With new standards in the works, ISO joins the fight.
[CONSUMERS, MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, BUSINESS & ANTI-BRIBERY]
Corruption threatens national security, economic growth, human rights, jobs, and the environment, among other things. As money is diverted away from where it is most needed, spending on critical sectors like education and health suffers, resulting in worsening living circumstances. However, much can be done, and ISO is glad to inform that work on standards to assist is begun on this International Anti-Corruption Day, which is observed every year on December 9th.
Having solid governance processes in place is an effective strategy to reduce corruption everywhere. Organizations of various types and sizes can benefit from such systems, which demonstrate accountability and responsibility and lessen the possibility of corruption.
The upcoming ISO 37000, Guidance for Organizational Governance, provides a framework for governing bodies and groups to follow in order to fulfil their tasks. As a result, they are able to increase their performance in a variety of areas while also promoting a positive company culture.
Having a safe and confidential means for employees to express concerns about wrongdoing is an important part of good governance. The future ISO 37002, Whistleblowing management systems – Guidelines, specifies how to set up, administer, evaluate, maintain, and improve a strong and effective whistleblowing management system. It is non-sector specific and can be utilised by businesses of all sizes, including SMEs and multinational corporations.
Simultaneously, a company that can demonstrate that it conforms with all applicable laws, regulatory requirements, industry rules, and voluntary standards reassures stakeholders that it has taken steps to minimise or lessen the danger of corruption. ISO 37301, Compliance management systems – Requirements with guidelines for usage, is set to be released soon and lays out everything a company needs to know to achieve just that.
These new standards will be used in conjunction with ISO 37001, Anti-bribery management systems – Requirements and recommendations for usage, which assists enterprises in combating bribery in their own operations as well as throughout their value chains. In early 2021, a new handbook named ISO 37001:2016 – Anti-bribery management systems – A practical guide will be issued to provide more guidance for this standard.
The publication of ISO 37001 in 2016 was a huge step forward in providing internationally approved guidance for managing and minimising bribery, according to Howard Shaw, Chair of the technical committee establishing these new standards.
“These new International Standards for governance, compliance, and whistleblowing, when taken together, will make a substantial contribution to the global fight against corruption.”
All of these things and more were developed by ISO’s expert committee on governance, ISO/TC 309, Governance of Organizations, whose secretariat is managed by BSI, ISO’s UK member.
