Transparency International (TI), a Berlin-based civil society organisation, fighting corruption world-wide, is to release its 7th 'Global Corruption Barometer' on UN anti-corruption day-December 9, 2010(today). This year's survey is the biggest so far, covering 91,500 people in 86 countries.
The barometer surveys opinions on whether corruption has increased, and which institutions are considered most corrupt. TI's barometer survey is being released at a time when Pakistan government is already facing different challenges including wikiLeaks revelations.
On 31 October 2003, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against Corruption (resolution 58/4) and designated 9 December as International Anti-Corruption Day, to raise awareness of corruption and of the role of the Convention in combating and preventing it. The Convention entered into force in December 2005.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, in his message has stated that "corruption is a threat to development, democracy and stability. It distorts markets, curbs economic growth and discourages foreign investment. It erodes public services and trust in officials. And it contributes to environmental damage and endangers public health by enabling the illegal dumping of hazardous waste and the production and distribution of counterfeit medicines."