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How Movements Fight Corruption

International Anti-Corruption Day 2020: How Citizen Movements Demand Transparency and Accountability

Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2020 / Time: 10:00am - 11:15am EST

Center: Applied Conflict Transformation Center

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In the fight against corruption, civil society is often at the forefront of advancing innovative plans and solutions to increase government transparency and accountability and ultimately root out graft across different sectors. The urgent global response to the COVID-19 pandemic makes this function of civil society all the more crucial, as the same measures meant to stem the pandemic’s devastating health and economic effects also heighten the risk of corruption. As the world celebrates International Anti-Corruption Day, it’s important to elevate the voices of civil society leaders and movements working diligently to stifle and prevent corruption—as well as address the challenges they face. 

On December 9, USIP hosted a discussion on these citizen and movement efforts, including those in Guatemala, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe. This event featured activists, scholars of nonviolent action, and international donors to explore the various ways bottom-up pressure can be used to make governments more open, hold leaders accountable, and prevent and curb corruption. This conversation also drew insights from a series of USIP Special Reports, products of a multi-year research project in six different countries, to provide lessons on how policymakers and international actors can best support movements working to advance transparency and accountability.

Continue the conversation on Twitter with #PeoplePower4Peace.

Speakers

Tabatha Thompson, opening remarks
Acting Director, Program on Nonviolent Action, U.S. Institute of Peace

Gladys Kudzaishe Hlatywayo
Secretary for International Relations, MDC Alliance 

Olena Tregub
Secretary General, Independent Defence Anti-Corruption Committee, Transparency International 

Walter Flores  
Principal Advisor, Center for Studies for Equity and Governance in Health Systems

Bryan Sims
Senior Manager of Peacebuilding, Humanity United

Shaazka Beyerle, moderator
Senior Fellow, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center, George Mason University 

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