Global Corruption Report 2007
This year’s report concentrates on judicial systems and warns that corruption is undermining judicial systems around the world, denying citizens access to justice and the basic human right to a fair and impartial trial.
The report provides comparative analysis of judicial corruption based on 32 country reports and provides
research data on a wide range of areas including: bribery, judicial immunity, enforcement and performance monitoring.
Recommendations refer to action in four main areas:
- Judicial appointments: these need to be merit-based and involve an independent judicial appointments body as well as civil society participation
- Terms and conditions: salaries need to be commensurate to experience, protections and transfers should protect independent judges from punishment by the executive and prevent favouritism; case assignment should be based on objective criteria, judges need access to information and training, and should have security of tenure
- Accountability and discipline: this should include both measures of protection such as due process and appellate reviews, transparent and fair removal process and a whistleblower policy as well as disciplinary procedures, a code of conduct, and strong and independent judges’ association
- Transparency: this should apply to organisation, work and the prosecution service, and also include judicial asset and conflicts of interest disclosure. In addition, the report recommends actions for external actors such as freedom of expression, civil society engagement and donor integrity
Countries covered include: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Israel, Kenya, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Romania, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey, UK, Zambia
