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Nearly one in three citizens who tried to access basic public services in the Middle East and North Africa paid a bribe, a Transparency International (www.Transparency.org) report said today, showing that governments across the region have failed to hear their citizens’ voices against corruption. According to a public opinion survey by the international anti-corruption group of nearly 11,000 adults in 9 countries and territories, the majority of people (61 per cent) across the region think that the level of corruption has gone up over the last 12 months. The 30 percent who paid a bribe for a basic service represent the equivalent of nearly 50 million people. Click here for the full report: http://www.apo.af/mKZJhy. “It’s as if the Arab Spring never happened. Leaders who fail to stop secrecy, fail to promote free speech and fail to stop bribery also fail to bring dignity to the daily lives of people living in the Middle East and North Africa. Peoples’ human rights are seriously affected,” said José Ugaz, Chair of Transparency International. Public dissatisfaction with corrupt leaders and regimes was a key catalyst for change in region, notably with Arab Spring protests. Five years on, the survey finds governments have done little to enforce laws against corruption and bribery, nor have they done enough for transparency and accountability through the promotion of freedoms of the press, civil society and for individuals. In Lebanon, numbers are alarming as nine in ten people (92 per cent) say that they think corruption has increased. Government officials, tax officials and members of parliament are perceived to be the most corrupt groups in the region. Based on the findings of the survey, here are our four top recommendations: Media contacts:
Chris Sanders
T: +49 30 34 38 20 666
E: [email protected] Transparency International (www.Transparency.org) is the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption. Note to Editors The Global Corruption Barometer 2016 question module was implemented by the Afrobarometer network and by several national partners in the Arab Barometer network. All fieldwork was completed using a face-to-face survey methodology. The survey samples were selected and weighted to be nationally representative of all adults aged 18 and above living in each country/territory, and all interviews were conducted face to face.
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