JEDDAH – Qatar and UAE tie for first place in the GCC region with scores of 68, ranking them both at 27th place out of 174 countries included in the Transparency International's “Corruption Perceptions Index 2012” report. The positive results for the two GCC countries were underpinned by strong access to information systems and rules governing the behavior of those in public positions. Regionally, Bahrain (global rank: 53) follows joint leaders UAE and Qatar, and is followed by Oman (global rank: 61), and a tie between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia (both ranked No. 66 globally). In the Corruption Perceptions Index 2012 Denmark, Finland and New Zealand tie for first place with scores of 90, helped by strong access to information systems and rules governing the behavior of those in public positions. Afghanistan, North Korea and Somalia once again cling to the bottom rung of the index index at a joint No. 174 globally. In these countries the lack of accountable leadership and effective public institutions underscore the need to take a much stronger stance against corruption. “In these countries, the lack of accountable leadership and effective public institutions underscore the need to take a much stronger stance against corruption,” said Cobus de Swardt, Managing Director of Transparency International, in a statement. Underperformers in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2012 also include the eurozone countries most affected by the financial and economic crisis. Transparency International has consistently warned Europe to address corruption risks in the public sector to tackle the financial crisis, calling for strengthened efforts to corruption-proof public institutions. Looking at the Corruption Perceptions Index 2012, it's clear that corruption is a major threat facing humanity. “Corruption is the world's most talked about problem,” “The world's leading economies should lead by example, making sure that their institutions are fully transparent and their leaders are held accountable.
This is crucial since their institutions play a significant role in preventing corruption from flourishing globally,” he added. Corruption destroys lives and communities, and undermines countries and institutions. It generates popular anger that threatens to further destabilize societies and exacerbate violent conflicts. The Corruption Perceptions Index scores countries on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
While no country has a perfect score, two-thirds of countries score below 50, indicating a serious corruption problem. Corruption translates into human suffering, with poor families being extorted for bribes to see doctors or to get access to clean drinking water. It leads to failure in the delivery of basic services like education or healthcare. It derails the building of essential infrastructure, as corrupt leaders skim funds. Corruption amounts to a dirty tax, and the poor and most vulnerable are its primary victims, Transparency International said in the report. Transparency International is the global civil society organization leading the fight against corruption. — SG
