One Big Thing: International Anti-Corruption Day

On Wednesday, December 9, the United Nations observed International Anti-Corruption Day which draws attention kleptocracy, money laundering and illicit finance around the world. This year the focus was on corruption amid the COVID-19 pandemic as immoral leaders have taken advantage of new opportunities to divert funds away from people in their hour of greatest need.

Earlier this month, the European Union passed a new legislative mechanism called “The Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy” that allows them to impose financial sanctions and visa bans on kleptocrats and human rights abusers. This follows the United States’ Global Magnitsky Act which allows the US Treasury to impose the same sanctions used on terrorists on corrupt leaders and human rights abusers.