Brasil dialogues with society at the center of the anti-corruption agenda
In Natal, Brasil highlights the role of transparency and citizen engagement in anti-corruption actions, focusing on strengthening international cooperation and integrity in the public and private sectors.
In preparation for the ministerial meeting of the Anti-Corruption Working Group (GTAC) in Natal, Brasil's priorities on the agenda of the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU) include strengthening mechanisms for transparency, integrity, and accountability in the public and private sectors. The CGU brought to the G20 initiatives under its leadership to improve the fight against corruption through international cooperation, strengthening public organizations, and improving legal and regulatory frameworks.
Among the priorities is the engagement of civil society in the public policy cycle. Brasil, under the leadership of the CGU, has been working to strengthen transparency and open government and expand civil society's participation, aiming to ensure that it plays an active role in supervising and constructing public policies. This engagement includes using various engagement mechanisms to vocalize and incorporate the population's demands into the policy-making process and implement anti-corruption measures.
According to Izabela Moreira Correa, Secretary of Public Integrity of the Office of the Comptroller General of the Union, these initiatives were reinforced through Brasil's participation in the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group, where Brasil led by example in promoting practices that stimulated dialogue with the G20 engagement groups. Izabela says that Brasil is "leading by example," bringing practices of transparency and dialogue with society to the G20 global agenda. "The CGU, through its Council on Transparency, Integrity, and Fighting Corruption, actively listened to civil society, incorporating subsidies and guidelines for the debates that directly influenced the Ministerial Declaration of the Anti-Corruption Group. This process not only strengthens internal governance but also puts Brasil in a prominent position on the international stage," she says.
At the Anti-Corruption Working Group meetings, Brasil ensured the presence of several actors, such as civil society engagement groups (C20), the business sector (B20), think tanks (T20), and external audit institutions (SAI20). Izabela says this articulation with multiple sectors was widely recognized by both the participating countries and the organizations involved. The secretary reports that Brasil's approach has been internationally recognized for innovatively integrating civil society participation within the G20. "The expectation is that these practices can become permanent in the G20, creating a legacy that goes beyond Brasil's presidency," she says.
Open government and the fight against corruption
Izabela Correa reinforces that the work against corruption goes beyond the repression of crimes and also includes preventive measures, such as promoting integrity and strengthening public policies. For the secretary, open government is an essential component of ensuring that the public interest prevails in public choices and policies. "When discussing anti-corruption and promoting integrity, we also discuss transparency and information access. These are the rights of the population," she points out.
The Secretary of Public Integrity at the CGU emphasizes that citizens should be involved in the process of developing public policies, helping to shape and implement them so they meet the population's real needs. "Engagement, open government, participation, and transparency are ways of making public policy and are central themes for advancing integrity. Thus, Brasil has been working to design mechanisms that enable a more effective government response to social demands, making public policies stronger and more efficient," she affirms.
Izabela also mentions that the CGU has invested in strengthening channels of dialogue with society. "These channels are essential for the government to act more effectively," she explains. According to her, by creating policies that encourage collaboration between government and society, Brasil is strengthening its public institutions, ensuring they can fulfill their mission of serving the population's interests.
The role of the private sector
Another central point Izabela Correa addresses is the private sector's engagement in the fight against corruption. During Brasil's presidency of the G20 Anti-Corruption Group, one topic discussed was how governments can encourage private companies to adopt integrity practices. According to the secretary, Brasil has been an international reference in this field, especially through initiatives like "Proética," a CGU program that recognizes companies implementing robust integrity practices in the private sector.
The secretary emphasizes that the fight against corruption should be understood as a responsibility shared by all of society. "Corruption has both demand and supply. We need to ensure that both the public and private sectors are prepared to prevent and fight this problem," she argues. She recalled that Brasil had made significant progress in integrity in the public and private sectors, and several of these practices were taken to the G20 as an example.
Accountability Report and Integrity Practices
One of the highlights of Brasil’s G20 presidency was the preparation of the "Accountability Report," which documents the integrity practices adopted by G20 countries. Secretary Izabela explains that the document assesses how countries have implemented measures to promote integrity, transparency, and fighting corruption. It is based on standards established by the G20 itself in 2017 through the High-Level Principles for Organizing Against Corruption. The report reviews countries' progress in data transparency, reporting channels, and corruption risk assessment.
This report, which is being discussed during the ministerial meeting in Natal, should serve as an important tool for assessing countries' progress in adopting integrity measures and identifying gaps that need to be filled. The report also points to emerging issues, such as the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and its impact and opportunity on the anti-corruption agenda. “Where do we go further? Where do we still need to move forward? The report provides answers to these questions and also points out the challenges and opportunities for the future," she reports.
The legacy of Brasil's presidency
With the G20 presidency about to be transferred to South Africa, Izabela Correa says that the work done by Brasil in the Anti-Corruption Working Group was widely recognized. According to her, the focus on civil society engagement and the promotion of integrity practices have strengthened internal policies and will also contribute to advancing the global anti-corruption agenda. "We want to ensure that integrity policies effectively reach the population by emphasizing their importance for the effectiveness of public policies. This is part of a broader vision of social justice and sustainability, central themes for the G20," she concludes.
Translated by PGET-UFSC