in all forms.

From trainings on compliance and negotiation techniques to anti-corruption e-learning platforms and more, ICC’s global network of national committees has kept busy raising awareness of the practical tools that make up the compendium.

We bring you a round up of ICC events and activities that aim to advance best practices on anti-corruption and business integrity:

ARGENTINA

As ministers from all over the world head to Buenos Aires for the World Trade Organization (WTO)’s 11^th Ministerial Conference (MC11), ICC Argentina will meet with the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation– an initiative by ICC, the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) –  to discuss how the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) can help fight corruption through customs automation.

AUSTRIA

Focusing on countries with higher levels of corruption, ICC Austria developed the “Commercial Approach to Anti-Corruption” – under the tagline “To increase profits, to reduce risks – avoid corruption!”

ICC Austria is offers trainings globally and has trained businesses and business associations in India, China, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Serbia and more.

BELGIUM

Small businesses often lack the capacity and financing to afford robust compliance programmes, something ICC Belgium is seeking to address today at its event Supporting SMEs Against Corruption to be inaugurated by Denis Ducarme, Belgian Minister of Middle Classes, Self-employed, SMEs, Agriculture and Social Integration, and featuring Kris Peeters, Belgian Vice Prime Minister for Employment, Economy, and Consumers. Other speakers include representatives from the UN, the OECD, the European Parliament and the European Commission.

On this occasion, ICC Belgium will also launch a new informative brochure for small business, prepared for the Belgian Ministry of Economy entitled A trustworthy SME rejects corruption: Why? How?

BRAZIL

On 4 December, ICC Brazil launched its Commission on Corporate Responsibility and Anti-corruption. To mark the launch, 12 CEOs of multinational companies including Siemens, Natura, SAP and 3M, gathered for an honest discussion on how the private sector can help rebuild Brazilian credibility.

COLOMBIA

ICC Colombia and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) are hosting a forum to review progress from their partnership campaign, which promotes a culture of integrity based on international legal frameworks.

COSTA RICA

On the eve of Anti-Corruption Day, ICC Costa Rica hosted a conference with high-level representatives from the national prosecutor’s office, alongside Michael D. Padula of Carlton Fields Miami & Washington, and Sara M. Holzschuh of Dentons US. Tackling issues related to gift and hospitality, corruption and entertainment, the conference also looked at proactive strategies to avoid ‘finding yourself in the hot seat’. View the full programme in Spanish.

CROATIA

Addressing the intersections between corporate compliance and the latest trends in non-financial reporting, ICC Croatia is hosting a conference today in Zagreb. On the theme “Strengthening the Integrity of Croatian Companies in Fighting Corruption – Challenges of Corporate Compliance“, the event takes place in cooperation with the Croatian Chamber of Economy and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway.

Speaking at the conference alongside high-level officials from the Croatian Ministry of Justice, Luka Burilovic, Chair of ICC Croatia, will announce plans to roll out compliance trainings on the ICC Business Integrity Compendium in the Adriatic region, in collaboration with other ICC national committees.

FRANCE

ICC France is helping companies adapt to strengthened legal frameworks on anti-corruption under the ‘Loi Sapin II’ (Sapin law II), investigating in particular the new law’s implications for small and big businesses operating abroad. Following a training on 23 November the next training, another training — providing attendees with a certificate upon completion – will take place on 19 December.

IRAN

In celebration of a recent agreement between the Tehran Chamber of Commerce and a local university to launch a private-sector self-assessment tool on anti-corruption efforts, ICC Iran will join representatives from the Iranian government, NGOs and the private sector at the chamber, on 9 December, to explore how technology can boost implementation of the anti-corruption tool beyond Tehran.

NETHERLANDS

Building on a successful introduction of ‘Integrity Week’ in 2016, ICC Netherlands is branching out its week-long outreach campaign and Integrity and Anti-corruption Conference for international participation.

More than 200 participants are gathered in the Peace Palace in The Hague today, to gain insight from speakers including Richard Bistrong, a formerly prosecuted sales and marketing executive, Jan Hommen, former CEO of both KPMG and ING Bank, Emily O’Reilly, European Ombudsman, and Roel Nieuwenkamp, Chairman of the OECD Working group on Corporate Social Responsibility.

PANAMA

The Panama Chamber of Commerce is set to host a breakfast meeting, “All United Against Corruption”, on 12 December. ICC Panama will actively participate in the multistakeholder discussions which aim to propose concrete mechanisms for the public and the private sector on how to contribute effectively to the fight against corruption.

SWEDEN

On 9 November,  one month ahead of Anti-corruption Day, ICC Sweden held a seminar on “Responsible business and anti-corruption”. Vinge law firm, which recently translated ICC’s Anti-corruption due diligence guide for third parties, highlighted the importance of rolling out anti-corruption programmes for all employees. The seminar also explored how e-learning platforms can help employees act with integrity.

UNITED KINGDOM

In support of ICC Netherland’s “Integrity Week”, ICC United Kingdom is leveraging social media efforts to raise awareness and support the digital outreach throughout the week of 4 December.

ICC’s work on Corporate Responsibility and Anti-corruption

ICC has been a pioneer in the business fight against corruption, issuing in 1977 its first version of the ICC Rules of Conduct to Combat Extortion and Bribery. Since then, ICC’s leadership on corporate responsibility and anti-corruption has included developing a robust suite of business ethics tools.

This year, ICC played an active role as network partner in the B20 responsible business conduct and anti-corruption working group. The commission also hosted meetings in Mexico City on 8 March, ahead of ICC Mexico’s Latin-American Anti-corruption Congress.

ICC Publications

The ICC Ethics and Compliance Training Handbook sets out the challenges which large, medium-sized and small companies have to overcome as they build and put into action their corporate compliance programme.

The ICC Anti-corruption Clause is a tool which helps preserve trust between parties, deter corruption in the negotiation and performance of a contract, and preserves the sanctity of contracts.