EBBF the European Baha’i Business Forum (www.ebbf.org) – Business People Across 70 Countries - Announces the Launch of Anti-bribery and Anti-corruption Knowledge Centre

2009-09-15 08:31:03 -

EBBF ( www.ebbf.org : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. ) the European Baha’i Business Forum announces the launch of its ninth Knowledge Centre, dedicated to combating the issue of bribery and corruption. Created in collaboration with Jean-Pierre MĂ©an, EBBF member and Vice President of Transparency International : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. Switzerland, the global civil society organization fighting corruption.

With the amount of bribes paid each

year exceeding the GDP of all countries except the six largest and currently less than 5% of corruption cases being criminally prosecuted, corruption continues to cause significant harm to people and economies across the globe.

Entitled ‘On corruption and bribery - fighting to restore trust’ : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Febb .. - the new EBBF Knowledge Centre begins with an introduction to and definition of corruption. Followed by a well defined structure communicating: the extent of corruption; the geographical and sectorial spread; the causes; ways and means; consequences; spiritual aspects; and the legislative instruments and business initiatives to combat corruption.

Featured in the Knowledge Centre is the 2008 Corruption Perception Index : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. issued annually since 1999 by Transparency International : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. , measuring the perceived levels of public-sector corruption in 180 countries on a scale from zero to ten.

The Bribe Payers Index is also featured : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. which looks at the propensity of companies from 30 leading exporting countries to bribe abroad on a score from one to ten. Again this index is published by Transparency International : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. and based on a survey of 2,742 senior business executives in 26 countries selected on the basis of their Foreign Direct Investment inflows and their importance in regional trade patterns.

The section on Business Initiatives to combat bribery features : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Febb .. three of the most successful initiatives among others and includes the TI Business Principles for Countering Bribery : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. , The World Economic Forum Partnership Against Corruption Initiative (PACI) : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. , and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Rules of Conduct and Recommendations for Combating Extortion and Bribery : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. .

Jean Pierre MĂ©an introduced this new resource saying “Eliminating corruption in business can only rest on an act of leadership inspired by ethical values. Just as the fish rots from the head, departing from corrupt practices requires a morally healthy head” and adds “Corruption is also socially irresponsible because it is giving priority to private gain over the common good.”


EBBF’s founding member, former senior partner at McKinsey & Co. and current President and Head of Research at EBBF, George Starcher, was delighted “We dedicate this ninth EBBF knowledge centre to providing insight into the causes, forms and consequences of corruption while addressing the spiritual aspects, the legislative instruments and business initiatives to combat corruption and restore trust”.



ABOUT EBBF

The European Bahá’í : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. Business Forum : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. is a network of over 400 women and men, a community of people passionate about bringing ethical values, personal virtues and moral leadership into their workplaces. Its membership is diverse and crosses generations, borders, sectors and belief systems .

Founded in 1990 : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Febb .. and now present in over 70 countries, EBBF partners and consults with other organisations and businesspeople around the world providing them with practical examples to evoke positive change in their own and the greater business environment. For more information www.ebbf.org : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. or EBBF Frequently Asked Questions : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Febb ..



ABOUT JEAN-PIERRE MEAN

Jean-Pierre MĂ©an joined the SGS Group in Switzerland in 1996 as Senior Vice President of Legal and Compliance and member of the Group's Management Board. SGS is a world leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company with 52'000 employees. In 2002 Jean-Pierre left SGS to take the position of Chief Compliance Officer at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London before returning after two years to his position at SGS until 2008. Mr. MĂ©an is currently a member of the Commission on Anti-Corruption of the International Chamber of Commerce, Paris, France; : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. Vice President of the Swiss Chapter of Transparency International, Bern, Switzerland; and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation Caux Initiatives of Change : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. , Lucerne, Switzerland. Soon after joining SGS, the company was drawn into a major corruption scandal in relation with a contract with the Government of Pakistan going back to the early '90s. In order to re-establish the reputation of the company as the global benchmark for quality and integrity, Jean-Pierre was asked to implement and manage a strict anticorruption program incorporating all elements of internationally recognised best practices. He also represented SGS on the Steering Committee of the Business Principles for Countering Bribery, an initiative sponsored by Transparency International and Social Accountability International : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww .. .

Link to Anti-bribery and Anti-corruption Knowledge Centre : cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Febb ..

EBBFTammara Anderton, +41 76 329 0359 Tammara.anderton@ebbf.org : mailto:Tammara.anderton@ebbf.org