Lawyers essential in preventing ‘abuse of power’
The International Bar Association (IBA) has reaffirmed the central role of the legal profession in combating corruption, strengthening public trust, and safeguarding institutions at a time when standards for global integrity are under mounting pressure.
Marking International Anti-Corruption Day (9 December), the IBA said that corruption continued to erode democratic governance, hinder economic development, and weaken the rule of law around the world.
Threats
Persistent threats – including illicit financial flows, shrinking civic space, opaque political financing, and the misuse of emerging technologies – underscored the need for coordinated action across governments, professions, and civil society, it added.
Against this backdrop, the IBA emphasised that lawyers, bar associations, and justice institutions remained essential in preventing abuses of power, defending professional independence, and ensuring accountability.
The IBA has prioritised anti-corruption work for many years, providing practical support, expert guidance, and sustained capacity-building to lawyers and bar associations around the globe.
IBA President Jaime Carey (pictured) commented: “Corruption corrodes trust, weakens institutions and undermines the rule of law.
“On International Anti-Corruption Day, we recognise the indispensable role that lawyers play in defending integrity and ensuring that justice systems remain resilient.”