The panel referred to the numerous statements during this conference, by speakers from all parts of the world and from all sections of society, about the all-pervasiveness of corruption, and the devastating impact it has had on democracy and economic development.
Corruption is everywhere and the poorest people of the world suffer the most.
One positive development, however, is the overwhelming consensus of society, in government, civil society and the private sector, that has evolved in recent years that something has to be done to control corruption. As a result of the OECD Convention Against International Corruption the richest exporting nations will be obliged to prohibit bribery by their nationals outside their borders. This would facilitate many importing nations to control systematic bribery, which has in recent years increasingly complicated their efforts to root out corruption within their own societies. Speakers gave an impressive manifestation of the interaction of state, business and civil society that is required to deal effectively with corruption. Soli Sorabjee, Attorney General of India, gave an overview of the laws and institutions in place to control corruption, and Justice Reddy, Chairman of the Law Commission of India, mentioned recent initiatives to attach the assets of public servants that are disproportionate to their earnings.