Nowadays it is practically impossible to miss the large number of articles on combating corruption, business ethics and Compliance, among other related topics, but where does all this uproar come from? The answer to this question is the political and economic moment experienced by Brazil. The country is a signatory to the OECD Convention (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), ratified by the Brazilian government on June 15, 2000 and promulgated in November of the same year, which requires the criminalization of the act of corruption of foreign public officials in international transactions. .

Internally, we also have Law No. 12.846 / 13, the so-called Anti-Corruption Law, which, in line with OECD guidelines, objectively holds accountable (without the need to prove the guilt of the company's leadership, just proof of economic benefit). legal entities and their agents involved in corruption, and establishes that one of the defenses to be adopted by companies sued for corruption will be to demonstrate the previous existence of an effective Compliance program, capable of minimizing the risks of fraud.

Although there is a long way to go before the extinction of corruption in Brazil, the existence of legislation and work, which has been developed by people and organizations in order to consolidate a law that aims to prevent and curb corruption brings a great advance for your combat.

With the approval of the Anti-Corruption Law and the initiatives of entities such as the Ethos Institute, Ibrademp, ETCO, LEC Magazine, among others, we should see in the coming years the strengthening of ethics in national companies. So, we have no doubt: Compliance is a reality that is here to stay!

Daniel Sibille and Giovanni Falcetta - LEC Compliance Preparatory Course Instructors - Legal, Ethics and Compliance.

Source: Merchant Monitor