Financial Crime World

ANDean Countries See Widespread Decline in Rule of Law

A recent report has highlighted a significant decline in perceptions of corruption, trust in institutions, and overall rule of law across Andean countries, including Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, and Chile.

Corruption and Trust in Institutions

According to the report, public views on corruption within the legislature have deteriorated in every Andean country. The largest increases in perceptions of corrupt practices were seen in Ecuador, where 78% of respondents believe that most or all members of the National Assembly are involved in corrupt practices - a 24-percentage-point increase from 2017.

Bribery and Victimization

The report also found that bribery victimization is widespread across the region. Respondents most frequently reported having to pay bribes when requesting government permits, with Colombia reporting the highest frequency and Peru reporting the lowest.

Trust in Institutions: A Decline

Trust in institutions has taken a hit, with Ecuador seeing the largest decline in trust levels across all institutions between 2017 and 2022. Only 35% of respondents reported having some or a lot of trust in people living in their country, compared to 59% in 2017.

The report highlights several worrying trends:

  • A significant increase in crime victimization in Ecuador, with over half of respondents who were victims of a crime not reporting it to authorities.
  • Perceptions of the criminal justice system’s overall performance have deteriorated across the region, with Ecuador seeing some of the largest declines.
  • Respondents in Ecuador are least confident that the police perform effective and lawful investigations, and do not serve the interests of politicians.

Serious Implications

The decline in rule of law has serious implications for the stability and prosperity of Andean countries. The report calls on governments to take immediate action to address these issues and restore trust in institutions.

Key Findings:

  • 78% of respondents believe that most or all members of Ecuador’s National Assembly are involved in corrupt practices.
  • Perceptions of corruption have deteriorated across the region, with Ecuador seeing the largest increases.
  • Trust in institutions has declined significantly across the region, with Ecuador seeing the largest decline.
  • Over half of respondents who were victims of a crime in Ecuador did not report it to authorities.
  • Perceptions of the criminal justice system’s overall performance have deteriorated across the region, with Ecuador seeing some of the largest declines.

Recommendations:

  • Governments should take immediate action to address corruption and restore trust in institutions.
  • Efforts should be made to increase transparency and accountability in government activities.
  • Public education campaigns should be launched to raise awareness about the importance of reporting crime and corruption.
  • Reforms should be implemented to improve the effectiveness and fairness of the criminal justice system.