Empowering the Victims of Corruption Through Social Control Mechanisms

For poor people at the village level, petty corruption involving a payment of as little as $10 for a free medical service can have devastating effects on their lives. What makes the situation even worse is that most of the people who are faced with inadequate services and corrupt officials are also denied access to justice and other public services. Corruption within criminal justice institutions mandated to enforce and safeguard the rule of law is particularly alarming and destructive to society. It is a troubling fact that, in many countries, it is precisely those institutions which are perceived as corrupt. The social effects of such fact-based perceptions of corruption undermine the legitimacy of the State and democracy itself. The present article emphasizes the importance of improved checks and balances facilitated through: (a) An integrated approach that is evidence-based, comprehensive, inclusive, non-partisan and impact-oriented; (b) The empowerment of the victims of corruption through improved access to credible social control mechanisms; (c) Establishment of new strategic partnerships within civil society and between civil society and the State; and (d) Systematic and transparent monitoring of levels, types, location, causes, cost and remedies of corruption