The G20-Anti Corruption Working Group (ACWG)
Why is action needed?
Corruption threatens the integrity of markets, undermines fair competition, distorts resource allocation, destroys public trust, and undermines the rule of law. Corruption is a severe impediment to economic growth, and a significant challenge for developed, emerging and developing countries. As major trading nations, the G20 have a special responsibility to prevent and tackle corruption, to establish legal and policy frameworks that promote a clean business environment and to continue to assist G20 countries in their capacity building efforts to combat corruption. In the past years, the G20 has shown its commitment to fight corruption by adopting High Level Principles aimed at, e, g., strengthening beneficial ownership transparency, promoting private sector transparency and integrity, and improving international cooperation.
The Anti-Corruption Working Group
The ACWG was established by G20 Leaders at the Toronto Summit in 2010. It is responsible for updating and implementing the G20 Anti-corruption Action Plan and reports to G20 Leaders. In 2017, the working group will be co-chaired by the German G20 Presidency and Brazil.
The ACWG cooperates closely with and supports the work of relevant international organizations, including the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Financial Action Task Force. It facilitates collaboration with other G20 tracks that consider issues closely related to the G20 anti-corruption agenda.
2017 Anti-corruption priorities
Co-chaired by Germany and Brazil, the Anti-Corruption Working Group will hold three meetings and focus in particular on the following seven Action Plan areas:
- Practical Cooperation
- Beneficial ownership
- Private sector integrity and transparency
- Bribery
- Public sector integrity and transparency
- Vulnerable sectors
- International Organisations
- Capacity building
The German Presidency will actively continue these work streams focusing on concrete practical measures that can make a difference on the ground by strengthening integrity in the public as well as in the private sector.
