Press Release: 2016 Global Corruption Barometer (GCB)

Phnom Penh, 28 February 2017 – Transparency International 2016 Global Corruption Barometer (GCB) of Cambodia results released today confirmed that three main institutions people believe to be most corrupt are the Judiciary, Police and Government Officials.

On the positive side, the results show that there is significant drop in bribery paid to each public service provider. For example, 62 per cent paid bribe for making ID documents and civil registry in 2013, while only 30 per cent did so in 2016. 38 per cent service users paid bribes to the hospitals in 2013 while only 19 per cent did so in 2016. There has also been a drop in bribery to the police between 2013 and 2016. Indeed, over 60 per cent paid bribes to the police in 2013 whereas only 11 per cent did so in 2016.

Transparency International 2016 GCB interviewed 1003 Cambodians on their perceptions and experiences of corruption in Cambodia. While there have been some positive changes as highlighted above, the results still illustrate the fact that the institutions established to protect citizens, provide access to justice and promote human rights actually continue to be seen by the public as abusing their powers.

From the public involvement standpoint, 73 per cent of those interviewed believed the ordinary people can make a difference and more than 63 per cent said they were willing to report corruption. Indeed, 66 per cent of respondents agree that it is socially acceptable to report corruption. However, only 5 per cent who said they had paid a bribe, reported corruption cases in the past while 46 per cent did not report because they are afraid of possible retaliation and 17 per cent chose not to report corruption because they think nothing will be done even if they report.

On an important note, only 35 per cent of the people interviewed believed the government’s anti-corruption initiatives are effective.

TI Cambodia has consistently called upon the Government to undertake structural and systematic reforms within key national institutions, specifically to reform the judiciary and law enforcement agencies and pass Access to Information Law and a Law on the Protection of Whistleblowers (Reporting Persons) that meet international standards.

“When the general public confirms that corruption is widespread, the state machinery ought to take it seriously and response timely by undertaking fundamental reforms proposed by the anti-corruption experts,” said Preap Kol, Executive Director of Transparency International Cambodia. “The GCB directly reveals the perceptions and experience of the voters and together with the results of the recently released Corruption Perception Index (CPI) serve as useful insights for the Government, relevant stakeholders and political parties to formulate effective anti-corruption strategy and measures,” he continued.

Media Contact:
Mr Preap Kol, Executive Director, (+855) 012 877 833, kolpreap@ticambodia.org
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Transparency International is the civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption

Click here to download both slide presentation in Khmer and English

Click here for full report of GCB in Asia Pacific

This post is also available in: Khmer