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	A Global Coalition against Corruption by Transparency International   In 2010 we worked around the world to foster transparency and integrity, and demand accountability. Here are a few examples of these efforts:   Following up on its work to improve the integrity of parliamentary lobbying, TI France has turned its attention to the private sector. The chapter released recommendations for corporate lobbyists in 2010 and worked with the corporate rating firm Vigeo to include lobbying criteria in assessing companies’ social responsibility programmes. The chapter has applied this initiative by working with Lafarge, the world’s second-largest cement manufacturer, to improve its lobbying charter by enhancing the transparency of lobbying activities.   After monitoring Lebanon’s 2009 parliamentary elections, the Lebanese Transparency Association watched over campaign financing during the municipal elections in 2010. About 200 people were deployed in 21 cities to monitor four rounds of voting. The monitors exposed and reported several violations, such as vote buying and abuse of official resources. The chapter will release its findings in 2011.   Following sustained advocacy by TI Malaysia, the country’s Ministry of Finance directed all government agencies in April 2010 to integrate our Integrity Pacts into their public procurement procedures. The ministry has issued sample contracts to be signed by all participants in the procurement chain, including suppliers, government procurement officers and tender committee members. The chapter will train government agencies to implement the pacts and educate companies and industry groups on their new responsibilities under the agreement.   For the third consecutive year, Transparencia Mexicana monitored federal funds granted to public universities. Since 2008 the chapter has overseen the flow of around US $1.8 billion in funding, and is currently monitoring how school directors are chosen for public high schools. The chapter verifies that regulations are followed, and observes the selection process. More than 1,000 hirings have been reviewed so far, and by 2012 every head teacher in Mexico is expected to be appointed with this process.   With parliamentary elections scheduled for 2012, TI Papua New Guinea is using theatre to educate voters about the connection between corruption and politics. The ‘Understanding Corruption through Drama’ project, launched in 2010, focuses on rural areas where literacy rates are low and media access is limited. Local theatre troupes perform plays in communities and then lead discussions and question-and-answer sessions. The project is underway in six provinces, with more expected to follow.   Renowned for her blog and oversized magnifying glass, the animated character Lupita has become Peru’s anti-corruption heroine. Created by our Peruvian chapter Proética, the Lupita project encourages citizens to review information about candidates who apply for jobs in public office. In its first year, irregularities in asset declaration, place of birth and other candidate information were uncovered. Lupita’s blog has received thousands of visits and has been widely featured in national and local media.   TI Sierra Leone held a two-day training session on financial management and record keeping for 90 local government finance officers. The training achieved several key goals, including providing up-to-date information on revenue and project-management systems, and training finance officers to be more efficient. Officers have since formed task forces charged with promoting accountability, transparency and integrity within their agencies.   Anupama Jha, Executive Director, of TI India says “corruption has led to inequality, injustice and has widened the divide between the rich and poor”.   John Devitt, Chief Executive, TI Ireland says “since we can’t always know where the risks lie, we rely on insiders to bring them to the attention of regulators and policy makers as they arise”.   Teresa C. Omondi, Deputy Executive Director and Head of Programmes, TI Kenya says “we bank on education to free us from poverty and to help sustainable development, but corruption brings about the opposite of this”.   Ali Lahlou, Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre Coordinator, Transparency Maroc says “we’ve defied some taboos in Moroccan society, in particular against individuals openly challenging public bodies”.   Cecilia Blondet, Executive Director, Proética says “Peruvians believe that corruption was the biggest problem facing the country, above poverty or unemployment”. Visit the related web page
	An essential guide to the right to defend human rights by Margaret Sekaggya UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders   “It is not easy being a human rights defender; in too many countries it is dangerous, plain dangerous,” said United Nations Special Rapporteur Margaret Sekaggya launching her essential guide to the right to defend human rights*, a key document aimed at supporting those who stand for our rights by increasing understanding of the UN Declaration on human rights defenders and awareness on the dangers they face.   “Despite the efforts to implement the Declaration, human rights defenders continue to face numerous violations,” Ms. Sekaggya said. “I hope that this essential guide, the new ‘Commentary to the Declaration on human rights defenders’, will contribute to the development of a safer and more conducive environment for defenders to be able to carry out their work.”   The ‘Commentary to the Declaration on human rights defenders’ is a 100-page downloadable document which maps out the rights provided for in the Declaration, based mostly on information received and reports produced by the two Special Rapporteurs on the situation of human rights defenders, Hina Jilani (2000-2008) and Margaret Sekaggya (since 2008), during the past eleven years.   From the rights to protection and freedom of opinion and expression, to the rights to communicate with international bodies and to access funding, the ‘Commentary’ analyses what these rights entail and what is needed to ensure their implementation.   It also addresses the most common restrictions and violations faced by defenders, and provides recommendations to facilitate States’ implementation of each right.   “More than 12 years after its adoption, the Declaration on human rights defenders is an instrument that is not sufficiently known and I would like to build on the efforts to raise awareness about it and the crucial role of human rights defenders,” Ms. Sekaggya said. “This essential guide also offers a comprehensive reference document for journalists covering the situation of human rights defenders in their countries, their regions and the world.”   For ease of reference the ‘Commentary’ is arranged in 10 sections, each addressing a right in the Declaration, namely: the right to right to be protected, the right to freedom of assembly, the right to freedom of association, the right to access and communicate with international bodies, the right to freedom of opinion and expression, the right to protest, the right to develop and discuss new human rights ideas, the right to an effective remedy and the right to access funding. A final section addresses permissible derogations to these rights. Visit the related web page
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