Press Release

Anti-Corruption Organization Joins International IDEA

Stockholm 22 June 1998 -- Transparency International, the international non-governmental organization established to increase government accountability and fight corruption, was today unanimously accepted as the 22nd member of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).

Transparency International (TI) is the only non-profit international non-governmental organization which focuses solely on fighting corruption. Established in 1993, today it has 50 national chapters and is in the process of forming another 20. The organization, known widely for its annual Corruption Perception Index, which rates the perception of corruption in specific countries, believes that corruption must be fought on all levels.

"Fighting corruption locally, nationally and globally is extremely important to all democratic processes," said Dr Hansjörg Elshorst, the Managing Director of Transparency International. "One of the threats to good governance in old and new democracies alike is corruption. Transparency International is very happy to join International IDEA and hopes to work closely on these issues with the Institute."

The Council of the Institute, which consist of the Institute’s members, holding its fifth meeting in Stockholm today, welcomed the admission of TI. "We consider the work of Transparency to be a compliment to the work of IDEA," concluded Sir Shridath Ramphal, the chairman of International IDEA’s board, "and are very pleased to have them as a member of our governing body".

IDEA Welcomes New Members to its International Board of Directors

Maureen O’Neil, the President of the Canadian International Development Research Centre, and Dr Erling Hevmann Olsen, the former Speaker of the Danish parliament (Folketing) from October 1994 to February 1998, and currently an economics professor at the University of Roskilde were unanimously elected to the Board of International IDEA today. They join, among others, Sir Shridath Ramphal, Former secretary-general of the Commonwealth, Thorvald Stoltenberg, Ambassador of Norway to Denmark, former Foreign Minister and Minister of Defence of Norway, Dr Frene Ginwala, Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa and Aung San Suu Kyi, General Secretary of the National League for Democracy in Burma; Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

33 Countries Endorse Code of Conduct for Election Administrators

Lawyers have them, journalists have them, physicians have them and now election administrators have an international code of conduct which give clear guidelines for the professional conduct of election officials. The Code of Conduct for the Ethical and Professional Administration of Elections was created to ensure that elections are administered in a transparent, non-partisan and fair manner.

To date 33 electoral commissions have endorsed the codes. They are: Australia, Argentina, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominica Republic, Finland, Guatemala India, Ireland, Kenya, Namibia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico South Africa, Spain, Sweden Taiwan, Tonga, United Kingdom, Uruguay and Zimbabwe.

"Many countries around the world feel a need to have a universal set of minimum standards when administering an election," explained Bengt Säve-Söderbergh, secretary-general of International IDEA. "These codes are just that. We understand that they guide election officials and they can assist them at times when a difficult decision must be made."

The announcement about the number of countries that have endorsed these codes was made during the fourth meeting of the electoral management bodies of the member states of International IDEA.

"I think this code has proven useful because it is short, clear and to the point. In addition drafts went through a lengthy and detailed process of consultation and discussion with numerous electoral management bodies, international organizations and experts," explained Ron Gould, the Assistant Chief Electoral Officer for Elections Canada.

The Code is currently available in English, French and Spanish and is being translated into Portuguese and Russian. It can be found in English and Spanish on International IDEA’s Website: www.idea.int

Some 150 high-level politicians, democracy experts, and opinion-makers are gathered in Stockholm to attend the third Democracy Forum which opens tomorrow. In combination with this Forum the Council, the Board and the election management bodies of International IDEA also met.

International IDEA (International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance) was founded in February 1995. The Institute’s overall objective is to promote and advance sustainable democracy world-wide and to improve and consolidate electoral processes. To date, Members are Australia, Barbados, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, India, Namibia, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights, the International Federation of Journalists, the International Press Institute, Parliamentarians for Global Action and Transparency International. The Institute also has co-operative agreements with the International Commission of Jurists, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the United Nations Development Programme. Switzerland also contributes to the work of the Institute.