Mission
Integrity Initiatives International "III" (pron. "triple I"), was formed in 2016 to strengthen the enforcement of criminal laws against corrupt leaders. We pursue this by:
- Supporting national measures, such as the recently enacted legislation creating a Ukraine national special anti-corruption court;
- Promoting understanding of the close connection between grand corruption and violations of human rights;
- Forging a network of young people dedicated to combatting corruption in their own country and around the world; and
- Catalyzing a campaign for the establishment of the International Anti-Corruption Court (IACC)
Background
In 2016, United States District Judge Mark L. Wolf, Justice Richard Goldstone of South Africa, and colleagues formed Integrity Initiatives International ("III") to combat grand corruption, which is also known as "kleptocracy" -- the abuse of public office for private gain by a nation's leaders. The mission of III is to strengthen the enforcement of criminal laws in order to punish and deter leaders who are corrupt and also regularly violate human rights, and to create opportunities for the democratic process to replace them with leaders dedicated to serving their citizens rather than enriching themselves.
Among other things, III is: advocating the creation of an International Anti-Corruption Court ("IACC"); advocating for other means to strengthen the enforcement of criminal laws against kleptocrats; promoting understanding of the close connection between grand corruption and violations of human rights; and forging a network of young people dedicated to combatting corruption in their own countries and around the world.
The proposal for an IACC, similar to but separate from the International Criminal Court, has generated substantial support, including from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Judge Sergio Moro of Brazil, the Co-Chair of the Lantos Human Rights Commission of the United States House of Representatives, Transparency International, Human Rights Watch, Global Witness, Global Parliamentarians Against Corruption, and leading international prosecutors such as Justice Goldstone, Luis Moreno Ocampo of Argentina, and Jose Ugaz of Peru. The proposal is also supported by courageous young people from many countries, including leaders of the Maidan uprising in Ukraine. In 2017, President Juan Manuel Santos, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2016, made Colombia the first country to endorse the IACC.
While continuing to advocate for the IACC, III has increasingly focused on related measures. Among many other activities, III worked with the White House and Department of State concerning the 2016 International Anti-Corruption Summit in London. It also collaborated with Transparency International to organize events relating to the Summit in Washington, D.C. and London.
III has been assisting officials in Ukraine in connection with the successful effort to create a national anti-corruption court, and is now working with them, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank concerning the selection of judges for that court. After participating in activities in connection with the 2018 Summit of the Americas in Peru, III is now collaborating with young activists throughout Latin America to create the foundation for a campaign for the IACC in that region. III is also working with the staff of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, the African Union Anti-Corruption Champion, to support his initiatives, and to create a network of young activists in Africa who will campaign there to create the IACC. In addition, III has launched, with faculty of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, an unprecedented program on Corruption and Human Rights. III is also working with the World Bank to strengthen its efforts to combat corruption.
III is also now developing with partners a series of potential additional events to advance its mission. These include a program being planned with officials in Ukraine concerning a range of means to improve the prosecution of kleptocrats, including by creating the IACC; a program in Geneva to enhance collaboration between leaders of the human rights and anti-corruption movements; and a program in the Hague on strengthening international criminal courts.
In 2018, III received a grant from the National Endowment for Democracy.