18th International Anti-Corruption Conference

This session will explore how business benefits from citizens defending democracy and the rule of law. Based on a number of case studies, participants will discuss how civil society and companies can better work together in the fight against corruption and for citizens’ rights to participate in and control governments.
 
Beginning with a panel comprised of representatives from civil society and businesses, we will explore what ‘closing space' really means, what it looks like, and why businesses and NGOs should care about this—including highlighting work that is already being done by companies to take action. Following this, we will simulate an interactive, role-play workshop where groups of participants will receive a ‘real’ scenario in which civic space has been closing. Acting as the board of a hypothetical NGO and a relevant department within a business (sustainability, legal etc). Participants will need to identify the mechanism by which the government is repressing civil society and identify 3 strategies companies and civil society can take to curtail government action that violates civic rights or closes civic space.