Dear TIPS Member,
Please see below the TIPS Newsletter for June 2019.
Best,
- The TIPS team
1. Upcoming events (register on our events page)
Tackling Corruption: Lessons from Europe and Beyond | 9 July | 6.30-8pm
Palace of Westminster, SW1A 0AA
Combating policy impunity | 9 July 2019 | 2 - 4pm
Rm 313, School of Law, Queen Mary University E1 4NS
Spotlight on Turkmenistan | 15 July 2019 | 6 - 7.30pm
Houses of Parliament, London, SW1A 0AA
Everything you ever wanted to know about crime | 16 July 2019 | 6.30-8pm
Bush House Auditorium, 30 Aldwych WC2B 4BG
TIPS Networking Drinks | 22 July 2019 | 6.30-8pm
Bangers bar, 2 Wilson Street, Moorgate EC2M 2TE
2. Recent TIPS Events
TIPS Networking Drinks | Summary
On 24 June 2019, around 20 TIPS members met at The Folly near Monument for an evening of engaging discussion on the latest EU whistleblowing directive and its implications for companies and individuals alike.
Hari Raithatha, trainee solicitor and senior advisor at whistleblowing charity Protect, led an insightful discussion on the barriers to whistleblowing, the new EU whistleblowing directive and the challenge of ensuring that whistleblowing works effectively. Attendees shared insights from the Cote d’Ivoire, the Philippines and Mexico – including one individual’s own experience of
blowing the whistle.
Representatives of Protect also shared details of the fantastic work they do. For example, since its founding in 1993, Protect has advised around 40,000 people
through their free, confidential advice line. It was a hugely engaging evening. Many thanks to Alex Sidossis for organising.
3. Other items of interest
Podcast: On the US college admissions scandal
“Kids cheating to help get themselves into college and hiding it from their parents is not a new thing. But parents cheating to get their kids in, and not telling them, well, that’s a whole other story.” Following the US college admissions scandal, C13Originals has released Gangster Capitalism to tell that story. Through interviews and evidence from the FBI’s “Operation Varsity Blues”, the makers highlight a broken system, and how the scandal is part of a wider problem.
News article: Walmart settles seven-year long anti-corruption investigation with US regulators
Walmart has pled guilty and paid $282m in fines in one of the biggest investigations ever brought under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Acts, which criminalises the bribing of overseas officials by US companies. Middlemen were used by the company to pay bribes across the globe, include in Brazil, India, China and Mexico. See here.
Blog post: Sudan’s transition crisis and the role of corruption
This blogpost gives a fascinating account of the current state of affairs in Sudan – putting kleptocracy firmly at the centre of political developments in the country. In particular, opposition circles believe that Sudan’s coup leaders are reluctant to step down – at least in part – due to the prospect of losing control of substantial business interests and being investigated for corruption. See here.
Blog post: Why corruption mainstreaming has been ignored in development programming
From the Corruption in Fragile States series, this blog post considers why corruption-mainstreaming has not gained the same ground as conflict sensitivity or gender within development organisations and programming. See here.
TI-UK Article: TI-UK urges speed and clarity as Crown dependencies commit to make company ownership information public
On 19 June 2019, TI-UK welcomed a commitment by the British Crown Dependencies to adopt public registers revealing companies’ beneficial ownership, but also cautioned that these registers must be fully open, accessible and implemented at the earliest possible opportunity if they are to be considered global leaders in the fight against financial crime. See more here.
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