18th International Anti-Corruption Conference

The open ceremony is the welcome speech by the Country host, the IACC Chair, the Chair of the TI Board and the Chair of TI Denmark, and a video message from the President of Afghanistan.

The opening plenary of the 18th IACC aims to assess why sustainable development, peace, and security are interdependent and highlight the urgency to move from promises to action. The opening plenary sets the stage for the discussions at the next plenary sessions as well as the workshop sessions of the Copenhagen agenda.

The world is witnessing the erosion of good governance and the rise of populism and extremism and with it a sharp increase in human right violations and violence. Good governance is central to preventing corruption and the rise of non-democratic regimes. The aspiration of people from all continents to live in peace and stand against injustice is no longer possible. This plenary session aims to identify and call for urgent actions that government and international organisations must implement in order to support citizens, activists, and journalists who fight for their rights and the rights of their people and face threats, coercion or worst.

Transparency International’s Anti-Corruption Award recognises the courage and determination of the many individuals and organisations fighting corruption around the world.

Launched in 2000 as the Integrity Award, and renamed in 2016, the Anti-Corruption Award honours remarkable individuals and organisations worldwide, including journalists, public prosecutors, government officials and civil society leaders.

Winners are a source of inspiration to the anti-corruption movement because their actions echo a common message: that corruption can be challenged.

To know which four candidates are on the shortlist this year, please visit: https://www.transparency.org/anti-corruption-award-2018 

The winner(s) of this year’s Award will be announced at the Award ceremony. Join us in giving these deserving candidates due recognition for their determination and bravery.

Dirty money, environmental crimes, trafficking, terrorism and organised crime are connected and strengthened by corruption. This plenary session aims to expose how corruption links these global threats, explore what actions are being taken by institutions and actors from all sectors and shall seek to identify new strategies and new alliances in order to strike a blow to the global corruption web.

During Plenary 3

25 mins. 2018

Christopher Wylie, the so-called ‘data whistleblower’ who worked for Cambridge Analytica, reveals how, in early 2014, 87 million Facebook users information was taken without authorisation to build a system to profile and target US voters with personalised political advertisements. At the time the company was owned by the hedge fund billionaire Robert Mercer and headed by Donald Trump’s key adviser, Steve Bannon. Using the architecture Wylie helped to engineer, people are perceived as observable, measurable data sets, allowing for the prediction and modification of behaviour. No longer ‘simply’ about privacy, it has the capacity to create an entirely new level of social inequality. This short film acts as a beacon to investigate a system that is on its way to becoming an all encompassing new power structure that we currently know far too little about.

After the screening the Plenary 3 speakers will discuss the issues raised in the film with Jess Search.

The role of media and particularly of investigative journalists have transformed the fight against corruption: leaks, whistleblowers, cross-border investigations and the use of new technologies, and data have played a significant role in it. On the other side, social media manipulation and the emerging phenomena of fake news counterbalance the impact of media on the benefit of those who cling to power due to corrupt interests. This plenary session aims to highlight how exposing has changed the anti-corruption fight and identify the necessary measures to deal with media manipulation and fake news.

The adoption of the UN SDG’s took place 3 years ago. Since then article 16 of the SDG’s provides the global community a framework for cooperation to advance on our aspirations for a sustainable, fair and peaceful future. Are we on the way to achieve the implementation of article 16? This plenary session aims to assess the level of progress on these commitments and produce recommendations for their successful implementation.

 A video message from Paul Polman, Chief Executive Officer of Unilever, will be shown during the session.

Throughout the years the anti-corruption movement has achieved to place corruption, transparency and good governance at the centre of the global agenda. Numerous conventions, laws, partnerships, and commitments have set firm roots in the international institutional setting, but the challenges posed by corruption are ever increasing. The closing plenary session aims to take stock of progress and stumbling blocks on the implementation of key commitments, particularly those assumed during relevant international fora during 2018 (OECD, OGP, G20 and the 18th IACC high-level segment) and identify next steps that can be followed up in the years to come.