Anti-Corruption Internet Site Launched
“A grouping of companies launched Wednesday a website dedicated to
collecting information about officials and governments around the world
who seek bribes. The US-based Trace International, a non-profit grouping
of multinational firms, said their new website www.Bribeline.org will allow
people or organizations to anonymously report bribe requests.
Trace said its intent is not to collect names, to deal with those who
offer or pay bribes, to investigate cases or to take legal action. The
organization wants to collect information on bribe-seeking that can be
compiled eventually into detailed country reports to ‘shine a spotlight on
trouble spots’ and that companies can use to manage their risks. .”
[Agence France Presse/Factiva]
Reuters reports that “. The information compiled from BRIBEline will help
companies determine where corruption is most prevalent and will help
governments strengthen their ability to tackle corruption. . The World
Bank, which has a similar disclosure program that encourages firms to
admit when they paid bribes while doing work for the Bank, has estimated
that bribery around the world amounts to about $1 trillion, and affects
the poorest citizens the most.
‘The World Bank knows from experience that nobody wants their names
mentioned,’ said Suzanne Rich Folsom, director of the Department of
Institutional Integrity at the World Bank. Fear is often a deterrent in
reporting corruption, she added. ‘BRIBEline will be real-time information
to all of us who are trying to fight corruption,’ said Folsom. ‘This may
begin to level the playing field…and lower the cost of doing business.’
She said that cracking down on bribery and corruption helped ensure that
development aid benefited the poorest citizens who needed it the most. .”
[Reuters/Factiva]
AP writes that “. The information gathered through BRIBEline will be
collected and publicly reported by country and by ministry or sector – for
example the customs service, the judiciary or the police. . ‘We believe
BRIBEline will be en extremely valuable tool to deter bribery around the
globe,’ said Suzanne Rich Folsom, director of the World Bank’s Department
of Regional Integrity. She said BRIBEline will pressure countries to take
remedial action by introducing a cost to their reputation for those whose
officials who seek bribes. .” [The Associated Press/Factiva]
Source: World Bank
Warm Regards,
Sailesh Mishra
0091 9819819145