Transparency International considers the world to be an increasingly unsafe place and links the source of the problem to the rise in corruption, in the 2023 edition of the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released today..

The data from this index, in conjunction with the data from the Global Peace Index, also organized by Transparency International, is intended to show that world peace is in consistent decline and that there is a clear connection between violence and corruption.

For the organization, the CPI figures released today prove that corruption is damaging governments and hindering their ability to protect citizens, while at the same time fueling public discontent and causing an increase in violence.

The president of Transparency International, Delia Ferreira Rubio, quoted by Lusa, argues that the solution to this problem is for governments to work together to eradicate corruption at all levels of society, and to avoid discrimination.

"Governments have collectively failed to make progress against this situation, fueling the rise of violence and conflict and putting people in danger everywhere," argues Rubio in the commentary to the 2023 edition of the IPC.

The Index, launched in 1995, has become the main global benchmark for corruption in the public sector, evaluating 180 countries and territories based on their levels of corruption, using data from 13 different sources, such as the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, private risk assessment companies, think tanks and others.

The CPI ranks countries based on perceived levels of corruption in the public sector, on a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

This year's edition of the report reveals that the global average score has remained unchanged at 43 countries and territories for the eleventh consecutive year, and more than two thirds of countries have serious problems with corruption, with a score below 50.

Denmark tops the list of least corrupt countries with 90 points, followed by Finland and New Zealand, both with 87 points.

These countries have strong democratic institutions and high respect for human rights, which also makes them the most peaceful countries in the world, according to the Global Peace Index.

In contrast, topping the list of the world's most corrupt countries are South Sudan (13 points), Syria (12 points) and Somalia (12 points), all involved in protracted armed conflicts.

Eight countries improved their scores in the same period, including Ireland, South Korea and the Maldives, with data suggesting that the fight against corruption is effective with the application of correct and balanced measures, according to Transparency International.

This year, 26 countries, including Qatar, Guatemala and the United Kingdom achieved the lowest values ever in the Index.

The UK (73 points) fell five points to its lowest score ever, after being embroiled in several political scandals, including revelations about ministerial misconduct.

Regarding Portugal (62 points), Transparency International considers that the fact that the "new anti-corruption strategy" was launched without much guidance and that the Golden Visa program was maintained increased the risks of corruption.

For Transparency International, the report also proves that European Union countries that have neglected or reversed anti-corruption measures have continued to fall in the CPI, such as Hungary and Poland.

Transparency International believes that the relationship between violence and corruption is a vicious cycle, claiming that corrupt governments lack the capacity to protect citizens and that public discontent is more likely to turn into violence.

For Transparency International, the Russian invasion of Ukraine serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by corruption and the lack of accountability of governments, recalling that Russian kleptocrats have amassed huge fortunes in the service of President Vladimir Putin, resulting in lucrative contracts with the state to protect their economic interests.

Another example is South Sudan, where decades of conflict and corruption have led to a deep humanitarian crisis, with more than half the population facing food insecurity, and a recent report revealed a fraud scheme by a network of corrupt politicians who diverted aid for food, fuel and medicine.

The combination of corruption, authoritarianism and economic crisis in Brazil also proved to be a volatile mix, with former President Jair Bolsonaro's term in office marked by the dismantling of anti-corruption structures and the use of corrupt schemes to favor political allies, Transparency International concluded.