In a celebration of its achievements in the last 12 months, the Transparency International (TI) has described 2024 as a year of remarkable strides in the fight against corruption.
The organisation said its efforts at addressing corruption has mobilised communities, held the powerful to account and shifted policies, making its push at global summits like the G20 and the Conference of the Parties (COP29), where it called on leaders to commit to meaningful actions.
According to the movement, though much work remains to be done, the victories show that change is not only possible – it’s happening.
The group said it started 2024 strong, with a clear focus on the role of justice in the fight against corruption. In January, it released the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, highlighting the connection between corruption and (in) justice. That same month, following a decade-long process and relentless efforts by TI and TI Germany, the prosecution in Munich pressed charges against two former German MPs involved in the Azerbaijani Laundromat bribery scheme.it said it is keeping a close eye on the trial set to begin in January 2025.
In February, Panama’s Supreme Court upheld former President Ricardo Martinelli’s conviction for money laundering. Years before, TI had called for his prosecution, by submitting a letter to the court with legal arguments for his extradition and advocating for his sanctions designation.
In April, the European Union strengthened access to beneficial ownership information for media and civil society organisations (CSOs), mitigating the impact caused by the 2022 Court of Justice of the European Union’s decision and eliminating provisions that exposed them to risks. Our research work, coalition-building and direct contributions to the Directive were key in shaping these reforms. Also in April, TI Pakistan’s efforts led to the recovery of PKR 1.3 billion (US$4.6 million) after private companies defaulted on royalty payment. Then, in May, the EU published its landmark anti-money laundering package, expanding compliance requirements, enhancing transparency and establishing an Anti-Money Laundering Authority to oversee high-risk institutions. Many of these changes were shaped by TI’s sustained advocacy and expert recommendations.
In one of its 2024 campaigns, it protested the G20’s failure to address corruption. Over the summer, more than 2,000 people from 140 countries gathered at the 21st International Anti-Corruption Conference in Lithuania, driven by the urgency to tackle global threats exacerbated by corruption. In July, TI Armenia’s Journalists Against Corruption project led to investigative reports on conflicts of interest and nepotism, with one triggering an investigation by the Corruption Prevention Commission. While in August, the President of the Maldives decided not to open the country’s seas to longline fishing, a major win supported by TI Maldives’ advocacy, alongside other CSOs.
In September, in collaboration with its allies, it helped introduce two bills in Congress to clarify that national anti-bribery laws apply to state and local officials accepting illegal gratuities, further strengthening efforts to close gaps in federal bribery statutes.
In the final months of the year, it also called on leaders to truly commit to take determined action against corruption.
In the run-up to the G20, it organised a bold stunt in Rio de Janeiro, filling the sky with giant dollar bills to draw attention to the G20’s failure to prioritise anti-corruption efforts. At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, we warned of the high risk of co-optation to promote a pro-fossil fuel industry agenda, urging action to safeguard the summit’s integrity and prevent future hosts from prioritising their own agenda over the common good. And to end this landmark year – the biggest election year in history – the organisation called on the Conference of State Parties to the UN Convention Against Corruption to adopt new global standards for transparency in political finance.
The group promised to build momentum in 2025, and will push for stronger accountability, greater transparency and lasting change.