International Anti-Corruption Commitments

Title of the document

G20 High-Level Principles for Preventing Corruption and Ensuring Integrity in State-Owned Enterprises

(http://www.g20.utoronto.ca/201...)

Issuing body

G20

Brief description

The principles offer guidance for G20 and other governments and for those state representatives that are charged with exercising ownership rights in SOEs on behalf of the government. These High-Level Principles draw on general corporate governance standards according to which the state should act as an active and informed owner of enterprises, but should abstain from intervening in their daily management.

Relevant excerpts

G20 countries encourage, and in their jurisdictions will take steps to assist with, legal and practical measures including, but not limited to: fighting corruption in SOEs; strengthening awareness among SOE managers and employees of the need to combat corruption; encouraging SOE efforts to improve integrity and avoid corruption; strictly enforcing rules criminalising corruption and related misconduct; and managing and mitigating any damage inflicted by corruption.

Principle 1: Apply high standards of conduct to those exercising ownership of SOEs on behalf of the general public

Principle 2: Establish ownership arrangements that are conducive to integrity

Principle 3: Ensure clarity in the legal and regulatory framework and in the State’s expectations

Principle 4: Act as an informed and active owner with regards to integrity in SOEs

Principle 5: Require adequate mechanisms for addressing risks of corruption

Principle 6: Require adoption of high quality integrity mechanisms within SOEs

Principle 7: Safeguard the autonomy of SOEs and their decision-making bodies

Principle 10: Invite the inputs of civil society, the public, media and the business community