Dimension: 2.1.1 Anti-corruption
This dimension concerns parliament’s duty to combat corruption in public institutions, including parliament, and across society as a whole. For the purpose of this dimension, corruption is understood as any action that is intended to abuse public power for private benefit, or that leads to such abuse.
Corruption is a global phenomenon that negatively affects the credibility of democratic institutions and their ability to deliver services and resources to citizens, thereby corroding human rights, threatening democracy and hampering economic development.
Parliament Parliament A national body of elected (or sometimes appointed) representatives that makes laws, debates issues and holds the government to account. has an essential role to play in addressing corruption and creating environments that minimize opportunities and space for corrupt acts. MPs are responsible for ensuring that the legal framework is in line with the United Nations Convention against Corruption. The anti-corruption framework also applies to all elected officials, including MPs.
Through its oversight role, parliament systematically and effectively scrutinizes the work of the executive, the spending of public resources, the performance of ministerial portfolios and the overall implementation of national anti-corruption commitments.
Addressing corruption is a collective endeavour that requires parliament to cooperate with national anti-corruption bodies such as the independent supreme audit institution, the ombudsperson, inspectors-general and ethics commissions, as well as with other relevant bodies that report to parliament. The active participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) is also necessary in preventing and combating corruption.
Aspiring goal
Assess your parliament against this dimension
Assessment criteria
No 1: Legal framework
A comprehensive anti-corruption legal framework is in place and complies fully with the mandatory and recommended legislative measures set out in the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
No 2: Oversight by committees
Parliamentary committees conduct regular, in-depth oversight of the implementation of national anti-corruption commitments, laws and policies.
No 3: National anti-corruption bodies
Parliament ensures that national anti-corruption bodies are adequately funded and able to operate independently, and regularly interacts with them.
No 4: Elected officials
The anti-corruption legal framework contains provisions relating to all elected officials, including MPs. Parliament’s rules of procedure include measures to prevent, detect and address corrupt practices within parliament and, where necessary, to hold MPs and staff to account.
No 5: Raising awareness
Parliament engages constructively with efforts by the public and CSOs to raise awareness, and to prevent and address corruption at all levels.
How to complete this assessment
This dimension is assessed against several criteria, each of which should be evaluated separately. For each criterion, select one of the six descriptive grades (Non-existent, Rudimentary, Basic, Good, Very good and Excellent) that best reflects the situation in your parliament, and provide details of the evidence on which this assessment is based.
The evidence for assessment of this dimension could include the following:
- Laws and policies aimed at preventing and addressing corruption
- Parliamentary and committee reports on scrutiny of the implementation of anti-corruption laws, and on corruption cases
- Reports from national anti-corruption bodies and other independent bodies
- Provisions of parliament’s rules of procedure addressing potential corrupt practices in parliament
- International and regional reports, such as Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index
- Reports by local CSOs and the media
Where relevant, provide additional comments or examples that support the assessment.
Sources and further reading
- Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Recommended Benchmarks for Democratic Legislature Legislature See: Parliament Parliament A national body of elected (or sometimes appointed) representatives that makes laws, debates issues and holds the government to account. . s, revised edition (2018).
- Phil Mason, Rethinking strategies for an effective parliamentary role in combatting corruption (2021).
- National Democratic Institute (NDI), Toward the Development of International Standards for Democratic Legislatures (2007).
- Transparency International, “Publications”.
- United Nations, United Nations Convention against Corruption (2003).
- United Nations, Report of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption on its preparatory work for the special session of the General Assembly Assembly See: Parliament Parliament A national body of elected (or sometimes appointed) representatives that makes laws, debates issues and holds the government to account. . on challenges and measures to prevent and combat corruption and strengthen international cooperation: Note by the Secretary-General – Addendum (2021).
- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Legislative guide for the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, second revised edition (2012).
Get help with this assessment
The assessment of indicators involves diagnosing and considering strengths and weaknesses, i.e. the things parliament is doing well, and the things it could do better or more effectively, taking into account established good practices that are described in the indicators.
Read the assessment guidance to find out what to consider when conducting an assessment against the Indicators. Find out how to prepare, how to set the objectives of the assessment, how to organize the process, and more. Contact the project partners for expert advice.
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