Media Relations and Good Practices in Anti-Corruption Awareness Raising Campaigns

On 10 November 2009, a Side Event during the Third Session of the Conference of the States Parties was held to provide anticorruption practitioners with an opportunity to share lessons learned on establishing collaborative relationships with the media and on good practices in awareness raising campaigns. The Side Event was organized by UNODC and the World Bank's Communication for Governance and Accountability Programme (CommGAP).

The first session focused on media relations and presented two case studies from anti-corruption agencies, followed by discussions with the audience. Session Two reviewed four anticorruption campaign examples from member states and civil society, and included panelists from Transparency International and UNDP, who helped facilitate subsequent discussions.

The Event highlighted that awareness raising and educational activities are an integral part of anticorruption work, and reinforced the importance of identifying success criteria for campaigns and of learning from the experience of others. Successful campaigns involve wide support, coalition building, strong leadership, mass exposure and public pressure, and successful awareness raising and media work require the involvement of stakeholders from the onset as well as continuous dialogue.

The Side Event also stressed the need to engage youth in the fight against corruption and to ensure that educational programmes relate to young people and their aspirations. The Side Event concluded that transparency is a key factor in raising awareness about corruption, particularly when it comes to educating the public about their rights and obligations, and that building integrity depends not only on freedom of the media, but also on responsible reporting and on the media's own integrity.

The outcome of the Side Event was that, based on the above conclusions, the Secretariat will develop technical assistance tools and good practice approaches to assist anti-corruption bodies in developing media and awareness raising capacity.

Side Event Presentations:

Click here for Presenter Biographies (PDF)

1. Side Event Agenda (MS Word)
2. Nicholas M. Simani, Principal Public Relations Officer, Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission
   MAKE MEDIA YOUR FRIEND, NOT YOUR FOE (MS PowerPoint)
3. Alessandro Butticé, Head of Unit "Spokesman, Communication and Public Relations" - OLAF Spokesman
   Make media Your Friend and Deterring fraud and corruption by informing the public: the OLAF Anti-Fraud Communicators Network (OAFCN) experience (MS PowerPoint)
4. Alun Jones, Chief of Communication and Advocacy, UNODC
   International Corruption Prevention: Awareness Raising Campaigns and Public Education (MS PowerPoint)
5. Augustin Nzindukiyimana, Deputy Ombudsman, Government of Rwanda REPUBLIC OF RWANDA Presentation (MS MHTML)
6. Vijay Anand, President, 5th Pillar Organization
   5th PILLAR of UNCAC (MS PowerPoint)
7. Luiz Navarro, Vice-Minister, Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Office of the Comptroller General
   Good Practices in Anti-Corruption Awareness Raising Campaigns (MS PowerPoint)
8. Shaazka Beyerle, Senior Advisor, International Center on Nonviolent Conflict
   GOOD PRACTICES IN CIVIC ANTI-CORRUPTION CAMPAIGNS (MS PowerPoint)
   EXAMPLES OF NONVIOLENT CIVIC ACTION CAMPAIGNS AND MOVEMENTS TO FIGHT CORRUPTION (MS Word)