CORRUPTION AND COVID-19: Citizens report corruption the most in humanitarian aid, quarantine measures and the provision of health services

Since the beginning of the pandemic, mass violations of human and workers’ rights, illegal procurement of medical equipment, and abuses in the allocation of economic aid have been noticed in BiH.

Berlin, 14. September 2020 – Transparency International (TI) has received more than 1,500 reports of corruption and other irregularities related to the COVID-19 pandemic through its Anti-Corruption Legal Aid Center (the Center) since January.

In addition to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Center operates in 60 countries where citizens have witnessed bribery, preferential treatment and other forms of corruption in the delivery of humanitarian aid, the application of measures restricting freedom of movement and travel, but also in testing and providing health services in response to COVID-19 .

“COVID-19 is not just a health and economic crisis. It’s also a crisis of corruption, “said Alison Matthews, TI’s program manager for legal support. According to her, the most vulnerable groups in society are most affected, such as health workers who are at the forefront of the fight against this crisis. It is noticeable that precisely because of corruption, governments around the world have failed in their task of providing assistance and necessary services to those who need it most during the pandemic.

Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) has filed criminal charges against those responsible in the health sector over the COVID-19 crisis on suspicion of illegal procurement of medical equipment. There have been cases of violations of human rights and freedoms, but also mass violations of workers’ rights, especially in terms of health and social security of workers. TI BiH helped private preschool institutions whose owners were discriminated against in the distribution of promised economic assistance, and the practice of misusing personal data of public sector employees who did not want to give up their personal income to implement special economic measures was prevented.

“Citizens often use the TI Anti-Corruption Legal Aid Center as a last resort. Official channels for reporting corruption are often inefficient and insecure, and those who report it often go unpunished. Our task at TI is to offer hope to people who report corruption and to support them in their efforts, ”Matthews said.

Although corruption in Bosnia and Herzegovina has reached endemic proportions, there are still a large number of people who have not been punished for their misdeeds. In order to provide support to victims and witnesses of corruption, and offer legal assistance to citizens, TI BiH has established a free info line 0800 55555 through which it is possible to report cases of corruption. Since 2003. year, more than 270,000 people around the world requested and received TI support in reporting corruption.

Press rls 14.09.2020