Breaking the Bonds of Exploitation
Solidarity Against Corruption and Crime
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Theme for 2025:
Empowering People to Defeat Corruption
Developing Reslience, Virtues, and Skills
Image from Pixabay
Feature 1. Global Integrity Day (GID) is a positive day, launched on 9 June 2020, to reflect, teach, and collaborate on ways to integrate integrity in all we do throughout the entire year.
Feature 2. GID is a strategic day to promote a) cultivating lifestyles, cultures, and systems of integrity from the individual through the international levels; b) joining together to understand and address the causes and consequences of corruption in its many forms; and c) working towards just and equitable societies marked with wellbeing for all people and for the planet.
Feature 3. GID is a solemn day to consider our ways: if we are lying and/or stealing in any way big or small, then we need to stop it. If we need to right a wrong we have done, then do so. If we need to prudently confront wrongdoing, preferably in solidarity with colleagues for mutual support and greater impact, then do so.
Feature 4. GID is a companion day to complement UN International Anti-Corruption Day, 9 December (and vice versa). Both Days are practical rallying points, six months apart, for fostering common ground, organizing events, sharing initiatives, affirming anti-corruption workers, and involving the public. Both days also overlap with other efforts such as the UN International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime (15 November).
Corruption Perceptions index 2025 (published February 2026). Transparency International. Full report HERE (28 pages). "The global order is under strain from rivalry between major powers, and dangerous disregard for international norms. Armed conflicts and the climate crisis are having a deadly impact. Societies are also becoming more polarised. To meet these challenges, the world needs principled leaders and strong, independent institutions that act with integrity to protect the public interest. Yet, too often, we are seeing a failure of good governance and accountable leadership." Opening overview from the report's Executive Summary, page 6.
Note news and resources from Transparency International.
International Anti-Corruption Day-9 December 2025. Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow's Integrity. "Building on the campaign launched on International Anti-Corruption Day 2024, the 2025 campaign continues to highlight the role of young guardians of integrity as advocates, raising awareness about corruption and its impact on their communities. It will feature voices of tomorrow’s integrity leaders sharing insights on the links between organized crime and corruption, the key role of AI and emerging technologies, and the connection between corruption, peace and security, demonstrating why combating corruption is essential for a fair & secure future."
Note news and resources from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and UNCAC Civil Society Coalition.
International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime-15 November 2925. "The 2025 campaign, 'Follow the Money. Stop Organized Crime,' highlights the cost of transnational organized crime and underscores the importance of tracing illicit financial flows to cut the lifeline of criminal networks. By targeting the profits of organized crime, we can disrupt operations, strengthen justice and return stolen assets to communities. Everyone, including Member States, international organizations, civil society, the private sector and individuals, is encouraged to take part in this year’s campaign."
Note news and resources from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime including the Global Organized Crime Index 2025.
We have found this new resource to be very helpful--instructive and often disturbing--as it looks at the reality of organizational and leadership malfeasance including cover ups and retaliation in the UN system. We highly recommend it with the reminder (in line with the editor) that corruption is basically everywhere (not just in the UN) and there are many fine people and leaders within the UN system who are working sacrificially to make the world--and their organization--a better and safer place.
We encourage you to read the insightful Introduction to this book by Grant Martin.
"How do citizens counter corruption and exact accountability from power holders?...Can bottom-up, citizen-based strategies complement and reinforce top-down anti-corruption efforts? Addressing these questions [the author] explores how millions of people around the world have refused to be victims of corruption and become instead the protagonists of successful nonviolent civic movements to gain accountability and promote positive political, social, and economic change."
Free download HERE and several chapters in different languages HERE.
"In Transparency, the authors–a powerhouse trio in the field of leadership–look at what conspires against "a culture of candor" in organizations to create disastrous results, and suggest ways that leaders can achieve healthy and honest openness... [The authors] explore why the containment of truth is the dearest held value of far too many organizations and suggest practical ways that organizations, their leaders, their members, and their boards can achieve openness...
See also Developing Character Strengths–Being the Leaders Our World Needs, Global Integration Update (March 2023)
News and Resources
2025-2026
Spotlight Activities and Ongoing Action
Share Your Resources, Plans, and Ideas
UNCAC Civil Society Coalition news and updates (April 2026). Note also the UNCAC's CoSP11 Plenary Discussion: Key Takeaways and Statements.
OECD 2026 Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum (meeting 23-27 2025 March 202 in Paris)
Corruption Perceptions index 2025 (published February 2026). Transparency International. Full report HERE (28 pages). "The global order is under strain from rivalry between major powers, and dangerous disregard for international norms. Armed conflicts and the climate crisis are having a deadly impact. Societies are also becoming more polarised. To meet these challenges, the world needs principled leaders and strong, independent institutions that act with integrity to protect the public interest. Yet, too often, we are seeing a failure of good governance and accountable leadership." Opening overview from the report's Executive Summary, page 6.
International Anti-Corruption Day - 9 December 2025
Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow's Integrity
"Building on the campaign launched on International Anti-Corruption Day 2024, the 2025 campaign continues to highlight the role of young guardians of integrity as advocates, raising awareness about corruption and its impact on their communities. It will feature voices of tomorrow’s integrity leaders sharing insights on the links between organized crime and corruption, the key role of AI and emerging technologies, and the connection between corruption, peace and security, demonstrating why combating corruption is essential for a fair and secure future."
Eleventh session of the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (the UN Anti-Corruption Conference) will take place in Doha, Qatar, on 15-19 December 2025 in Doha, Qatar. Note the 8 December update and resources from the UNCAC Global Civil Society Coalition to prepare for this Conference including its toolkit-guidance to prepare
International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime (the second annual one) and the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC)--15 November 2925. "The 2025 campaign, 'Follow the money. Stop organized crime, highlights the cost of transnational organized crime and underscores the importance of tracing illicit financial flows to cut the lifeline of criminal networks. By targeting the profits of organized crime, we can disrupt operations, strengthen justice and return stolen assets to communities. Everyone, including Member States, international organizations, civil society, the private sector and individuals, is encouraged to take part in this year’s campaign. #StopOrganizedCrime"
World Day Against Trafficking in Persons--30 July 2025. Theme: “Human Trafficking Is Organized Crime – End the Exploitation.” Informal Interactive Multi-Stakeholder Hearing (at the UN in New York (30 June 2025) as part of the preparatory process for the High-level meeting (September 2025) of the UN General Assembly on the appraisal of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons--Note that the deadline to apply is 25 May 2025--"Representatives from relevant non-governmental organizations (including NGOs in consultative status with ECOSOC), civil society organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector are invited to register for the Informal interactive multi-stakeholder hearing." Hopefully livestreamed also on UN WebTV.
Ways for You to Participate in GID
Connect and Contribute for Mutual Benefit
1. Review the GID overview above (Four Features) and the GID website. Share your ideas with us about further developing GID.
2. Send us core resources to add to the GID website in general or specifically related to the annual theme.
3. Include a short description and logo/link for GID on your website.
4. Spread the word about GID in advance of 9 June via social media and with your colleagues and networks.
5. Organise an event or webinar related to your organisation's purpose as it connects to GID's emphases around the time of GID on 9 June and/or UN Anti-Corruption Day on 9 December. We will then "spotlight" these events/webinars on the GID site to support your work and GID.
6. Explore a few resources on the GID site that are relevant for you personally and for your spheres of influence.
7. Encourage someone you know (or know of) who is acting with integrity and those working in anti-corruption.
8. Make every day an integrity day!
GID Background
For more information see the About GIN section
The first Global Integrity Day (GID) was launched on 9 June 2020 and continues to be commemorated on 9 June each year. This special, annual day was envisioned in December 2016 to shine the global spotlight on moral health for a more-whole world. It is a practical impetus as we endeavor a) to live in integrity always and in every area of our lives and b) to learn about and support a variety of strategic efforts for pro-integrity and anti-corruption ranging from developing public policy to developing personal probity.
--The initial theme for this Day (GID 2020) was Confronting the Corruption of Racism.
--The theme for GID 2021 was Corruption and Poverty.
--The GID 2022 theme was Integrity and Corruption in the Health Sector.
--The theme for GID 2023 was Faith-Based Champions Fighting Corruption.
--The theme for GID 2024 was Fighting Human Trafficking.
--The theme for GID 2025 is Empowering People to Defeat Corruption. How can we empower people to develop the virtues and skills needed to live in integrity and to fight corruption (forming the character and competence needed to resist and confront corruption)?
--The theme for GID 2026 is Breaking the Bonds of Exploitaton: Solidarity Against Corruption and Crime. How can we support the collaborative efforts between civil society and govenments to fight corruption and crime? How can we participate in these efforts to protect and restore people and the planet from exploitation?
Going into the future--it would be strategic to see Global Integrity Day (GID-9 June) designated as a new United Nations International Day as well as a companion day to complement the already designated International Anti-Corruption Day (IAD-9 December) and vice versa. in addiitoin note
We invite friends and colleagues around the world, and organizations and networks large and small, to join together in solidarity, finding common ground for the common good, to commemorate both special days on 9 June and 9 December and throughout this year. Your suggestions are very welcome for developing GID further. (MCAresources@gmail.com)
Global Integrity Day 2025
Empowering People to Defeat Corruption
Developing Resilience, Virtues, and Skills
Reflections and Resources
See the GID Reflections and Resources section
for the complete list of materials from 2020-2024
Not the quotes at the bottom of this page
Sustainable Development Goal 16
--"Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms."
Sustainable Development Goal 16.5
--"Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels ."
Sustainable Development Goal 16.6
--Note the SDG Indicators, Metadata Repository and information on SDG 16,
especially these indicators related to corruption: SDG 16.5.1. and SDG 16.5.2
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Reflections
It seems to us that most of the people that we would consider to be ‘champions’ of integrity and anti-corruption--be they faith-based or of no particular faith--are either not aware that they themselves are champions or would never consider themselves to be ‘champions.’ And furthermore, very likely they would not want others to refer to them by this term. Rather, they see themselves as common people who are merely doing their duty and the right thing, ordinary citizens who are just trying to do good, even if there are risks.
What is true of our affirmation of colleagues in Global Mental Health (GMH) is also true for colleagues in integrity and anti-corruption: 'We acknowledge, with much appreciation, that many of the developments and directions in GMH are being shaped and implemented by colleagues out of the spotlight, on the ground, in the trenches—often unrecognized and under-funded. Thank you for your commitment and perseverance!' ‘All that is gold does not glitter.’ Tolkien (O'Donnell, Eaton, Lewis O'Donnell, 2021)"
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Featured Resources
April 2026
Global Organized Crime Index 2025: Crime at a Crossroads, launched November 2025 by the Global Initiative Against Transnatinal Organized Crime. "The world is at a crossroads when it comes to dealing with illicit economies. Organized crime is undermining democracy, the sovereignty of states, and even international peace and security. The rules-based order that has prevailed for decades is now being exploited by those who don’t play by the rules. Criminal groups are some of the biggest profiteers. Illicit economies reflect broader socio-economic, political and geopolitical processes, because criminals are often the ones who adapt first and take advantage of disruptions such as geopolitical competition, rapid technological innovation, violent conflicts, trade wars and the erosion of democracy. So, the Global Organized Crime Index is not just a tool for measuring crime: it is a mirror reflecting what is going on within states and the international system.
Among the findings the data of this edition of the Index identifies is that there have been several shifts in the global criminal economy. For example, synthetic drugs and cocaine are rapidly dominating world drug markets. This shows the ability of criminal actors to capitalize on changing consumer preferences, technological developments in production and increasingly interconnected trafficking networks. At the same time, this Index shows a significant and rapidly growing trend: a rise in non-violent forms of crime such as financial and cyber-dependent crimes. These ‘invisible’ forms of organized crime are less reliant on traditional violent methods or corruption, but have become more embedded in transnational financial and digital systems. And they are often harder to detect. Despite the absence of violence in these illicit economies, they still cause untold harm. Financial fraud and cyber-dependent crimes have high costs for their victims – individuals, businesses and states. Counterfeiting, another silent crime, is also becoming more pervasive, the Index finds. Inflation, weak economies, job insecurity and trade wars are fuelling this market as consumers with less purchasing power seek cheaper products."
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March 2026
A World of Deceit: Mapping the Landscape of the Global Scam Centre Phenomenon (March 2026) by the Global Initiative Against Transnatinal Organized Crime. "Scams and fraud have undergone a profound evolution in recent decades, becoming one of the most sophisticated, pervasive and lucrative forms of organized crime globally. According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, 57% of adults worldwide reported experiencing a scam in the previous 12 months. Estimates suggest that more than US$1 trillion was generated from scams and fraud in 2024 alone. Rather than focusing on individual scam typologies – such as romance, investment or impersonation scams – this report examines the scam centre as a distinct organizational unit, mapping the various forms they take, the different economic models they use, and the broader ecosystem that allows them to operate and expand."
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February 2026
Corruption Perceptions Index 2025. Transparency International. Full report HERE (28 pages). "The global order is under strain from rivalry between major powers, and dangerous disregard for international norms. Armed conflicts and the climate crisis are having a deadly impact. Societies are also becoming more polarised. To meet these challenges, the world needs principled leaders and strong, independent institutions that act with integrity to protect the public interest. Yet, too often, we are seeing a failure of good governance and accountable leadership." Opening overview from the report's Executive Summary, page 6.
A Wicked Problem. Seeking Human Rights-Based Solutions to Trafficking into Cyber Scam Operations in South-East Asia. UN Human Rights, Ofice of the High Commisioner (February 2026). "UN Human Rights is calling urgent attention to the continuing and critical need for a human rights solution to a particularly “wicked problem” - the complex crisis of trafficking in persons, slavery and other serious human rights violations and abuses that are taking place in South-East Asia in the context of extensive criminal operations set up to perpetrate cyber-enabled fraud. This report centers the lived experience of victims subjected to abuses within these scam operations and who in many cases continue to suffer human rights harms after their release. Through a behavioural science and systems analysis lens, the report also seeks to understand the barriers and enablers that lead victims into these operations through fraudulent recruitment pathways. The report concludes with key messages which call on States, and where relevant other stakeholders, to ensure a human rights-based response to this multidimensional issue, placing the rights, dignity, safety, and well-being of victims of trafficking at its core including through ensuring full respect of the non-punishment principle."
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January 2026
Resilience: Lessons from the Global Geneva Trenches (January 2026). We encourage you to review and reflect on this "Notes and Quotes" handout from a recent interactive presentation at a men's gathering in the Geneva area. The handout is organized via a resilience grid (C2S2): Character strengths, Coping strategies, Social connections, and Spiritual core. The importance of Supportive Care from organizations is also included. Presentation by Kelly O'Donnell.
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Ten of the Resources Posted in 2025
Inside a Scam Farm: The Person on the Line is Not Who You Think (July 2024—11 minute video)
“Scams are causing damage worldwide, and spreading rapidly thanks to rapid technological developments. Following the trail of scam victims forward leads to stories of immense suffering—and so does following the trail backwards to the scammers, who engage in large-scale human trafficking, torture and enslavement so they can profit on the loss of others. Who is behind this trade in lies and deceit? How do they perpetrate their crimes? And how can they be stopped?” (UNODC website)
UN Human Rights Council Resolution (Fifty-ninth session, 16 June–9 July 2025)
Resolution on the negative impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights
Bridging Anti-Corruption and Human Rights Efforts: A Guide for Anti-Corruption Advocates to Engage in the Universal Periodic Review Process (guidelines launched June 2025 by UPR.Info, and the UNCAC Civil Society Coalition
Church Integrity Systems: A Handbook--Anti-Corruption Efforts of Churches Need a Reset (2025)
Christof Stückelberger, GlobeEthics. Updated version of Corruption-Free Churches Are Possible (2010).
See also Corruption-Free Religions Are Possible (2021).
Character Counts--What Kinds of People and Organizations Do We Want to Be? Member Care Update (August 2014). This foundational Update addresses the faith-based member care and mission sector and the humanitarian sector yet is relevant across all sectors. This month we hold up the mirror to check out our character as it relates to our motivations, relationships, and practices...How accurate is what we see--and want to see? Recall that character along with competence and compassion are three core qualities needed for member care workers. Part One focuses on our personal character, emphasizing our capacity for self-deception plus what to do about it (five resources). Part Two focuses on leadership and organizational character and the importance for honesty, courage, and support in confronting hard issues (five resources). We conclude the Update with three current resources from the humanitarian sector that illustrate how critical and diverse feedback--sharing concerns and suggestions in an open atmosphere--is helping to improve the sector's effectiveness. The freedom to give feedback is one of the greatest indications of an organization's and sector's health. Together, all the resources in this Update are meant to encourage us to further develop a crucial reflection of our character--our integrity-- by "telling ourselves and others the truth."
The Pope Who Knelt--How Francis Made the Church Feel Like Home Again
A Tribute to Pope Francis by Greg Monteclaro. This is a brief and moving reflection on the positive and enduring character qualities of Pope Francis and featured here in view of this year's GID theme on developing virtues.
Snakes and Wolves--Dealing with Psychopaths and Manipulators
Selected excerpts and summaries from Snakes in Suits-When Psychopaths Go to Work (revised 2019) and In Sheep's Clothing--Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People (revised 2010)
Speaking Truth to Abusive Power: Protecting Whistleblowers- Confronting Impunity and Retaliation
PETRA People Update (February 2025). "This issue focuses on whistleblowers who with courage and integrity confront wrong doing and corruption--by themselves or with others--within their organizations, communities, and countries. It specifically addresses the need to protect authentic whistleblowers and to confront the impunity and retaliation that maintains (protects!) dysfunctional and deviant people and practices. The four featured resources include a new book on whistleblowing in the UN context, whistleblowing resources, a podcast on repentance, and definitions of integrity and corruption."
Whistleblowing--Responsible Practices for Healthy Organizations, Member Care Update (July 2018)
"Many of us are no strangers to the need to responsibly report wrongdoing--both to leaders inside organizations and to accountability bodies outside of them. But often nothing gets reported due to the lack of clear policies and/or the fear of retaliation--often via disguised discrediting, demotions, and dismissals. And occasionally there are whistleblowers who have questionable motives and/or frankly get their accusations/information "wrong." So we ask: Does your organization have or need a whistleblowing policy--special guidelines and protections for staff to confront wrongdoing in an organization? Does your organization encourage an ethos of transparency and accountability in all that it does? How can you help your organization stay ethically healthy via relevant whistleblowing guidelines/policies? These are crucial questions that we encourage you to explore through the many resources in this Update. See also our resources in the Global Integrity section of our main MCA website."
International Whistleblowing Network and the UNCAC Civil Society Coalition
Global News 2025-2026
See the archives in the Special News section HERE
Myanmar's Shwe Kokko: Inside a City 'Built on Scams' BBC (6 February 2025)
"The tall, shiny buildings which rise out of the cornfields on the Myanmar side of the Moei river are a sight so jarring you find yourself blinking to be sure you haven't imagined it. Eight years ago there was nothing over there in Karen State. Just trees, a few roughly built cement buildings, and a long-running civil war which has left this area of Myanmar one of the poorest places on earth. But today, on this spot along the border with Thailand, a small city has emerged like a mirage. It is called Shwe Kokko, or Golden Raintree. It is accused of being a city built on scams, home to a lucrative yet deadly nexus of fraud, money-laundering and human trafficking. The man behind it, She Zhijiang, is languishing in a Bangkok jail, awaiting extradition to China..."
Definitions
Integrity and Corruption
--Integrity is moral wholeness—living consistently in moral wholeness.
--Corruption is moral rottenness, the opposite of integrity--the distortion, perversion, and deterioration of moral goodness, resulting in the abuse and exploitation of people and the planet. It is integroty.
--Global integrity is living consistently in moral wholeness at all levels--individual, interpersonal, institutional, and international; across sectors and settings; local through global; the systemic and structural.
"Integrity is moral wholeness—living consistently in moral wholeness—with honesty, humility, and all the virtues--and with an awareness of one’s potential to deceive and harm oneself and others. Integrity needs external moral referents--standards of virtue with accountability--and not simply positive self-appraisals--in order to safeguard us all from both blind and willful hypocrisy." Defining Integrity. Kelly and Michele O'Donnell, Member Care Update (June 2023)Note: This is an expanded version of the above definition on the GID website. Note that it opens the door wide to the crucial discussion and clarification of "external moral referents" and "standards of virtue and accountability" as well as the process and accuracy of one's moral perceptions of self and others.
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Corruption is "the abuse of entrusted power for private gain." Transparency International
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Corruption is "a system of abuse of entrusted power for private, collective, or political gain--often involving a complex, intertwined set of relationships, some obvious, others hidden, with established vested interests that can operate vertically within an institution or horizontally across political, economic, and social spheres of society and transnationally." Shaazka Beyerle, Curtailing Corruption--People Power for Accountability and Justice (2014, page 25)
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More Reflections
Quotes
Corruption is criminal, immoral and the ultimate betrayal of public trust.….We must hold leaders to account….A vibrant civic space and open access to information are essential. And we must protect the rights and recognize the courage of whistle-blowers who expose wrongdoing….As an age-old plague takes on new forms, let us combat it with new heights of resolve.”
UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, Statement on corruption (15 October 2020)
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'Accountability is good because it requires you to give an account...
even if you have to lie about it.'
Baghat Korani, a facetious (and memorable!) comment in his presentation
at Which Way for the Arab World? Geneva Graduate Institute (5 November 2015)
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"If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?”
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago 1918-1956 (1973)
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"Der bestirnte Himmel über mir und das moralische Gesetz in mir."
“Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing admiration and awe, the more often and steadily we reflect upon them: the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me. I do not seek or conjecture either of them as if they were veiled obscurities or extravagances beyond the horizon of my vision; I see them before me and connect them immediately with the consciousness of my existence.” Immanuel Kant, Critique of Practical Reason (1788)
