Anti-Corruption

At a high-level conference in May 1999, leaders from across the hemisphere came to The Carter Center to evaluate specific anti-corruption efforts and to seek commitments from other governments to implement similar strategies in their own countries. In preparation for that conference, the Center partnered with three countries - Ecuador, Jamaica, and Costa Rica - to develop and assess specific anti-corruption tools.

Following the successful completion of these anti-corruption projects, The Carter Center determined that a focus on Access to Information would serve both to prevent and fight corruption as well as to strengthen overall governance. The Carter Center continues its anti-corruption programming through the Global Access to Information Initiative.

Ecuador

In Ecuador, Americas Program staff focused on building the capacity of government agencies and civil society organizations to fight corruption and consulted on a national anti-corruption plan set forth by President Jamil Mahuad Witt at the Carter Center conference.

Jamaica

The Americas Program's transparency effort in Jamaica centered on facilitating legal initiatives undertaken by parliament. Previously, the Center worked with the government of Jamaica and civil society groups on the approval of the Corruption Prevention Act, which calls for an anti-corruption commission and annual asset declarations of all public servants. The Center further supported the government, civil society, and the media to assess the proposed law on access to information and strategies for implementation and use of this right.

The Carter Center continues its access to information work in Jamaica. Through this pilot, it identified access to information as one aspect that contributes to greater transparency and the fight against corruption, as well as leading to good governance and public participation. A transparent society ensures communication between a government and its citizens, enabling the latter to become involved in the decision-making process and to hold their public officials accountable.

Costa Rica

In Costa Rica, the Americas Program commissioned a study of the concertación process, a national consultation during which the government established a broad agenda for reform, including targeting corruption. The Americas Program held a workshop with Costa Rican nongovernmental organizations in spring 2000 on how civil society can monitor public contracting.

Council for Ethical Business Practices

In Atlanta, with help from The Carter Center, a dozen of the city's largest corporations and law firms established a discussion group, called the Council for Ethical Business Practices, to promote ethical business practices in the international arena. Participants shared their own procedures for compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and provided feedback for one another in neutral, informal meetings. Through outreach, the group became a resource for smaller and medium-sized businesses that had difficulty keeping abreast of changing requirements and developing compliance programs.

Read speeches and reports from the 1999 Anti-Corruption Project.