In 2003, the UN General Assembly designated December 9 as International Anti-Corruption Day with the goal of raising awareness throughout the world of the importance of the fight against corruption. Corruption is a primary root cause of many of society’s most prevalent problems from inequality, environmental degradation, and human rights abuses.
In the years since the first International Anti-Corruption Day, global progress toward ending corruption has moved at an undeniably slow pace. Whether due to the impact of Covid-19 or leaders who are unwilling to take action, vulnerable communities around the world continue to live under unjust conditions for the corrupt enrichment of those in power. At Western Union, we recognize many of these same communities as those we serve. These are our customers, our colleagues, our friends, and our families.
The fight against corruption truly begins with each of us. That’s why this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day theme – “Your right, your role: Say no to corruption” – perfectly captures the call to action that is the purpose of this day. However, in the face of such a massive problem, it can be difficult to know where to begin.
The first step is to understand the issue. There are many resources available from organizations like Transparency International you can utilize to understand the causes of corruption, where it exists, and how to combat the problem. Next, find a way that you or your business can contribute. Although financial support of anti-corruption initiatives is certainly helpful, the collective action of businesses and individuals is essential. That’s why Western Union is a signatory of the World Economic Forum’s Partnering Against Corruption Initiative (PACI) to join forces with other businesses around the world to combat corruption in all forms. In fact, Western Union recently contributed to “The Rise and Role of the Chief Integrity Officer: Leadership Imperatives in an ESG-Driven World”, a white paper PACI and the Global Future Council on Transparency and Anti-Corruption released today to coincide with International Anti-Corruption Day.
Finally, and most importantly, if you are aware of corrupt activity whether in business or government – speak up. For many vulnerable communities around the world, holding corrupt actors accountable is dangerous or impossible. Those of us with a voice must be empowered to speak out on behalf of those who are kept silent. To that end, Western Union maintains an Ethics Helpline at wuethicshelpline.com to submit any questions, concerns, or reports related to any aspect of our business around the world. Additionally, we invite you to review our most recent Environmental, Social, and Governance Report to learn more about how Western Union is committed to keeping integrity at the center of everything we do.
Corruption is not an insurmountable problem. There is a path to a better world for everyone. Please take a few minutes today to think about how you can be part of the solution.
Remember: your right, your role: Say no to corruption.
