BRUSSELS, Belgium, July 1, 2008 -- AquaFed, the International Federation of Private Water Operators, is one of the original members of the WIN (Water Integrity Network). It is very pleased to have contributed to the 2008 edition of the Global Corruption Report. This report was produced for the first time as a collaboration between Transparency International and the WIN. It was published on 26 June 2008. It focuses this year on corruption in the water sector.
AquaFed participated in the conception of the report, contributed to the text and provided comments and examples on how corruption can impede the delivery of water and sanitation services. The Federation also made suggestions on ways to improve integrity and fight corruption in water.
AquaFed promotes integrity and is against corruption in all its forms. The description of corrupt attitudes by the Global Corruption Report is an important step on the way to stamping it out.
Corruption can occur at all levels of the delivery chain of water and sanitation services in many different parts of the world. It extends from "grand corruption" in major projects to "petty corruption" at the level of individual user interfaces when individuals find illicit ways to avoid paying service charges. It may involve public officials at all levels from the highest to the lowest as well as private interests.
Gérard Payen, the President of AquaFed, declared: "corruption is one of the causes of the serious shortfall in water and sanitation delivery in many places in the world. It contributes to the slow progress in achieving universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation."
AquaFed encourages all its members to take a stand against corruption.
AquaFed is the International Federation of Private Water Operators. Open to companies and associations of companies of all sizes and from all countries, it aims to contribute to solving water challenges by making Private Sector know-how and experience available to the international community. It brings together more than 300 water companies that serve people in 40 countries.
The Global Corruption Report 2008, corruption in the water sector is published by Transparency International and is available at: http://www.transparency.org/news_room/latest_news/press_releases/2008/2008_06_25_gcr2008_en
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