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Gender and corruption
Transparency International
Transparency International
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"In spite of these mixed findings, governments keen to tackle corruption have overhauled their staffs to increase women among their ranks, particularly in public service delivery positions. In Brazil, for example, municipal governments have experimented with hiring all-female traffic police to eradicate petty corruption. While positive results have been recorded, some observers have noted that these may be influenced by other changes that accompany staffing reforms. These include improving incentives to build workers’ pride in their jobs and creating accountability mechanisms to allow for performance-based monitoring. Even empirical results have not completely helped to resolve some of the questions about the relationship between women and corruption. Recent findings point to a statistically significant correlation between the increased participation of women in governance and reduced corruption.4 However, no causality has been shown between gender and corruption, suggesting one’s sex does not directly determine corrupt behaviour. Increasing women’s role in governance should be promoted, but on the basis of equality rather than as part of an anti-corruption drive. 2. Effects of corruption on women While findings may vary on how gender and corruption interact, there is no split on the harsh effects that corruption exacts on women’s lives. Women often confront social, cultural, political and institutional discrimination in their countries, which are compounded when a society is corruption ridden. With institutions already restricted for women, corruption creates additional obstacles for accessing public goods (including basic services) and their political participation. Some ways in which women are affected disproportionately by corruption are: Access to decision-making. Corruption undermines a level playing field for women and men in decision-making. When political parties can be bought and sold, officials are elected through vote-buying and promotion is related to personal connections rather than merit, there are fewer opportunities for women to access decision-making circles in a country’s government, political system and companies. Protection and advancement of rights under the law. Women’s civil rights are often grossly inequitable and not protected when it comes to key social, political and economic issues: marriage and divorce, human trafficking, allegations of adultery and rape, child custody, inheritance, property rights and financial independence, among others. Under a corrupt law enforcement system, broader human rights for women and girls — as well as for minorities and less-advantaged groups — suffer (see sidebar). A corrupt judiciary perpetuates these problems and will reinforce existing discrimination, explicitly and implicitly.6 Since women generally lack access to resources, any case brought to remedy claims against discrimination will likely be lost if the defendant can pay off the prosecutors and/or judges involved."
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2007-09-19
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With permission of the license/copyright holder