Lawyers, bar associations, and justice institutions help ensure accountability, the association said
In commemoration of International Anti-Corruption Day today, the International Bar Association has emphasized the legal profession’s vital role in fighting corruption, with lawyers, bar associations, and justice institutions performing critical functions.
The association said that members of the profession were needed to help limit abuses of power, defend professional independence, and facilitate accountability. Adriana Dantas, who co-chairs the IBA Anti-Corruption Committee, said in a statement that integrity, transparency, and accountability were “essential pillars for fair societies and prosperous economies.”
“Global challenges – from illicit financial flows to rapidly evolving technologies – demand coordinated, informed and principled action,” Dantas said.
In its efforts to challenge corruption, the IBA has collaborated with international organizations like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and the World Bank. Initiatives that have been rolled out include targeted training programs, backing for bars developing compliance and ethical frameworks, and contributions to global consultations moulding policy and professional norms.
The IBA also joined the biannual UN Convention against Corruption Conference of States Parties, which was held in Qatar this year. The conference tackled the role of lawyers as gatekeepers, reinforcers of institutional frameworks, and protectors of professional independence.
In October, the IBA held the first regional training workshop in a multi-year capacity-building program to improve understanding of anti-money laundering obligations and recommendations by the Financial Action Task Force. The International Federation of Accountants also partnered with the association on this initiative.
“The IBA’s anti-corruption work is not simply a program of activities; it is a long-term commitment to strengthening the profession, supporting bar associations and law societies and ensuring that justice systems remain fair, transparent and retain public confidence,” IBA president Jaime Carey said in a statement.
In March, the IBA also released a report regarding corruption’s effect on the legal profession. It made recommendations for prevention, transparency, and effective responses to corruption risks to bar associations, law firms, and individual practitioners.
“Corruption corrodes trust, weakens institutions and undermines the rule of law. On International Anti-Corruption Day, we recognize the indispensable role that lawyers play in defending integrity and ensuring that justice systems remain resilient,” Carey said. “The IBA will continue to work with partners worldwide to support legal professionals in confronting corruption in all its forms.”
