International Anti-Corruption Day
9th December, 2018
1. Background:
Bhutan Transparency Initiative joined the Nation in celebrating the International Anti-Corruption
Day on 9th December 2018 at Gelephu, Sarpang Dzongkhag, on the theme, “Say No to
Corruption - Every No Count.”
Corruption is a complex social, political and economic phenomenon that affects all countries.
Corruption undermines democratic institutions, slows economic development and contributes to
governmental instability. Corruption attacks the foundation of democratic institutions by
distorting electoral processes, perverting the rule of law and creating bureaucratic quagmires
whose only reason for existing is the soliciting of bribes. Economic development is stunted
because foreign direct investment is discouraged and small businesses within the country often
find it impossible to overcome the “start-up costs” required because of corruption.
On 31 October 2003, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against
Corruption and requested that the Secretary-General designate the United Nations Office on
Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as secretariat for the Convention’s Conference of States Parties
(resolution 58/4).The Assembly also designated 9 December as International Anti-Corruption
Day, to raise awareness of corruption and of the role of the Convention in combating and
preventing it. The Convention entered into force in December 2005.
Ever since its establishment, BTI either in collaboration with Donors, National Institutions
(ACC) have been observing this day and disseminating inform against corruption. This year was
the 4th year that BTI is observing this important day. BTI have managed to bring on board local
partners like the Thromdhe, the Business Community, the Committees of Concerned Citizens
and the Committees of Legal Experts, Youth Supporters ( ALAP-Gelephu), EU/ Helvetas and
the Government of Netherlands and T-Bank as our partners. To create a better understanding on
corruption BTI also organized a panel discussion on the topic “Values vs. Corruption-
Contemporary Bhutanese perspective.”
The Day had two components. In the Morning we had Official Ceremony (IACD) and an
Advocacy program on ALAP in the afternoon.
The chief guest for the program was graced by Dasho Dzongda of Sarpang Dzongkhag and the
other guest includes Sarpang Dzongkhag Tshogdu member led by Dasho Thrizin, officials from
Sarpang Dzongkhag, Rabdhey, Gelephu Thromdhe led by Dasho Thrompoen, officials from
various regional sector head, officials from corporations, financial institutions, civil society
organizations, BBS, Media house and public participants from Gelephu Thromdhe and nearby
gewogs and the teachers and the students. We also had the Resident Coordinator of UNDP-
Bhutan as the special guest to deliver the UN message.
As a part of the awareness program, BTI also distributed kuper of both His Majesty the King and
the 4th King with special message on corruption. BTI also distributed stickers and bookmarks
with the message on corruption to the participants.
1. Marching Ceremony and Welcome Dance:
The celebration of IACD opened with the signing of pledge book. The official celebration begins
from 10 am with the marching ceremony and the welcome dance presented by the youth
volunteer of BTI, Gelephu.
2. Welcome Address by Dasho Thrompoen, Gelephu Thromdhe:
The Thrompoen of Gelephu
Thromdhe welcomed all the
distinguished guests and participants.
He thanked the guests and
participants for accepting the
invitation of BTI and the Gelephu
Thromdhe to be present at such
important day. He welcomes the
Resident Coordinator of UNDP-
Bhutan travelling all the way from
Thimphu for making his presence on
Dasho Thrompoen of Gelephu Thromdhe giving welcome address
the day. He thanked the participants who have travelled from various places of Gelephu and
Sarpang Dzongkhag. Finally, he declared the official opening of the daylong celebration and
wished successful program with interesting and valuable outcome.
3. Address on the Significance of the International Anti- Corruption Day in the Context of
BTI by Executive Director of BTI:
The Executive Director of BTI stated that Bhutan targets to make it to the 20th position in the
global corruption perception index by 2020. Executive Director said the answer to it lies within
everyone. “It depends on how prepared we are to challenge corruption and how willing we are to
say ‘No’ to corruption.”
She said the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has made significant progress in the fight
against corruption. “The number of backlog cases has reduced significantly, investigation and
prosecution has been more effective and preventive measures have been mainstreamed in the
development agenda of the plan document, the Executive Director said.
She said Bhutan has made a tremendous advancement in combating corruption and has come a
long way. “However, responding to the challenges of fast-evolving time and context requires
concerted efforts from all stakeholders.”
The executive director said that as a civil society organization, BTI has already made efforts to
complement the efforts of the ACC and has generated a national corruption perception report, a
citizen report card on the 11th Plan and government to citizen (G2C) services.“On the part of
BTI, we’re daring and venturing to expose corruption slowly but tactfully,” she said. BTI
executive director said that in a move towards strengthening the voice of the mass against
corruption, BTI will soon begin implementing a project on ‘Amplying the voice of women’ in
Zhemgang and Sarpang.
Executive Director of BTI Addressing on the Significance of the International Anti- Corruption Day in
the Context of BTI by Executive Director of BTI
4. Delivery of UN Message:
The resident coordinator of
UNDP- Bhutan delivered
the United Nation (UN)
message on corruption for
the day. The resident
coordinator of United
Nations (UN), Gerald Daly,
spelt out three key messages
to the people of Gelephu –
preserve honesty that is deep in our
culture, the importance of ‘Sem-
dha No-Sam Thing-go’ and keep investing today in anti-corruption so we can keep harvesting
tomorrow. “As much as possible, we the UN wish to look for ways to do holistic development
and this often looks like combining heart and kind thinking with action,” he said.
The resident coordinator of UNDP- Bhutan delivering UN Message
5. Remarks by the Chief Guest:
The chief guest for the day Sarpang dzongdag, Dasho Karma Galay, said that at the local level,
the recent reforms such as introduction of service delivery standards and icitisation of delivery of
public services have reduced the turnaround time and interfaces between the service deliver and
the recipients.
He said such reforms have brought about significant impacts in reducing corruption at local
level. “As much as we made tremendous headway, we still have a long way to go,” he said.
“ACC alone can’t fight corruption. We need all agencies, both public and private to come
forward and support ACC.”
Chief Guest for the event Dasho Dzongdag of Sarpang Dzongkhag delivering remarks address
6. Skit: Corruption and its Impacts – A Youth Perspective:
7. Penal Discussion:
BTI organized a penal
discussion on the topic –
‘Value vs. Corruption-
Contemporary Bhutanese
perspective’ where BBS
moderated the session. The
penal members comprised of
five members and included
Thrompoen of Gelephu
Thromdhe, Dzongkhag
Tshogdue Thrizin of Sarpang
Dzongkhag, Chairperson of the Committees of Concerned
Citizens (CCC) of BTI, Principal of Gelephu Middle Secondary School and one youth
representatives Ms. Kuenga Wangmo of Gelephu Higher Secondary School.
Youth Support Group of BTI, Gelephu and BTI official performing skits on the script - Corruption and its Impacts – A Youth Perspective
Penal members addressing their opinion
8. Launch Rap Music- ‘Unwrapping Corruption with Rap’:
As a part of the program, BTI launch Rap music-‘Unwrapping corruption with Rap’ by rapper
Nima Tshering popularly known as (Nala). The rap music was performed live and released on
sound cloud.
9. BTI Theme Song and Cultural Dance:
After the rap music the Committees of Concerned Citizen (CCC) members, Committees of
Legal Experts (CLE) members of BTI Gelephu and Thimphu, Youth Group of BTI, Gelephu,
and the BTI officials performed and sang BTI theme song. The Sarpang Dzongkhag Dancers
also performed cultural dances as part of the entertainment program.
CCC & CLE members of BTI Gelephu and Thimphu, Youth Group of BTI, Gelephu, and the BTI officials performing BTI
theme song. On the right, the Sarpang Dzongkhag Dancers performing cultural dances.
10. Vote of Thanks:
The vote of thanks was delivered by the executive director of BTI. The executive director
thanked Dasho Dzongda, Sarpang Dzongkhag for gracing the event as the chief guest. She
thanked dasho Dzongda for sharing the development agenda of Bhutan in relation to corruption.
The executive director extended gratitude to the Resident Coordinator of UNDP- Bhutan for
taking time out from his tight schedule, covering almost 300kms to join the event in observing
the International Anti- Corruption Day, 2018. She thanked for enlightening address on the UN
and UNCAC.
The executive director extended grateful to Dasho Thrompoen of Gelephu Thromdhe and his
staff for partnering with BTI in hosting the International Anti-Corruption Day, 2018, in Gelephu.
The executive director also thanked the principal of Gelephu Middle Secondary School for
allowing using the school
premise. The executive
director also thanked the
Committees of
Concerned Citizen
(CCC), Committees of
Legal Expert (CLE),
Youth Support Group of
BTI, Gelephu, who have
worked so tirelessly to
make all such a success,
and especially the
Chairperson of the CCC
of BTI, Gelephu, who has taken the noble initiative to network and mobilize sponsors for the
refreshments and the sumptuous meal.
The executive director also extended special thank to the colleagues of BTI officials who have
worked tirelessly to make sure everything ran smoothly. The executive director also thanked the
The Executive Director of BTI giving Vote of Thanks
sponsor without whose support the event would not have contemplated hosting. She thanked
Helvetas and European Union (EU), The Kingdom of Netherlands (Embassey grant), T-Bank Ltd
and Big-Way Company and the Business Think-Tank Group of Gelephu, for their generous
support.
The executive director also extended deep appreciation to the invitees for most kindly accepting
invitation and being present in the event. She thanked all participants who ventured on the stage
and conquered it and thanked the fantastic MC and moderator Mr. Chimi Dorji of BBS. The
executive director also thanked Mr. Karma Drupchu of BBS for covering the event and ensuring
the event to be aired on the BBS news.
The executive director finally extended thanks and gratitudes to everyone and concluded with the
remarks, “Let us all united against Corruption and Say No to Corruption- Every No Counts.”
11. Photo Session with the Guests and the Participants:
The Guests and the Participants in the photo session
Afternoon Session of the Day:
The afternoon session began from 2:30 pm and ended at 5 pm. The main objective for the
afternoon program was to launch various advocacy programs to the public of Gelephu Thromdhe
and the nearby Gewogs. The various advocacy programs included – Presentation on
Introduction to BTI; Presentation on Corruption in Bhutan; Presentation on Judiciary
Process; Presentation on Introduction to Advocacy and Legal Advice Program (ALAP) and
finally, Advocacy on Relevant Laws and Acts.
i. The presentation on Introduction to BTI was presented by Ms. Sanu of BTI;
ii. The presentation on Corruption in Bhutan was presented by Ms. Tenzin Deki who is the
ALAP Facilitator of BTI, Thimphu;
iii. The presentation on Judiciary Process was presented by Executive Director of BTI;
iv. The presentation on Introduction to Advocacy and Legal Advice Program (ALAP) was
presented by Mr. Jamyang Lodey who is the ALAP Facilitator of BTI, Gelephu;
v. The presentation on relevant Laws and Acts (the Local Government Act; the Local
Government Rules and Regulation; the land Act of Bhutan; the Penal Code of Bhutan and
the Environment Act of Bhutan) was presented combined by Mr. Jamyang Lodey, Ms.
Tenzin Deki, and Mr. Dorji Samphel who is the CLE vice Chairperson.
Executive Director of BTI presenting on Judiciary Process
ALAP Facilitator of BTI, Gelephu, presenting on Advocacy and Legal Advice Program (ALAP)
Conclusion:
The advocacy program for 2nd half day ended with a question and answer session and the
daylong event concluded with the evening tea and Snacks.