Geneva, Switzerland – September 15, 2009   New publication was released titled: On Corruption and Bribery: Fighting to Restore Trust,  by Dr. Jean-Pierre Méan.  This new 44-page publication of the European Bahá’í Business Forum (EBBF) explores the current extent of corruption and bribery, and the efforts by governments and the business community to deal with it.  The EBBF has set up a ‘Knowledge Centre Focused on Combating Corruption’ in Geneva. (€ 5  Available through www.ebbf.org)

With the amount of bribes paid each year exceeding the GDP of all countries except the six largest and currently less than 5% of corruption cases being criminally prosecuted, corruption continues to cause significant harm to people and economies across the globe.

Entitled "On corruption and bribery - fighting to restore trust" - the new EBBF Knowledge Centre in Geneva begins with an introduction to and definition of corruption. Followed by a well defined structure communicating: the extent of corruption; the geographical and sectorial spread; the causes; ways and means; consequences; spiritual aspects; and the legislative instruments and business initiatives to combat corruption.

Featured in the Knowledge Centre is the 2008 Corruption Perception Index issued annually since 1999 by Transparency International, measuring the perceived levels of public-sector corruption in 180 countries on a scale from zero to ten.

The Bribe Payers Index is also featured which looks at the propensity of companies from 30 leading exporting countries to bribe abroad on a score from one to ten. Again this index is published by Transparency International and based on a survey of 2,742 senior business executives in 26 countries selected on the basis of their Foreign Direct Investment inflows and their importance in regional trade patterns.

The section on Business Initiatives to combat bribery features three of the most successful initiatives among others and includes the TI Business Principles for Countering Bribery, The World Economic Forum Partnership Against Corruption Initiative (PACI), and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Rules of Conduct and Recommendations for Combating Extortion and Bribery.

Jean Pierre Méan introduced this new resource saying “Eliminating corruption in business can only rest on an act of leadership inspired by ethical values. Just as the fish rots from the head, departing from corrupt practices requires a morally healthy head” and adds “Corruption is also socially irresponsible because it is giving priority to private gain over the common good.”

EBBF’s founding member, former senior partner at McKinsey & Co. and current President and Head of Research at EBBF, George Starcher, was delighted “We dedicate this ninth EBBF knowledge centre to providing insight into the causes, forms and consequences of corruption while addressing the spiritual aspects, the legislative instruments and business initiatives to combat corruption and restore trust”.   

Order The Publication: In this brief, topical report,  Dr Jean-Pierre Méan authoritatively covers the extent of corruption, its causes and consequences, its geographical and sectoral spread,  and existing legislative instruments as well as business initiatives to combat corruption.  € 5.  Available through: www.ebbf.org

ABOUT JEAN-PIERRE MEAN

Jean Pierre MéanJean-Pierre Méan joined the SGS Group in Switzerland in 1996 as Senior Vice President of Legal and Compliance and member of the Group's Management Board. SGS is a world leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company with 52'000 employees. In 2002 Jean-Pierre left SGS to take the position of Chief Compliance Officer at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London before returning after two years to his position at SGS until 2008. Mr Méan is currently a member of the Commission on Anti-Corruption of the International Chamber of Commerce, Paris, France; Vice President of the Swiss Chapter of Transparency International, Bern, Switzerland; and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation Caux Initiatives of Change, Lucerne, Switzerland. Soon after joining SGS, the company was drawn into a major corruption scandal in relation with a contract with the Government of Pakistan going back to the early '90s. In order to re-establish the reputation of the company as the global benchmark for quality and integrity, Jean-Pierre was asked to implement and manage a strict anticorruption program incorporating all elements of internationally recognised best practices. He also represented SGS on the Steering Committee of the Business Principles for Countering Bribery, an initiative sponsored by Transparency International and Social Accountability International.