[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":280},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-mark-pieth-on-corruption-inequality-and-tax-fraud-interview-by-swissinfoch-at-the-world-economic-forum-564":3,"news-mark-pieth-on-corruption-inequality-and-tax-fraud-interview-by-swissinfoch-at-the-world-economic-forum-564-similar":30,"i-heroicons:arrow-left-20-solid":275},[4],{"id":5,"status":6,"date_created":7,"date_updated":8,"title":9,"type":10,"body":11,"date":12,"topic":13,"slug":15,"activity":16,"nid":18,"topics":19,"activities":20,"programme":21,"area":21,"websites":22,"language":21,"image":21,"translation_of":21,"countries":24,"tags":25,"authors":26,"images":27,"translations":28,"content":29},9900,"published","2022-05-26T22:57:17.000Z","2025-08-31T23:14:59.000Z","Mark Pieth on corruption, inequality and tax fraud – interview by swissinfo.ch at the World Economic Forum","News","_\"For fighting corruption, the focus is very much on what the private sector do. And we're turning very much to India and China as places where things are happening.\"_ \n\nBasel Institute President Mark Pieth talks to Jessica Davis Plüss at swissinfo.ch about corruption and the private sector's role in tackling it. \n\nPieth also touches upon inequality, populist governments, tax fraud and the need for tax harmonisation. _\"Can we worldwide agree on some kind of level or will people escape to places like Switzerland to pay less taxes than otherwise?\"_\n\n[View video on Swissinfo.ch](https:\u002F\u002Fplay.swissinfo.ch\u002Fplay\u002Ftv\u002Fpolitics\u002Fvideo\u002Fcorruption-inequality-tax-fraud---and-switzerland?id=44699820).","2019-01-23",[14],"","mark-pieth-on-corruption-inequality-and-tax-fraud-interview-by-swissinfoch-at-the-world-economic-forum-564",[17],"Insights",564,[],[17],null,[23],"Main page",[],[],[],[],[],[],[31,81,103,127,152,175,201,229,252],{"id":32,"body":33,"status":6,"type":34,"date":35,"slug":36,"title":37,"image":38,"countries":39,"topic":40,"activity":41,"tags":42,"nid":67,"topics":68,"activities":69,"authors":70,"images":72,"websites":21,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":73,"translations":74,"translation_of":21,"user_created":75,"date_created":76,"user_updated":77,"date_updated":78,"content":79,"link":80},10598,"_Professor Anne Peters, a renowned scholar of international law and governance, stepped down from her role as Vice President of the Basel Institute on Governance at the end of 2025. In this Q&A she looks back at her involvement with the Basel Institute since its inception more than 23 years ago._\n\n_Her insights emphasise the importance of underpinning anti-corruption and governance efforts with interdisciplinary academic research, and of connecting abstract concepts like governance and asset recovery to real-world challenges like human rights, biodiversity and climate change._\n\n_She traces the Basel Institute’s path from a small group of friends driven by individual passion to a highly professional, global centre of expertise on anti-corruption and asset recovery. This professionalism, she says, is essential for non-profit organisations to survive and even thrive in today’s unstable new world._\n\n_Anne is known for her pioneering work on animal rights, human rights and corruption. She holds long-standing academic positions as Director of the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law (MPIL) Heidelberg and Professor of International Law at the University of Basel._\n\n### You were a part of the Basel Institute from the beginning. How did it all start?\n\nMy engagement with the Institute took root when I joined the University of Basel in 2001 and met Professor Mark Pieth, the Institute’s founder and former President. He was involved in establishing the [Wolfsberg Group](https:\u002F\u002Fwolfsberg-group.org\u002F), an early multi-stakeholder initiative of banks focused on developing anti-money laundering guidelines. This was a time when concepts like banking due diligence and know-your-customer were relatively unknown, and the idea of multi-stakeholder associations didn’t even exist.\n\nBecause of Mark Pieth’s personal standing as a Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Basel and as Chair of the OECD Working Group on Bribery, he received requests for advisory and consultancy services on problems of corruption and governance.\n\nThe Basel Institute gradually rose out of those beginnings, helped by individuals like Gemma Aiolfi and Thomas Christ, who continued to play key roles at the Institute for the next two decades.\n\nBack then we used to meet in cafés or in Mark’s office, and we just had a letterhead and a flyer describing the Basel Institute on Governance. Things became more formalised when we received seed funding from a foundation, drafted statutes and – this was the game-changer – hired Gretta Fenner in 2005. Gretta was the first paid staff member. [We miss her dearly](https:\u002F\u002Fgretta.baselgovernance.org\u002F).\n\n### What excited you about it? What did you bring from the academic world?\n\nI was young, I had energy and I liked Mark as a colleague and friend. The concept of governance was also quite new and exciting.\n\nI am a public international lawyer, not a criminal lawyer, so I had little technical expertise in corruption or money laundering. But since these crimes have clear transnational dimensions, my background in international law made sense. I was able to bring the academic perspective to the Institute’s work, later reinforced by Lucy Koechlin and [Claudia Baez Camargo](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fabout\u002Fpeople\u002Fdr-claudia-baez-camargo), who joined to lead research on public and global governance.\n\nThe association with the University of Basel was crucial. It gave structure to the original idea: providing practical advice and assistance on corruption and governance, grounded in academic research. An important aspect was financing doctoral students who would work at the Basel Institute while completing their PhDs. I supervised three such dissertations.\n\nThis academic underpinning and insistence on research and evidence is still one of the Basel Institute’s strongest points.\n\n### What other milestones and innovations do you remember?\n\nA major academic milestone was our conference on non-state actors and the resulting book, [_Non-State Actors as Standard Setters_](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fnon-state-actors-standard-setters), which was published with Cambridge University Press in 2009. The term “non-state actor” – covering the private sector as well as non-profit organisations, academia, the media and the like – was still novel. I co-edited the book with Gretta Fenner, Lucy Koechlin and our former Board colleague and social anthropologist Till Förster. It was a serious and influential publication that is still cited today.\n\nI remember us retreating for a full day to review drafts. At first the mix of different writing styles and perspectives – political science, law, social anthropology and sociology – was a bit of a shock. Then we realised the value of this interdisciplinary nature in helping to gain a holistic perspective of how non-state actors can contribute to setting governance standards in the messy world of real life.\n\nAgain, this interdisciplinary approach remains central to the Basel Institute’s current work.\n\n### How did the Basel Institute’s work expand into so many different areas – from asset recovery to conflicts of interest, to money laundering in the art market. What’s the connection?\n\nPersonal interests, reputations and networks mattered greatly. And new concepts were appearing in the international anti-corruption arena. People and governments needed help working out how to apply them in practice in different contexts.\n\nThat’s what happened with asset recovery, a concept that appeared in the 2003 UN Convention Against Corruption with the aim of depriving corrupt actors of their criminal gains. We developed a distinct workstream at the Basel Institute that soon became the [International Centre for Asset Recovery](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery).\n\nThe concept and practice of [Collective Action](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002F) – sustained, trust-based multi-stakeholder collaboration with the private sector to address specific corruption challenges – evolved in large part thanks to our colleague Gemma Aiolfi’s tireless efforts.\n\nSimilarly, it was a personal interest that led myself and fellow board member Lukas Handschin to edit a book on [_Conflict of Interest in Global, Public and Corporate Governance_](https:\u002F\u002Fbooks.google.ch\u002Fbooks\u002Fabout\u002FConflict_of_Interest_in_Global_Public_an.html?id=NMKCIyPzyMkC&redir_esc=y) published by Cambridge University Press. It’s a topic that I was convinced was underappreciated at the time and is now, in these current times, showing its importance.\n\nWe did early work on [money laundering in the art market](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fworking-paper-12-basel-art-trade-guidelines-intermediary-report-self-regulation). Again this was a personal interest of our board member Thomas Christ that is now a key concern for not only [money laundering but sanctions evasion](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fquick-guide-29-money-laundering-and-sanctions-evasion-using-art-market).\n\nA newer area we have helped to establish internationally is [green corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption), i.e. applying anti-corruption and governance tools to address challenges like the mass extinction of species, biodiversity decline, the climate crisis. This is a topic that is dear to me personally and that is evolving fast.\n\nCommon to this all is how the Basel Institute applies anti-corruption and governance research and tools to different fields that really matter in the world, from business to health to environmental protection.\n\n### And human rights? How does that connect to corruption?\n\nMy interest in the intersection between corruption and human rights grew from Gretta’s involvement in several side events at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. I began thinking about legal relationships between corruption and human rights and whether, for example, states have a human rights obligation to protect citizens from corruption.\n\nI wrote a [Working Paper](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fworking-paper-20-corruption-and-human-rights) on the topic for the Basel Institute back in 2015 and later published two academic papers. You can get a short overview of the topic in this [Quick Guide to corruption and human rights](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fqg32).\n\nThe Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights) references my work in a recently published [practical guide](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ohchr.org\u002Fen\u002Fdocuments\u002Ftools-and-resources\u002Fcorruption-and-human-rights-practical-guide) on corruption and human rights to which I contributed, as well as other work of the Basel Institute on [human rights in the context of asset recovery laws](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fwp-54).\n\nIt’s great to see our scholarly work being used to underpin practical international guidance that will ultimately have impact on people’s lives.\n\n### What does the current global context mean for anti-corruption efforts and organisations like the Basel Institute?\n\nWe are in a period of profound global change. The political order is fundamentally shifting and the optimism of the 1990s is all but gone. The United States, an early driver of international anti-corruption treaties, efforts and successes, is retreating from its role. In some countries, anti-corruption laws and campaigns are misused for political purposes.\n\nEven if concepts like good governance, rule of law, human rights and democracy don’t seem to be _en vogue_ right now, they remain important. Not least because they, and corruption, are key to understanding and tackling today’s toughest challenges, from poverty and inequality to crime and conflict.\n\nSo non-profit organisations like the Basel Institute are more essential than ever, as are other non-state actors dedicated to tackling corruption and governance challenges. But it’s not easy for small organisations to survive in this rocky world, and many face their own governance challenges.\n\nThat’s why it’s good that the Basel Institute has professionalised its governance and compliance structures over the years, while keeping the sense of passion and personal conviction that characterised its early years.\n\n### Any bright side for those who care about anti-corruption and governance?\n\nOn the positive side, public awareness, opposition and global debate about corruption is far stronger than in the past. And much of international law – on travel, transportation, communication, diplomatic relations etc. – functions quietly and effectively every day.\n\nDespite how dire the current situation seems, change for the better has only ever occurred after major catastrophes. For example, the establishment of the International Criminal Court in 1998 was a direct result of the rape camps and the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia and Herzegovina.\n\nThe question is how severe crises must become and how much they must affect people directly before meaningful reform occurs. Climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, for example, are slow-moving crises that still feel abstract to many.\n\n### What’s coming up for you personally?\n\nIn my research I remain focused on the big-picture development of the international legal order.\n\nI look forward to the publication in 2026 of the [_Oxford Handbook of Global Animal Law_](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mpil.de\u002Fen\u002Fpub\u002Fresearch\u002Fareas\u002Fpublic-international-law\u002Fhandbook-of-global-animal-law.cfm), which I co-edited and which seeks to authoritatively establish this fairly new field of international law.\n\nAlongside my research I continue to advise the German Foreign Affairs Department (and sometimes the Swiss, too), and will serve as an expert witness on international legal questions in a case before a domestic court.\n\nAnd, of course I will continue to follow and support what the Basel Institute is doing. The organisation and its mission remain dear to my heart.\n\nThank you, Anne Peters, for your time and for your unwavering support and guidance over so many years. We wish you well in your future endeavours and adventures.","Blog","2026-01-22","professor-anne-peters-on-how-anti-corruption-organisations-can-survive-in-todays-volatile-world-2907","Professor Anne Peters on how anti-corruption organisations can survive in today’s volatile world","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F1a70b3d8-53be-4948-893b-afe3bcaa0367?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[17],[43,47,51,55,59,63],{"tags_id":44},{"id":45,"name":46},982,"Anti-corruption",{"tags_id":48},{"id":49,"name":50},932,"Human rights",{"tags_id":52},{"id":53,"name":54},843,"Asset recovery",{"tags_id":56},{"id":57,"name":58},909,"Collective Action",{"tags_id":60},{"id":61,"name":62},1371,"Public governance",{"tags_id":64},{"id":65,"name":66},1303,"Environment",2907,[],[17],[71],1368,[],"English",[],"03bebfd8-0b40-4a2a-820d-b9d9c13b9de6","2026-01-22T11:01:42.000Z","3d9ff205-1640-4f34-b5b6-86977f51bbd6","2026-04-27T21:01:56.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fprofessor-anne-peters-on-how-anti-corruption-organisations-can-survive-in-todays-volatile-world-2907",{"id":82,"body":83,"status":6,"type":34,"date":84,"slug":85,"title":86,"image":87,"countries":88,"topic":89,"activity":90,"tags":91,"nid":92,"topics":93,"activities":94,"authors":95,"images":96,"websites":97,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":98,"translation_of":21,"user_created":75,"date_created":99,"user_updated":77,"date_updated":100,"content":101,"link":102},10314,"_Article by Mark Pieth, Founder and former President of the Basel Institute on Governance._\n\nOn October 1, I officially handed over the baton as President of the Basel Institute on Governance to Peter Maurer. After founding and leading the organisation for around 20 years, this was a significant moment for me.\n\nI feel a mix of pride, anticipation and deep gratitude. First, for the tremendous [Board](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fabout\u002Fgovernance) members that have supported our mission for so many years. Second, for the [leadership team](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fabout\u002Fpeople) and staff that have not only made our vision a reality but transformed it into so much more. It has been quite a journey.\n\n### A brief history\n\nBack in 1989, I was working as Head of Section on Economic and Organised Crime at the Swiss Federal Office of Justice. In that role I was involved in early efforts to develop international regulations on money laundering (as a Member of the Financial Action Task Force) and corruption (as Chair of the OECD Working Group on Bribery, a position I held for 24 years).\n\nThose experiences gave me significant hands-on knowledge of these topics. I developed strong personal views, but I also saw a wider need. The international agenda on corruption and money laundering was just starting to take shape. In those formative years, it was critical to involve people who understood the issues and cared deeply about getting policies and actions right.\n\nAfter becoming a Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Basel in 1993, I therefore decided to convene a core group of three individuals, plus interested academics and business representatives. This provided an independent platform for us to contribute our knowledge to policy dialogues and to fulfil specific advisory missions. We also experimented with early forms of [Collective Action](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fcollective-action), bringing together businesses with public sector and civil society representatives to tackle specific issues of business integrity.\n\nThe Basel Institute on Governance existed as a letterhead from the early 1990s. It was established as a Foundation and an Associated Institute of the University of Basel when we received a major donation in 2003.\n\n### Evolutions in corruption and anti-corruption\n\nIn the early days, corruption was considered a technical issue of criminal law. The awareness that it was a fundamental worldwide problem undermining sustainable development and trust in society grew over time. Gradually, anti-corruption approaches also widened beyond the early efforts in international law towards a much more holistic picture. That was the world into which the Basel Institute was born.\n\nFor me personally, the wider thrust of the Basel Institute’s activity has always been the challenges posed by the deregulated, globalised world that we inherited following the Cold War. The fall of the Berlin Wall opened up markets and brought positive developments for many people. But the free movement of capital and services did not necessarily raise standards of living for everyone.\n\nConflicts have continued to rage. Organised crime has been on the rise. Corporations have colluded with corrupt elites to embezzle the natural resources of desperately poor countries. Many citizens even in rich states live a precarious existence, thanks to the outsourcing of jobs to low-wage economies and to the instability caused by short-term policies and happy-go-lucky financial markets.\n\nAll these developments create dark spaces for corruption to occur. The ultimate goal of the Basel Institute‘s anti-corruption work under my leadership has always been to bring light to those dark spaces and to improve the lives of citizens everywhere.\n\n### Milestones and achievements\n\nIn its early days, the work of the Basel Institute was very much associated with my [personal activities](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pieth.ch\u002Fabout-me\u002Fcv) in fora like the UN, OECD, Council of Europe, World Bank and regional international financial institutions. Gradually, we entered the field of anti-corruption compliance, helping companies and organisations apply the international standards to which we had contributed.\n\nA key step was the creation of the [Wolfsberg Group](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wolfsberg-principles.com\u002F) of private banks in 1999. Now one of the longest-running Collective Action initiatives, the Wolfsberg Group recently became an [independent legal entity](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fnews\u002Fcollective-action-in-banking-the-wolfsberg-groups-role-in-a-fast-evolving-industry-2202) housed at the Basel Institute.\n\nOther [Collective Action initiatives](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002F) followed as we tested different ways to bring diverse stakeholders together and build the trust they needed to overcome their common problems. Back then, Collective Action was still considered a novel approach. The Siemens Integrity Initiative, which emerged from Siemens’ [settlement](https:\u002F\u002Fcollective-action.com\u002Fnews\u002Fsiemens-and-the-european-investment-bank-fostering-integrity-through-collective-action-and-constructive-settlements-2133) with the World Bank and European Investment Bank, gave a strong boost to our efforts. I am proud now to see that anti-corruption Collective Action tools and approaches have blossomed around the world. It is on the path to becoming a standard element of both state-led corruption prevention efforts and private-sector compliance.\n\nAnother key development was the decision in 2006 to create the [International Centre for Asset Recovery](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fasset-recovery) (ICAR). The idea was to help countries whose public funds had been plundered by politicians build capacity to recover the stolen money. This was and still is a major need, since only a tiny proportion of corrupt funds are ever traced, confiscated and returned to the countries they were stolen from. With the help of stable funding from ICAR’s core donor group, the Basel Institute has managed to build up a global team of some of the most experienced former law enforcement and legal specialists in this area. Demand for ICAR’s assistance continues to grow.\n\nBeyond that, the Basel Institute’s relentless focus on [evidence](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublic-governance) and its expansion into other areas such as [Green Corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption) are to a large extent down to the vision and talent of its Managing Director, Gretta Fenner.\n\n### Looking ahead\n\nSince retiring from teaching at the University of Basel, I have set up a boutique law firm (Office Pieth) and spent more time delving into abuses of power in particular areas.\n\nMy book on [_Gold Laundering_](https:\u002F\u002Felstersalis.com\u002Fprodukt\u002Fgschnaetzlets-mark-pieth\u002F) (in English and German) has triggered widespread concern about human rights violations and environmental harms in the gold trade. Among the initiatives to address these concerns is [Basel Gold Day](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pieth.ch\u002Fgold-day-II), in which we convene relevant stakeholders including regulators, civil society groups and private-sector firms and associations involved the gold trade.\n\nMy most recent project has looked at problems in the shipping industry exacerbated by gaps in regulation, resulting in the publication of a book in German: [_Seefahrtsnation Schweiz_](https:\u002F\u002Felstersalis.com\u002Fprodukt\u002Fseefahrtsnation-schweiz-mark-pieth-kathrin-betz\u002F).\n\nCloser to my legal background, I am working on the effects of illegal activities like corruption, fraud or money laundering on the world of arbitration through the [Arbitration and Crime Competence Centre](https:\u002F\u002Farbcrime.org\u002F) and our annual workshops.\n\nIn all this work and more, now and in the future, I will continue to apply the principles by which I led the Basel Institute for the last 20 years. I look forward with great hopes and anticipation for the Basel Institute’s next steps in this ever changing world.","2022-11-08","mark-pieth-fighting-corruption-with-the-basel-institute-and-beyond-2297","Mark Pieth: Fighting corruption with the Basel Institute and beyond","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F79b82bd8-8cf9-4350-ad86-03aef103ce3a?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[17],[],2297,[],[17],[],[],[23],[],"2022-11-08T11:01:25.000Z","2026-04-27T21:01:58.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fmark-pieth-fighting-corruption-with-the-basel-institute-and-beyond-2297",{"id":104,"body":105,"status":6,"type":10,"date":106,"slug":107,"title":108,"image":109,"countries":110,"topic":111,"activity":113,"tags":115,"nid":116,"topics":117,"activities":119,"authors":120,"images":121,"websites":122,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":123,"translation_of":21,"user_created":75,"date_created":7,"user_updated":77,"date_updated":124,"content":125,"link":126},9899,"Basel Institute President Mark Pieth was interviewed by cash.ch journalist Daniel Hügli at the 2019 World Economic Forum in Davos. See the [original interview here](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cash.ch\u002Fnews\u002Ftop-news\u002Fmark-pieth-bei-rohstoffanlagen-muss-man-ganz-genau-hinschauen-1268816).\n\nBelow is the (unofficial) English translation of his comments on commodity trading, gold supply chains and clean investments. \n\n\"You have to pay real close attention to commodity investments”\n---------------------------------------------------------------\n\n_Are investments in commodities immoral? Where does our gold come from? And why is commodity trading growing so strongly in Switzerland?_ \n\nCriminal Law Professor and corruption fighter Mark Pieth answers these questions and more in an interview with cash.ch at the World Economic Forum. \n\ncash: Mr. Pieth, don't you sometimes feel out of place at the WEF as a professor of criminal law and an anti-corruption activist? \n\nMark Pieth: When I first started coming here, more than 10 years ago, I felt like a clown. We, that is PACI (editor's note: Pieth is co-founder of the 'Partnering Against Corruption Initiative' of the WEF), have long been uncertain whether our activities are really relevant for the business world. Over time, however, we got the feeling that we had influence. This has to do with the fact that the penalties are now enormously high if you do something stupid, especially in the USA. But also with the fact that I have become an expert in arbitration cases. This is partly about insanely high sums.\n\ncash: According to the list of WEF participants, the top managers of all the major commodity companies in Switzerland are in Davos. But they're staying in the background. What are these people doing here?\n\nPieth: That’s easy to explain. Every boss of these commodity companies sits here in a hotel and has a different conversation every quarter of an hour. I used to do this myself at the oil companies. I just rattled them off. In the arms industry there was once a difficult case, namely British Aerospace with its case of corruption in Saudi Arabia. We made peace, so to speak, during this conversation. The deal was: I would become less 'sharp', and British Aerospace had to make sure that the UK got a new law. So on the one hand you catch these people in Davos in a more relaxed environment. On the other hand, people are clearly here to do business.\n\ncash: Glencore, Trafigura, Vitol and so on: Switzerland's six largest companies in terms of turnover are commodity companies, followed by Nestlé in seventh place. Why is this sector growing so strongly? \n\nPieth: This development was to be expected. Switzerland used to be a manufacturing centre as well as strong in the financial services sector. The machinery industry, for example, is now moving away. Switzerland is increasingly being pushed into specialist areas. Commodity trading is one of them.\n\ncash: What is the role of Switzerland’s well-known advantages as a business location? \n\nPieth: Not so long ago, some company executives told me they were in Switzerland just because of taxes. And the well-known commodities trader Marc Rich said bluntly: If you put me under the Money Laundering Act, I'm going. I know that because at the time I was sitting in a commission of the Department of Finance. But the companies have realised today that they have to do something. Recently, this has included going through a process of opening up – to some extent.\n\ncash: In its reports on raw materials and gold, the Federal Council focuses on self-regulation by the industry instead of new laws. Parliament also wants it that way. Does self-regulation work?\n\nPieth: I have concerns about that. I say this with my 25 years of experience in the fight against corruption and in the field of money laundering. Self-regulation is okay, but we must set clear guidelines, as the European Union has done for example \\[with the [Conflict Minerals Regulation](http:\u002F\u002Ftrade.ec.europa.eu\u002Fdoclib\u002Fdocs\u002F2017\u002Fmarch\u002Ftradoc_155423.pdf)\\]. It has declared the relatively soft OECD requirements \\[the [OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd.org\u002Fcorporate\u002Fmne\u002Fmining.htm)\\] binding.\n\ncash: This EU regulation comes into force in 2021. How do Swiss gold refiners, for example, behave when they have dealings with the EU? Then they have to apply EU rules. \n\nPieth: Switzerland imports about 70 percent of the world's gold production. In the [Gold Report](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.swissinfo.ch\u002Feng\u002Fbusiness\u002Fgold-report_switzerland-s-golden-opportunity-for-responsible-business\u002F44556442), the Swiss legal situation is equated with South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and India. But this is the 'dirty competition'. Switzerland is on a different level, especially with regard to human rights.\n\ncash: The main problem for Swiss gold refiners is the origin of their raw material. Do the companies make enough efforts? \n\nPieth: They’re trying hard – on paper. They don't really know where their gold comes from. They know the supplier, for example an export company from Peru, but not the whole supply chain behind it. I wanted to personally find out the origin of the gold last summer. That's a frightening story. \n\ncash: Tell us. \n\nPieth: A Swiss refinery obtains all its gold from the area around Lake Titicaca in Peru. I drove there and saw a slum with 60,000 miners and 4,000 forced prostitutes near the glacier at an altitude of 5,500 meters. All that gold mining there is illegal. The miners work for 28 days without pay in order to have access to the mine. Then they are allowed to mine gold for themselves for two or three days. That is the way the Incas did it in the old days. That way you can earn $400 or more a month. There are only 20 cops there. The reason there are so few is because they only make $200. The cops become miners as soon as they arrive.\n\ncash: That doesn't sound safe. How did you get access to this place? \n\nPieth: I asked a journalist from Lima to accompany me. She knows about gold and also knows miners personally. We were then passed from priest to priest, until we ended up talking to a well-known engineer of the mine. We went there with the protection of the Catholic Church.\n\ncash: Are investments in commodities immoral? \n\nPieth: I don't think so. There are big differences. The Norwegian sovereign wealth fund, which is fed by the country's oil revenues, pays close attention to its investments. But if you invest in the Congo, there is a relatively high risk that the investments will be linked to the civil war.\n\ncash: And from the private investor's point of view?  \n\nPieth: You really have to keep your eyes open. Investments in cocoa sound relatively harmless. But there is a fair amount of child labour in this sector. Coffee looks better. Organised crime in Colombia, for example, is not widespread in the coffee sector. In the case of cereals or rice, there is a risk that you might contribute to fuelling price increases. \n\ncash: Some companies, such as the Zürcher Kantonalbank, offer their customers 'Fair Gold' or 'Clean Gold'. Does it live up to its promise? \n\nPieth: I also visited such places in Peru, where gold is mined and processed under better conditions, during my trip last summer. Even with these certified products, there is no guarantee that mercury or cyanide will not be used during processing. These are highly toxic substances. But child labour is excluded and the workers are at least subject to labour laws.\n\ncash: We live in times characterised by less tolerance towards critics. Have you ever been put under pressure or attacked by more modern means, such as cyber attacks? \n\nPieth: When I was working at the OECD, I was relatively harsh with both countries and companies. I've been threatened with defamation several times. During my work at 'Oil for Food' in New York we changed the ceiling panels of our office every two weeks due to possible bugging and unscrewed the telephones. We also had a secret service come to give advice. Personally, I had to make sure that there was no risk of eavesdropping and that no one came into my office. So in the end, it happened that my office was not cleaned for over a year (laughs).\n\n_Mark Pieth (65) has been Professor of Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and Criminology at the University of Basel and an Honorary Doctor of Sussex University in the UK since 1993. He is founder and President of the Basel Institute on Governance and was President of the OECD Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions from 1990 to 2013. From 2011 to 2013, Pieth also chaired FIFA's independent governance committee. He resigned from this post in protest._","2019-01-27","mark-pieth-on-commodity-trading-gold-and-investment-interview-with-cashch-563","Mark Pieth on commodity trading, gold and investment – interview with cash.ch","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F856bb88f-1c86-4bd7-b119-54422daa9fe7?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[112],"Asset Recovery",[17,114],"Presentations",[],563,[118],"Asset Recovery and Enforcement",[17,114],[],[],[23],[],"2026-05-29T22:22:03.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fmark-pieth-on-commodity-trading-gold-and-investment-interview-with-cashch-563",{"id":128,"body":129,"status":6,"type":34,"date":130,"slug":131,"title":132,"image":133,"countries":134,"topic":135,"activity":136,"tags":138,"nid":139,"topics":140,"activities":141,"authors":142,"images":144,"websites":145,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":146,"translation_of":21,"user_created":75,"date_created":147,"user_updated":148,"date_updated":149,"content":150,"link":151},10309,"Peter Maurer became President of the Basel Institute on Governance in October 2022, succeeding the Basel Institute’s founder and President for nearly 20 years, Professor Mark Pieth.\n\nIn this short interview, Peter Maurer reflects on his decision to join the fight against corruption after 25 years as a Swiss diplomat and 10 as President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).\n\n### Why the pivot to corruption?\n\nThroughout my 35-year diplomatic and humanitarian career, I have seen in so many contexts how corruption and poor governance cause human suffering and impede progress towards peace and sustainable development. \n\nCorruption fuels and exacerbates humanitarian crises linked to war and armed conflict, food insecurity, health emergencies and the effects of climate change. It squanders funds intended for essential services like health and education, skews the incentives of leaders away from the best interests of citizens, and destroys trust in institutions. High corruption risks hinder access to foreign investment and markets, holding back economic development. \n\nAll these factors reduce the ability of states to meet the needs of their own citizens, in normal times as well as periods of crisis.\n\nAt the ICRC, we were mandated to assist and protect populations affected by armed conflict and violence and help them cope through humanitarian emergencies. Now, at the Basel Institute, I wish to focus on tackling some of the underlying causes of this human suffering: corruption and poor governance.\n\n### What is the link with international development assistance?\n\nI have seen first-hand the importance of good governance to make humanitarian and development cooperation programmes work effectively. \n\nCorruption diverts flows of aid and investment from those who most desperately need it, undermining human rights and jeopardising assistance programmes. In contexts of weak governance and kleptocracy, well-intentioned aid and development funds may even exacerbate corruption by pouring money into contexts of low transparency, accountability, coordination and oversight. Also, mere perceptions of high levels of corruption may erode support for humanitarian or other international assistance in a country. \n\nTargeting corruption helps ensure that aid and other development assistance provided by governments, charities and citizens around the world actually reach their goals. It directly supports efforts to protect the lives and dignity of people in vulnerable situations.\n\n### So anti-corruption is not just about corruption?\n\nAbsolutely not. Corruption affects the whole of society and fighting it is a collective responsibility.\n\nCorruption and the quality of governance impact fundamentally on our ability to reach each of the sustainable development goals. This is not just a problem of less developed or fragile states and contexts, but has deep impact on the global economy and the international cooperation system. When states abuse their geopolitical and economic leverage to unduly benefit their own interests to the detriment of others – well, that too severely impedes global progress towards peace and stability.\n\nThose of us who work in the “fields” of anti-corruption, humanitarian assistance, sustainable development, human rights, environmental conservation, etc., are all working on different parts of the same system, using different methods and methodologies to pursue their objectives. This plurality is important as it is critical to work in complementarity and to ensure the best possible impact of scarce resources.\n\n### Why the Basel Institute on Governance?\n\nFirst, for reasons of its long-standing dedication to countering corruption and improving standards of governance for the sake of people and our planet. The work of my 120 or so new colleagues has tangible and long-lasting impacts on people’s lives and livelihoods. That holds true whether they are facilitating the return of stolen assets, mentoring best practice in private-sector compliance, or applying anti-corruption tools to combat environmental crimes.\n\nSecond, for its political independence and agility and for its professionalism in dealing with complex political and societal issues. These are even more important in a highly polarised environment within many countries and in the international system overall.\n\nThird, for its position at the interface between technical excellence and policy advancement. The Basel Institute helps to bridge the gap between those on the front lines of fighting corruption and those taking decisions in high-level international fora and government cabinets. \n\nBut just as much as what the Basel Institute does, it is how it works and has developed methods to navigate difficult environments. \n\nThe basis of our work is always evidence – of what is or could be effective, what isn’t, how to tailor different anti-corruption approaches to different contexts and how to demonstrate change. The teams integrate prevention and enforcement, seek out windows of opportunity and work through partnerships and across stakeholder groups. \n\nPeople are always at the centre, to bring change and to benefit from the change. So are efforts to learn, share learning and improve together. \n\n### What will you bring to the Basel Institute’s work?\n\nI hope my experiences in international diplomacy and cooperation will help the Basel Institute to reach higher and wider in its work and to build broader support for its important endeavours. We can do more to push leaders to live up to their commitments and show pathways to do so through exemplary leadership.\n\nI hope my continued focus on people, sustainable development, peace and security will help us to have even greater impact on the ground in the longer term. \n\nAnd lastly, I hope also to continue building political and operational bridges between those who work on “tackling corruption” and those who labour tirelessly in other ways to help their fellow citizens live safe, prosperous and dignified lives.","2022-10-24","peter-maurer-on-corruption-sustainable-development-and-joining-the-basel-institute-on-governance-2295","Peter Maurer on corruption, sustainable development and joining the Basel Institute on Governance","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F456c28a2-af02-4d81-a4a9-33fa8e71d062?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[14],[17,137],"Media releases",[],2295,[],[17,137],[143],1157,[],[23],[],"2022-10-24T10:01:23.000Z","b0662e2a-864d-4888-a1b7-4342b7570b30","2025-08-31T23:14:40.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fpeter-maurer-on-corruption-sustainable-development-and-joining-the-basel-institute-on-governance-2295",{"id":153,"body":154,"status":6,"type":14,"date":155,"slug":156,"title":157,"image":158,"countries":159,"topic":161,"activity":162,"tags":164,"nid":165,"topics":166,"activities":167,"authors":168,"images":169,"websites":170,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":171,"translation_of":21,"user_created":75,"date_created":172,"user_updated":148,"date_updated":8,"content":173,"link":174},9935,"In October 2018, Mark Pieth and two assistants Stefan Mbiyavanga and Kathrin Betz delivered a workshop on corruption and money laundering to students in Cape Town. The students are enrolled in the University of the Western Cape’s [LL.M programme in Transnational Criminal Justice and Crime Prevention](https:\u002F\u002Ftranscrim.rewi.hu-berlin.deindex.php\u002F?id=programme). The programme aims at preparing African lawyers and jurists from various countries for leading positions at both the national and international levels.\n\nMark Pieth, President of the Basel Institute on Governance, led the workshop in his capacity as Professor of Criminal Law at the University of Basel.","2018-10-08","corruption-and-money-laundering-workshop-for-university-of-the-western-cape-law-students-76","Corruption and money laundering workshop for University of the Western Cape law students","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F23800378-15ba-4192-a58f-0696422613a6?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[160],7519,[14],[163],"Training",[],76,[],[163],[],[],[23],[],"2022-05-26T22:57:38.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fcorruption-and-money-laundering-workshop-for-university-of-the-western-cape-law-students-76",{"id":176,"body":177,"status":6,"type":34,"date":178,"slug":179,"title":180,"image":181,"countries":182,"topic":183,"activity":185,"tags":187,"nid":190,"topics":191,"activities":192,"authors":193,"images":195,"websites":196,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":197,"translation_of":21,"user_created":75,"date_created":198,"user_updated":148,"date_updated":149,"content":199,"link":200},10313,"_A summary of Juhani Grossmann’s remarks at [Basel Gold Day II](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pieth.ch\u002Fgold-day-II) on corruption risks in gold supply chains. He highlights experiences from our [Green Corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption) team, explains why recycled gold might not be as ethical as it sounds, and ends with two broad recommendations for companies, state-owned enterprises and regulators in the gold trade._\n\nGold is a fascinating commodity for those of us seeking to address corruption linked to environmental crimes. Its value chain is high in corruption risks, not least due to its high financial value to size ratio, complex sourcing structure and high emotive value. The origin of a particular piece of gold is easy to obscure through refining. And as Mark Pieth’s book _[Gold Laundering](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fgold-laundering-dirty-secrets-gold-trade-and-how-clean)_ points out, the consequences of corruption in the gold trade are severe for people and for the environment.\n\nDespite the plethora of standards around gold, and the detailed and advanced [due diligence guidance](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd.org\u002Findustry\u002Finv\u002Fmne\u002Fgoldsupplementtotheduediligenceguidance.htm), their implementation is patchy and effectively excludes significant parts of the globe. The OECD has tackled this issue with various practical resources including some excellent [FAQs related to corruption risks in the mining sector](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fwelcoming-oecds-new-faqs-corruption-risks-mineral-supply-chains). The [Financial Action Task Force (FATF) report on gold](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fatf-gafi.org\u002Fdocuments\u002Fdocuments\u002Fml-tf-risks-and-vulnerabilities-gold.html) also highlights numerous money laundering and corruption challenges.\n\n### Corruption: a multi-use tool to undermine the gold trade\n\nOur global Green Corruption teams see many of those concerns playing out in real life, including:\n\n*   In Indonesia, Parliamentary Speaker Setya Novanto was caught on tape trying to [extort](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ft.com\u002Fcontent\u002Fc65b8c78-12cf-11e6-91da-096d89bd2173) a private jet from the operator of the Grasberg gold mine as part of the government’s takeover of the mine. The Governor of Southeast Sulawesi, Nur Salam, operated a complex web of [corruption-fuelled mining licenses](https:\u002F\u002Fantikorupsi.org\u002Fen\u002Farticle\u002Fdisappointing-verdict-nur-alam) that was constantly adjusted in favour of the highest bidder. Both officials were subsequently convicted of corruption offences.\n*   In Peru, we see the highly publicised risks in [Madre de Dios](https:\u002F\u002Fstories.swissinfo.ch\u002Fgold-peru-switzerland-mining-metalor#231918), to take just one example, and sophisticated efforts to smuggle gold from informal artisanal and small-scale mines (ASM) into legitimate supply chains.\n*   In Bolivia, gold is crucial to the economy, making up 6.2 percent of GDP. Yet there is also clearly an [urgent need](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Fworld\u002F2022\u002Foct\u002F19\u002Fbolivia-gold-miners-amazon-madidi) to strengthen the resilience of regulators against untoward influence and corruption in order to protect the integrity of national parks.\n\nIn numerous countries, corruption is used to avoid effective environmental impact assessments, to issue fake export permits and certifications and to ward off inspections. When wrongdoing is uncovered, corruption helps to stymie law enforcement efforts.\n\nThis severely undermines conservation goals and the rights of local communities. It also further complicates assurance inside the gold value chain.\n\n### Recycled gold is no less risky\n\nAs these challenges are well documented in the mined gold sector, and assurances are particular challenging in the ASM field, there is an increasing search for alternative sources of gold to meet the high demand.\n\nSome consider recycled gold (or “recyclable gold” in the [OECD’s terminology](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd.org\u002Findustry\u002Finv\u002Fmne\u002FGoldSupplement.pdf)) to be a safer source since it comes from gold that was already in circulation, primarily in the jewellery industry. Recycled gold now reportedly makes up 25-30 percent of annual gold use. Some companies even market their use of recycled gold as the more ethical choice over freshly mined gold.\n\nOpting for what is considered a lower-risk product has three challenges, however:\n\n*   First, it is not clear what “recycled” gold encompasses. Definitions vary and many participants at Basel Gold Day II agreed they were too broad and vague.\n*   Second, the risk factors for recycled gold are not nearly as well studied and understood as those of mined gold.\n*   Third, the belief that the risk factors are lower might mean less due diligence.\n\nAre corruption risks for recyclable gold different? If so, how? While there is little detailed research on this, here are some initial considerations:\n\n*   The corruption risks inherent in the original feedstock have not disappeared. While the legal liability for these might be limited, it doesn’t mean the gold is obtained without corruption.\n*   Companies trading recycled gold, according to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), tend to be itinerant due to their low start-up costs and thus perform only minimal due diligence.\n*   High demand for recycled gold makes it tempting to launder problematic mined gold, for example gold from conflict zones, into the recyclable value chain.\n*   When recycled gold is traded across borders, if faces the same corruption risks related to licenses and permits as mined gold.\n*   The high-cash, low-scrutiny nature of recyclable gold buyers puts them at major risk for money laundering.\n\n### Proper checks, strong internal controls\n\nWhile more research is needed to study the corruption risks related to recycled gold, these are certainly not negligible. What can be done about them?\n\nFirst, companies using recycled gold should apply the [full due diligence](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd.org\u002Fdaf\u002Finv\u002Fmne\u002Fmining.htm) suggested by the OECD, covering the whole value chain where needed according to a risk-based approach.\n\nSecond, regulators and state-owned enterprises involved in the gold trade need to get serious about [managing their internal corruption risks](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fpublications\u002Fquick-guide-24-internal-controls-and-anti-corruption). This requires strengthening the independence and capacity of internal control, investigation and audit bodies to uncover wrongdoing. It also requires continuous internal corruption risk assessments, the development of mitigation measures, and agile verification of their effectiveness.\n\n### More\n\n*   The Basel Institute’s [Green Corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption) programme provides assistance and capacity building to environmental agencies with enforcement powers, as well as to law enforcement partners targeting environmental crime. The team also works to prevent corruption seeping into regulatory or conservation authorities and state-owned enterprises engaged in activities of high environmental importance.\n*   Learn more about Basel Gold Day in [2020](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fnews\u002Fbasel-gold-day-4-golden-opportunities-collectively-raise-standards-gold-supply-chains) and [2022](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pieth.ch\u002Fgold-day-II).","2022-11-07","corruption-in-gold-mining-and-recycling-2305","Corruption in gold mining and recycling","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F6d48ecfa-4513-4464-81b2-9eb3d414f3c4?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[184],"Green Corruption",[186,17,114],"Events",[188],{"tags_id":189},{"id":65,"name":66},2305,[184],[186,17,114],[194],1156,[],[23],[],"2022-11-07T11:01:26.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fcorruption-in-gold-mining-and-recycling-2305",{"id":202,"body":203,"status":6,"type":10,"date":204,"slug":205,"title":206,"image":207,"countries":208,"topic":209,"activity":210,"tags":212,"nid":219,"topics":220,"activities":221,"authors":222,"images":223,"websites":224,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":225,"translation_of":21,"user_created":75,"date_created":226,"user_updated":148,"date_updated":149,"content":227,"link":228},9636,"Business, conservation, anti-corruption, global trade, compliance and risk management. International law, organised crime enforcement, standard-setting, political economy analysis and social norms. The inaugural [Corrupting the Environment](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption\u002Fcorrupting-environment) dialogue used all these lenses to examine the “vicious triangle” that undermines sustainable development: corruption, illicit trade and environmental degradation.\n\nTaking place virtually on 9 December 2020, International Anti-Corruption Day, the event launched a new dialogue series organised by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) and Basel Institute on Governance. The monthly dialogues will bring together different perspectives on burning issues of environmental degradation, seeking creative solutions through the lens of financial crime and illicit trade.\n\n### Driving change in global supply chains\n\nOpening the session, Cristina Tebar Less, Acting Head of the OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct, highlighted the OECD’s [Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises](http:\u002F\u002Fmneguidelines.oecd.org\u002Fabout.htm) and [OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct](http:\u002F\u002Fmneguidelines.oecd.org\u002Fdue-diligence-guidance-for-responsible-business-conduct.htm), the recognised gold standard for corporate due diligence covering human and labour rights, environmental degradation and bribery in international supply chains.\n\nThe OECD’s standards and tools are designed to help shape national policies and enforcement tools, she said, but also to help companies “actively engage their own supply chains and become drivers of change.”\n\nTebar Less noted that covid-19 had exposed the systemic risks and vulnerabilities in global supply chains. And as has been widely documented but is still not widely understood, corruption is a key factor in explaining why and how organised criminals around the world are increasingly able to exploit the environment for their illicit activities.\n\nThese issues require a solutions-oriented mindset and engagement between stakeholders on all sides, including business, governments, non-profit and civil society organisations, as well as subject matter experts.\n\n### Corruption: the headline, not a footnote\n\nMark Pieth, President of the Basel Institute on Governance and former Chair of the OECD Working Group on Bribery, stressed the cross-cutting nature of corruption. “It devastates entire societies, destroys natural environments, endangers wildlife and biodiversity, and undermines sustainable and equitable development,” he said. “It should not be treated merely as a footnote of criminal law or an aspect of unfair competition.”\n\nGiving the example of illegal gold mining and related deforestation and human rights violations in [Suriname](https:\u002F\u002Fnews.mongabay.com\u002F2015\u002F10\u002Fgold-mining-explodes-in-suriname-puts-forests-and-people-at-risk\u002F), he pointed out that complex global supply chains make it easy for illegally obtained natural resources to enter legal markets. The logic behind the Basel Institute’s [Green Corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption) programme is to follow the money trail, said Pieth, and target the corruption and other forms of financial crime that facilitate environmental degradation.\n\n### Different dialects of corruption\n\nElizabeth Hart of WWF US, Chief of Party for the USAID Targeting Natural Resource Corruption (TNRC) project, brought her perspective as an expert at the intersection of anti-corruption, governance and conservation.\n\nUnderlining how corruption undermines global and national measures to promote sustainability and protect biodiversity, she explained why the conservation community is and should be engaged on issues of corruption. Along with questions of how illegally harvested goods enter legal supply chains, for example, conservation objectives are deeply affected by policy choices at many other levels. Whether building a hydroelectric dam or granting a logging concession, when systemic corruption influences decisions that can destroy habitats and devastate indigenous communities and the very people who are critical to conservation, it becomes clear that environmental corruption should be seen as a political, policy, and management issue and not just a topic for law enforcement and trade regulators.\n\nAnalysing the political, economic and social dynamics that perpetuate corruption and undermine environmental goals has not been the traditional strength of conservation organisations, so the TNRC project was conceived to bring knowledge about corruption and anti-corruption approaches more squarely into the conservation and natural resource management context. Initial studies on corruption risks in illegal wildlife trade, permitting and CITES documentation processes, along with themes like political economy and political ecology, is available on the [TNRC Knowledge Hub](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.worldwildlife.org\u002Fpages\u002Ftnrc-targeting-natural-resource-corruption).\n\nAmong other outcomes, the project has helped illuminate how anti-corruption and conservation practitioners need to understand each other better, said Dr Hart. Some of us use “corruption” to mean “the abuse of entrusted power for private gain,” while others may be referring to human rights violations, equity and social justice, or even greenwashing. Being aware of the different understandings will help conservation and anti-corruption practitioners work together more effectively and expand the set of tools to combat both corruption and environmental degradation. It may also open new possibilities for partnerships between people promoting environmental protection or human rights and those looking at democracy, justice, equity and other issues that impact sustainable development.\n\nAs Basel Institute Managing Director Gretta Fenner, co-facilitator of the panel alongside Piotr Stryszowski of the OECD’s Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade, said: Even if we all have the same ultimate goal and are speaking the same underlying language, we use different dialects. That’s why the multi-disciplinary – as well as multi-stakeholder – aspect is vital.\n\n### The “elusive and omnipresent enemy”\n\nJorge Eduardo Rios, Chief of the Global Programme to Combat Wildlife and Forest Crime at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), brings 27 years of experience targeting organised drug trafficking to the field of environmental crimes.\n\nCorruption is the “elusive and omnipresent enemy” that is the principle facilitator of both drug trafficking and environmental crime, he said. In essence, it helps the criminals to maximise profits and evade detection. He noted that environmental and natural resources crimes are a large and growing source of finance for organised criminal activities, impacting economic and social aspects as well as national security and most recently, human health as demonstrated by the current COVID-19 pandemic.\n\nAlmost universally ratified, the United National Convention Against Corruption ([UNCAC](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.unodc.org\u002Fdocuments\u002Fbrussels\u002FUN_Convention_Against_Corruption.pdf)) explicitly recognises crimes against the environment in its [Resolution 8\u002F12](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.unodc.org\u002Funodc\u002Fen\u002Fcorruption\u002FCOSP\u002Fsession8-resolutions.html) passed at the 2019 Conference of the States Parties in Abu Dhabi. Applying the force of international law through the UNCAC and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime ([UNTOC](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.unodc.org\u002Fdocuments\u002Ftreaties\u002FUNTOC\u002FPublications\u002FTOC%20Convention\u002FTOCebook-e.pdf)) provides a framework for strengthening the entire criminal justice chain – from “crime scene to court” and from source to destination countries.\n\nCountries can implement numerous preventive measures in line with Chapter II of the UNCAC, explained Jorge Eduardo Rios. These include a risk-based approach to identify corruption threats within wildlife and fisheries authorities and establish protocols for high-risk areas like procurement and human resources. Echoing the earlier comments on differences in language and meaning, he stressed that it is also vital to understand the social norms around corruption and the mechanisms that enable it. What law enforcement regards as corruption might be considered routine in another context, and these small routine acts can add up to devastating impacts.\n\nLastly, he stressed, we shouldn’t put all our eggs in the prevention basket. Helping to build capacity to conduct financial investigations in cases of environmental and natural resources crime is an aspect that’s sorely needed.\n\nRelevant tools include guides on addressing corruption in the fisheries sector ([Rotten Fish](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.unodc.org\u002Fdocuments\u002FRotten_Fish.pdf)) and on addressing corruption for wildlife management authorities ([Scaling back Corruption](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.unodc.org\u002Fdocuments\u002FWildlife\u002F19-08373_Scaling_Back_Corruption_ebook.pdf)). Complementing the series, a publication on corruption in the forestry sector is currently under development. Additional UNODC tools can be found [here](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.unodc.org\u002Funodc\u002Fen\u002Fwildlife-and-forest-crime\u002Fpublications.html).\n\n### Going beyond legal compliance to meet investor and consumer expectations\n\nBringing the business perspective to the table was Christopher Wright, Senior Vice President for Compliance at Lafarge Holcim. The Swiss multinational has the largest geographical footprint in the building materials sector, with 2,000 sites in 70 countries. Environmental issues such as water use, biodiversity and of course climate change present a very real and present challenge.\n\nLafarge Holcim has taken the [Business Ambition for 1.5°C pledge](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lafargeholcim.com\u002Flafargeholcim-net-zero-pledge-science-based-targets) to follow a net zero pathway with science-based targets for carbon emissions reductions by 2030, and has launched the industry’s first [sustainability-linked bond](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lafargeholcim.com\u002Ffirst-sustainability-linked-bond-eur-850-million). Its two-pronged approach encompasses _active promotion_ of better building in the environmental space (such as to reduce water usage and carbon emissions) and _active prevention_ to protect the environment.\n\nWright explained how anti-corruption compliance and environmental protection converged in many areas, including the key risk area of obtaining permits and licences. Environmental issues are central to the overall Lafarge Holcim compliance programme, which covers not only anti-corruption but also anti-money laundering, sanctions and due diligence on business partners, customers and suppliers.\n\nIn this respect, he noted a growing convergence between legal requirements on compliance and the wider expectations from investors and communities on corporate behaviour. These reputational and financial aspects are driving companies to go beyond legal necessities, said Wright, and to proactively embrace environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.\n\nIs there room for the building materials industry to act collectively with other stakeholders to solve some of these issues? “An emphatic yes,” said Wright.\n\nSee the [Corrupting the Environment series web page](https:\u002F\u002Fbaselgovernance.org\u002Fgreen-corruption\u002Fcorrupting-environment).","2021-01-06","unpicking-the-vicious-triangle-of-corruption-illicit-trade-and-environmental-degradation-at-the-oecdbasel-institute-dialogue-series-1953","Unpicking the vicious triangle of corruption, illicit trade and environmental degradation at the OECD\u002FBasel Institute dialogue series","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F7438dfb5-b04a-4ee5-8c6f-b2acd92f0275?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[184],[186,17,114,211],"Partnerships",[213,215],{"tags_id":214},{"id":49,"name":50},{"tags_id":216},{"id":217,"name":218},1380,"Sustainability",1953,[184],[186,17,114,211],[],[],[23],[],"2022-05-26T22:53:36.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Funpicking-the-vicious-triangle-of-corruption-illicit-trade-and-environmental-degradation-at-the-oecdbasel-institute-dialogue-series-1953",{"id":230,"body":231,"status":6,"type":10,"date":232,"slug":233,"title":234,"image":235,"countries":236,"topic":238,"activity":239,"tags":241,"nid":242,"topics":243,"activities":244,"authors":245,"images":246,"websites":247,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":248,"translation_of":21,"user_created":75,"date_created":249,"user_updated":77,"date_updated":124,"content":250,"link":251},9910,"Promising young researcher Stefan Mbiyavanga has been selected to present his latest work at the [OECD Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd.org\u002Fcorruption\u002Fintegrity-forum\u002F) on 20 and 21 March 2019. \n\nStefan's application was among the top 10 of 146 entries to the OECD's [Youth ResearchEdge Competition](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.oecd.org\u002Fcorruption\u002Fintegrity-forum\u002Facademic-papers\u002F), which provides a platform for young researchers to present fresh insights and evidence on corruption-related topics.\n\nThe research is entitled: [Beefing up Asset Confiscation for 21st-Century Challenges: Non-conviction based Confiscation in Latin America](https:\u002F\u002Fwww.baselgovernance.org\u002Fsites\u002Fdefault\u002Ffiles\u002F2018-12\u002FMbiyavanga_Beefing%20up%20asset%20confiscation.pdf). It explores the practical and legal issues around the increasing use of non-conviction based confiscation of assets in Latin American countries. Some of the findings come from Stefan's collaboration in the summer of 2018 with Oscar Solórzano, Country Manager of the Basel Institute's subsidiary office in Peru and a Senior Asset Recovery Specialist.\n\nStefan's work was selected for the Gold Poster Category, which means a poster and paper presenting the research will be published on the OECD website. During the conference, Stefan will also give a short presentation.\n\nStefan Mbiyavanga is a graduate student of international economic law at the University of Basel, Switzerland. In February 2019, he will relocate to Lima, to work at the [Peru country office of the Basel Institute on Governance](\u002Fnode\u002F236), while also writing his Ph.D. under the supervision of Prof. Mark Pieth. During his two-year stay in Peru, he will conduct research in the fields of economic crime, confiscation and mutual legal assistance to support Basel Institute cases and create academic works.","2018-12-15","stefan-mbiyavanga-to-present-at-2019-oecd-global-anti-corruption-amp-integrity-forum-24","Stefan Mbiyavanga to present at 2019 OECD Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002F1c9962e2-2646-4096-bf9a-41dc53758a1c?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[237],7510,[112],[240],"Research",[],24,[118],[240],[],[],[23],[],"2022-05-26T22:57:22.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fstefan-mbiyavanga-to-present-at-2019-oecd-global-anti-corruption-amp-integrity-forum-24",{"id":253,"body":254,"status":6,"type":10,"date":255,"slug":256,"title":257,"image":258,"countries":259,"topic":260,"activity":262,"tags":264,"nid":265,"topics":266,"activities":267,"authors":268,"images":269,"websites":270,"area":21,"programme":21,"language":21,"translations":271,"translation_of":21,"user_created":75,"date_created":272,"user_updated":148,"date_updated":8,"content":273,"link":274},10013,"Professor Mark Pieth on behalf of the Basel Institute and the German Institute for Compliance (DICO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in June 2017. The cooperation agreement foresees a range of joint projects being undertaken to address compliance themes relevant to the private sector, focusing particularly on preventive work. The agreement was signed at the DICO annual general meeting in Berlin where Professor [Mark Pieth held a keynote speech](\u002Fnode\u002F114).\n\nDICO is keen to promote anti-corruption Collective Action within the private sector and will be engaging with the Basel Institute to further understanding on that topic as well as to promote its application in a variety of industry sectors.\n\n[Read more](http:\u002F\u002Fwww.dico-ev.de\u002F2017\u002F06\u002F23\u002F4-dico-forum-compliance-den-blinden-flecken-auf-der-spur\u002F) (in German) on the \"4. DICO Forum Compliance: Den blinden Flecken auf der Spur\".","2017-07-03","basel-institute-and-dico-sign-a-cooperation-agreement-115","Basel Institute and DICO sign a cooperation agreement","https:\u002F\u002Fjam.baselgovernance.org\u002Fapi\u002Fassets\u002Ff7da0395-fac8-44d6-bd85-4c6dfae8540a?width=1000&height=650&format=webp&quality=80",[],[261],"Private Sector",[211,263],"International cooperation",[],115,[261],[211,263],[],[],[23],[],"2022-05-26T22:58:19.000Z",[],"\u002Fresources\u002Fnews\u002Fbasel-institute-and-dico-sign-a-cooperation-agreement-115",{"left":276,"top":276,"width":277,"height":277,"rotate":276,"vFlip":278,"hFlip":278,"body":279},0,20,false,"\u003Cpath fill=\"currentColor\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M17 10a.75.75 0 0 1-.75.75H5.612l4.158 3.96a.75.75 0 1 1-1.04 1.08l-5.5-5.25a.75.75 0 0 1 0-1.08l5.5-5.25a.75.75 0 1 1 1.04 1.08L5.612 9.25H16.25A.75.75 0 0 1 17 10\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\"\u002F>",1780676416929]