Towards a Culture of Transparency

Transparency has become a central point in the public debate of Latin America. Citizens are demanding for greater transparency and the elimination of any form of corruption. The eradication of corruption would signify paying greater attention to improving limited resources and society taking greater role in the development process. At the same time, it would provide an adequate environment for attracting foreign investments.

Complementing microeconomic and acroeconomic decisions, corruption is also part of the ethical debate. Culture and education are affected negatively by corruption practices and affect society as a whole.

Within this global framework, the Inter-American Initiative on Social Capital, Ethics and Development of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Division of State and Civil Society of Region 2 of the IDB, the Finance Ministry of Guatemala, and the Norwegian
Government, are organizing the International Seminar "Towards a Culture of Transparency", to be held in Guatemala City on May 26 and 27, 2005.