Creating meaningful tools and taking impactful measures

Employers' Confederation of the Mexican Republic (COPARMEX)

Train the trainers

In collaboration with the Alliance for Integrity and Women in Compliance, Corporate Integrity training was conducted, achieving a world record with the participation of 72 companies, members of academia and civil society. Materials and international tools were provided by Chief Compliance Officers of large companies to train other leaderships. These trained individuals will replicate what they have learned through "DEPE: From Company to Company" training courses to ensure that SMEs have the basic knowledge to comply with legal requirements regarding corporate integrity. 

Data COPARMEX

In conjunction with the non-profit organization Mexicans Against Corruption and Impunity, the Perception Survey of Corruption in the Private Sector 2023 was conducted. This survey revealed a sample with the participation of more than 36,000 entrepreneurs affiliated with COPARMEX, highlighting the experiences and issues of corruption in the private sector, identifying that 5 out of 10 companies experienced corruption in the last year, marking the highest figure of the six-year term.

Defense of the National Anticorruption System

The National Anticorruption System is a set of institutions, procedures, and coordination mechanisms designed to prevent, detect, and punish acts of corruption in Mexico. Established in 2016, its functions have been suspended by the federal government since 2018 and its dedicated Anti-Corruption Citizen Participation Committees were dissolved. COPARMEX’s Ethics and Integrity Commission participates in strategic litigation before the Judiciary and issues statements to the media and institutional missives, demanding that the independence of these citizen bodies be respected, that they be appointed when they should, and that they have sufficient resources granted by law to prevent and combat corruption.

Confederation of Danish Industry (DI)

Anti-corruption policy and internal whistleblower scheme

DI has a simple and clear anti-corruption policy, which reject all forms of corruption, bribery and abuse of power. This is supported by an internal Ethics Handbook, a code of conduct that helps DI employees to act ethically in daily life and clarifies how DI distinguishes good and bad behavior. Moreover, DI has set up a whistleblower scheme to supplement existing dialogue options for reporting serious matters such as bribery, extortion, embezzlement, theft, accounting manipulation, or sexual harassment. The scheme can be used if employees or stakeholders outside DI experience or suspect potential breaches of legislation in activities related to DI. More information is available here and in DI’s annual Sustainability Report.

Awareness-raising on EU requirements related to whistleblowing

DI informed its members about the requirements under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) in a webinar accessible here: Whistleblowing requirements - what does it mean for your business?. It also created a Q&A section and a Whistleblower Policy Template for its members. More broadly, it informed its members through webinars and articles about the Governance Standard (ESRS G1) on Business Conduct and on How to report on good corporate behavior.

Keidanren Japan Business Federation 

Charter of Corporate Behavior and Implementation Guidance

Keidanren is committed to promoting transparency and ethical business practices, as exemplified by its Charter of Corporate Behavior and its accompanying Implementation Guidance. The Implementation Guidance prohibits giving or accepting bribes to gain or maintain an improper advantage. It also underscores the necessity of maintaining fairness and transparency in business dealings, both domestically and internationally. Moreover, the guidance establishes thorough educational and preventive measures within organizations to ensure adherence to these standards.

The association actively promote these principles among its member companies through detailed explanations, encouraging understanding and adherence. Keidanren annually hosts the Charter of Corporate Behavior Symposium to further promote these principles among members. Furthermore, Keidanren recently conducted a survey related to the Charter of Corporate Behavior and published its results here.

Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSIAD)

TÜSIAD released two publications on ethical government that are available below:

• Volume-1: From Ethics in the State to the Ethical State / Ethics in Public Administration: Conceptual Framework and International Applications, Volume-1
• Volume-2: From Ethics in the State to the Ethical State / Legal Infrastructure, Transparency, and Privileges in Public Administration: Determination and Recommendations, Volume-2
  

International Federation of Accountants (IFAC)

IFAC Action Plan for Fighting Corruption and Economic Crime

The Action Plan provides a framework for enhancing the role of the accountancy profession in combating corruption and economic crimes, thereby advancing the UN SDGs. The framework is organized into five overarching pillars and includes over thirty actions, that are meant to evolve over time. While many of these actions will be taken by IFAC, it is an action plan for the whole profession.

Exploring the IESBA Code

The Exploring the IESBA Code series, developed by IFAC in collaboration with the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA), is intended to promote awareness, adoption and implementation of the International Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (including International Independence Standards). The twelve-installment publication series was launched in 2019 and highlights important topics in the Code. Each installment focuses on a specific aspect of the Code using real-world situations in a manner that is relatable and practical. Installments include useful links to access relevant resources, including content in the IESBA Code.

Anti-Money Laundering: The Basics

Developed collaboratively with ICAEW, this document helps professional accountants enhance their understanding of how money laundering works, the risks they face, and what they can do to mitigate these risks and make a positive contribution to the public interest.

Connecting Your Educational Programming to Emerging Trends

This report aims to guide professional accountancy organizations in how they can act today to prepare their current and future members to seize opportunities presented by emerging trends using insights from the IFAC Professional Accountancy Organization Development and Advisory Group. These insights address four emerging trends—sustainability related reporting, anti-corruption efforts, sound public financial management, and technological change—that will help PAOs ensure their own and their members’ resilience, relevance and adaptability today and into the future.

Understanding Anti-Corruption Reporting

This joint IFAC - Transparency International UK - World Economic Forum publication is comprehensive review of anti-corruption corporate reporting by the largest publicly traded companies worldwide. It decodes the current state of anti-corruption reporting practices and highlights the urgent need for enhanced quality, reliability, and comparability in this crucial area. It also raises a series of policy questions around jurisdictional differences, comparability, governance, and the completeness and reliability of the information provided.

Global Event on Speak-Up Culture and Whistleblower Protection

On 12 December 2023, IFAC and Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada convened policymakers and regulators with the accountancy and legal professions for a global event to launch their new report Understanding Whistleblower Protection: Laws, Practices, Trends and Key Implementation Considerations.

International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Traders (IFPMA)

Note for Guidance on Ethical Third-Party Intermediary Relationships in the Biopharmaceutical Sector 

This note outlines best practices for companies when working with third party intermediaries, rooted in the principles of the IFPMA’s Code of Practice and broader Ethoscope framework. It recommends adopting a dedicated risk management program as part of their overall compliance program and code of ethics. This would include, among others, identifying whether there is a particular risk profile for corruption, based on a review of the intermediary’s internal policies and controls for bribery or all types of corruption. This should cover common business activities such as travel/accommodation, gifts, hospitality, sponsorship or grants, sales and marketing, or procurement processes. More information on the Notes for Guidance published by IFPMA can be found here. 

MedTech Europe

Code of Ethical Business Practice

MedTech Europe, representing the medical technology industry, has developed the Code of Ethical Business Practice to regulate interactions with Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) and Healthcare Organizations (HCOs) and ensuring industry’s commitment to high ethical standards across Europe. Updated last in 2022, the Code includes strict guidelines relating to how industry can and cannot interact with HCPs, many of whom are public officials, and HCOs. The Code also includes specific transparency obligations, as well as an independent enforcement mechanism. 

Key initiatives include the Conference Vetting System (CVS) for assessing Third-Party Organized Event compliance and ensuring that support to medical education is not called into question, by phasing out direct sponsorship of HCPs for Conferences and ensuring that educational grants are provided under stringent rules and disclosed on the Transparent MedTech platform. Furthermore, MedTech Europe actively develops and provides continuous training and materials designed to equip companies and third parties, in particular distributors across the globe, with the necessary knowledge and resources to uphold the principles outlined in the Code. Additional information can be found here.

Novartis

Anti-Bribery Report

The 2024 Anti-Bribery report provides a comprehensive overview of Novartis’ efforts to prevent and detect bribery and corruption, including its policies and procedures, risk assessments, due diligence processes for third parties, and training and awareness programs for its employees. It is based on a guidance note developed through collective action with other pharmaceutical companies, initiated by the Norges Bank Investment Management and facilitated by the Basel Institute on Governance.