How Transparency International Took Down Corruption in 2024

Highlighting a More Equitable and Stable World in 2024: Key Moments

Last year, Transparency International:

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  Led the UN in enhancing protection for development and human rights.
  
  We incorporated anti-corruption initiatives into the United Nations’ Financing for Development framework and made sure that the Human Rights Council acknowledged the importance of closely monitoring corruption within public funding. This move aims to guarantee that everyone can access essential public services like healthcare and education.

• 
  Sealed off avenues for money laundering within the European Union
  
  By gaining civil society and media access to details about company ownership and establishing an anti-money laundering agency, we made progress at the national level. On a global scale, we pushed forward policies aimed at overseeing individuals who facilitate international corruption, like legal professionals and property dealers, and reignited enthusiasm in combating illegal financial movements.

• 
  Simplified the process for communities impacted by climate change to file grievances.
  
  Under the UN Climate Change framework, we eliminated financial obstacles by successfully advocating for the removal of the US$30,000 fee initially proposed. This change allows anybody to address injustices related to global warming.

• 
  Introduced an anticorruption resource kit for small and medium-sized businesses in collaboration with the World Economic Forum to promote ethical business conduct.
  
  The toolkit highlights the economic advantages of maintaining business integrity—companies focusing on ethical practices can achieve a competitive advantage—and assists small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in overcoming the difficulties associated with establishing robust integrity protocols.

• 
  Secured stronger pledges for civic participation by ensuring that anti-corruption perspectives were represented in important UN talks.
  
  This initiative is fostering an supportive atmosphere for civil society organizations to combat corruption and various global threats, strengthening their ability to withstand assaults, ensuring protections for whistleblowers, and resisting oppressive constraints.

• 
  Formed EU suggestions to standardize regulations on political financing and fight corruption
  
  , and to reinforce legislation aimed at prosecuting corruption, ensuring corporate responsibility, and aiding victims. This approach could yield numerous advantages ranging from diminishing the improper sway over governmental choices to making corporations legally accountable for the acts committed by everyone affiliated with them. Additional perks would involve offering redressal options to victims, enabling them to contest rulings related to the crimes they suffered—corruption survivors have often been marginalized from proceedings designed to secure justice for their plight.

2024 in numbers

Fostering honesty worldwide: Country successes for a brighter future

Transparency International comprises over 100 chapters—locally founded, autonomous groups—that combat corruption within their individual nations.

Americas

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  We convinced the US Treasury to implement stricter anti-money laundering regulations within the real estate and private investment industries.
  
  Although the real estate changes apply exclusively to residential and non-commercial properties, this represents a substantial advancement in combating money laundering both within the United States and internationally. This is due to the U.S. real estate market’s appeal to dishonest individuals around the globe.
• 
  Our ongoing endeavors to bring ex-Panama President Ricardo Martinelli to justice for his corrupt activities have ultimately paid off.
  
  After approximately ten years of our legal filings and various appeals for justice, the Supreme Court affirmed his conviction for money laundering in February, disqualifying him from running for presidency once more.

Asia Pacific

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  We uncovered corruption within Bangladesh’s previous government and assisted in recovering the billions they purportedly plundered.
  
  Our branches in the UK and Bangladesh looked into and documented the acquisition of numerous UK properties by individuals closely tied to the administration. This sparked widespread anger among the populace directed at the corrupt leadership, leading to a historic uprising led predominantly by students that ultimately overthrew the regime. Subsequently, these branches contributed to efforts aimed at halting the flow of illicit funds, paving the way for their return.

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  Following the exposure of inconsistencies between declared and real party financing during the previous election, our Indonesian branch managed to get a key political finance bill onto the legislative agenda for consideration by the newly formed parliament.
  
  The following legislation needs to address gaps that permit financial support from dubious sources, along with enhancing monitoring, setting restrictions on contributions and expenditures, and prohibiting the practice of using “straw” donors. This will help create clearer and more equitable systems for political finance.

• 
  In the Solomon Islands, we assisted young leaders in taking a significant stance in protecting democracy.
  
  Our chapter initiated a clean election drive, engaging the Youth for Democracy Network as monitors at 27 constituencies and 80 polling centers. They remained watchful from the start of voting until ballots were cast, secured, and counted, thereby promoting transparency and honesty during the entire procedure.

Europe and Central Asia

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  We improved transparency and equity in public procurement throughout the EU using Integrity Pacts.
  
  Authorities in 15 European Union member states have pledged to incorporate these agreements—our primary instrument for ensuring effective governance in public procurement—into publicly funded projects supported by the EU. This move aims to protect millions of euros from possible misappropriation.

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  We prevented a stringent “foreign agents” legislation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  
  These laws are employed to suppress dissenting voices and evade responsibility. The proposal put forth in the Republika Srpska region of the nation could have empowered officials to prohibit specific civil society groups. Our chapter in Bosnia and Herzegovina spearheaded the resistance against this legislation, leading to its withdrawal in May 2024. However, the bill has been reinstated at the beginning of 2025, and we remain committed to opposing it.

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  It became more difficult for Russian oligarchs to clean and conceal their funds overseas.
  
  Following our continued efforts to urge Western nations to intensify their enforcement of new anti-money laundering sanctions against Russia, Transparency International France submitted a legal complaint to French prosecutors. The report from 2024 indicated that the nation’s authorities had confiscated three properties, including one belonging to the spouse of Vladimir Putin’s former wife.

MENA Region

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  We persuaded the European Union to continue monitoring the United Arab Emirates for potential money-laundering activities, which includes implementing stricter oversight through increased due diligence measures involving EU financial institutions and other key intermediaries.
  
  The UAE is often perceived as a haven for individuals looking to wash away ill-gotten gains without fear of repercussions, and we highlighted the inadequate measures taken by local authorities to address this issue. Following our observations, the European Parliament decided against endorsing the European Commission’s suggestion to remove the UAE from its list of high-risk areas for money laundering.

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  We assisted various Lebanese organizations in advocating for legal changes and supported groups facing discrimination, such as women and individuals with disabilities.
  
  Transparency International collaborated with local groups to advocate for improved governance, transparency, and reforms by offering them not only financial assistance but also technical backing.

Sub-Saharan Africa

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  We uncovered corruption within the healthcare systems of five African nations and emphasized how this issue adversely affects women, girls, and other vulnerable populations facing discrimination.
  
  Following advocacy efforts and research conducted by our Zimbabwe chapter along with several partners, the nation’s Medicines Control Authority acted to tackle the problem by seizing unlicensed medications being sold illicitly. In parallel, the Vice President of Zimbabwe voiced public support for implementing an e-procurement system aimed at enhancing transparency in the acquisition of medical supplies.

• 
  A member of our Madagascar branch led efforts to address sexual misconduct in the nation’s educational institutions.
  
  Liantsoa Rakotoarivelo created a groundbreaking ethical agreement among educators, parents, and pupils aimed at minimizing chances of sexual misconduct and empowering those affected as well as bystanders to come forward. This led to increased awareness, with more students reporting such crimes, and various organizations started taking stronger actions against it.

Review Transparency International’s Complete 2024 Annual Report

Transparency International’s 112 autonomous chapters and affiliates across the globe develop and execute their individual national plans, yet they unite for significant concerns to lead the charge against corruption globally. The focus here is on highlighting the role of the Transparency International Secretariat, responsible for steering this international coalition, driving collective lobbying efforts, compiling effective practices, conducting top-tier studies, and offering fiscal and technical assistance to these chapters.

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