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This special, annual day was envisioned in December 2016 to shine the global spotlight on moral health for a more-whole world. It is meant to be a practical impetus for people a) to live in integrity always and in every area of their lives and b) to learn about and support a variety of strategic efforts for pro-integrity and anti-corruption.

Also note the overlapping emphasis for this year's theme on "crime" and "transnational organized crime" in addition to the usual theme of corruption. So much of crime is part of a vast, dark, highly organized, and exploitative, destructive domain of evil. There is no way to talk about corruption without talking about crime and vice versa. Also note the emphasis on supporting civil society and government efforts. Continuing with these emphases is crucial.

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Feature 1. GID is a positive day, launched on 9 June 2020, to reflect, teach, and collaborate on ways to integrate integrity in all we do during the entire year.

Feature 2. GID is a strategic day to promote a) cultivating lifestyles, cultures, and systems of integrity from the individual-international levels; b) joining together to understand and address the causes/consequences of corruption in its many forms; and c) working towards just and equitable societies marked with wellbeing for all people and the planet.

Feature 3. GID is a solemn day to consider our ways: if we are lying and/or stealing in any way big or small, then we need to stop it. If we need to right a wrong we have done, then do so. If we need to prudently confront wrongdoing, preferably in solidarity with colleagues for mutual support and greater impact, then do so.

Feature 4. GID is a companion day to complement UN International Anti-Corruption Day, 9 December (and vice versa). Both Days are practical rallying points, six months apart, for fostering common ground, organizing events, sharing initiatives, affirming anti-corruption workers, and involving the public. Both days align with other efforts such as the UN International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime (15 Nov) and UN Human Rights Day (10 Dec).

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GID

Four Features

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GID 2020 Confronting the Corruption of Racism
GID 2021 Corruption and Poverty
GID 2022 Integrity and Corruption in the Health Sector
GID 2023 Faith-Based Champions Fighting Corruption
GID 2024 Fighting Human Trafficking
GID 2025 Empowering People to Defeat Corruption: Developing Resilience, Virtues, and Skills
GID 2026 Breaking the Bonds of Exploitation: Solidarity Against Corruption and Crime—Supporting Civil Society and Governments

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GID Themes:

2000-2026

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“Integrity is moral wholeness—living consistently in moral wholeness--with honesty, humility, and all the virtues. It also includes an awareness of one’s potential to deceive and harm oneself and others.

Integrity needs external moral referents--standards of virtue with accountability--and not simply positive self-appraisals--in order to safeguard us all from both blind and willful hypocrisy.

Corruption is moral rottenness, the opposite of integrity--integroty. It is the distortion, perversion, and deterioration of moral goodness, abusing and exploiting people and the planet.

Global integrity is living consistently in moral wholeness at all levels: individual—international, local—global, sectors/settings, systemic/structural."�

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Definitions:

Integrity & Corruption

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We will be inviting colleagues to form a coordinating group for GID to oversee and further develop this special day. Your suggestions are welcome!

You are encouraged to:

--share/link GID website on your websites, blogs, etc.�--celebrate GID and spotlight your materials on 9 June�--share resources on the GID website throughout the year�--encourage someone you know who is acting with integrity�--make every day an integrity day!

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GID:

Next Steps

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Global Initiatives�Note their many resources�

United Nation’s Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)—GID 2026 spotlight!

Global Anti-Corruption Training Platform and Anticorruption Online Toolkit, etc.

Global Integrity Network, Lausanne-World Evangelical Alliance—currently regrouping

UN Office on Drugs and Crime. “UNODC’s mission is to contribute to global peace and security, human rights and development by making the world safer from drugs, crime, corruption and terrorism.” Note the Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC, 2003) and Int. Anti-Cor. Day with the themes for 2024/2025 Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow's Integrity.

Transparency International

--Corruption Perceptions Index 2025–Note the emphasis on leaders’ role/responsibility!

--International Anti-Corruption Conference (Dec 2026, DR)--Igniting the Power of Integrity

Global Civil Society Coalition for the UNCAC. A global network of about 400 civil society organizations in 120+ countries, committed to promoting the ratification, implementation and monitoring of the UNCAC. “[Member organizations] work on a wide range of issues related to advancing anti-corruption efforts, transparency and accountability, as well as policy areas linked to specific UNCAC provisions.”

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The UNCAC “is the only legally binding universal anti-corruption instrument. The Convention's far-reaching approach and the mandatory character of many of its provisions make it a unique tool for developing a comprehensive response to a global problem.
The Convention covers five main areas: preventive measures, criminalization and law enforcement, international cooperation, asset recovery, and technical assistance and information exchange.
The Convention covers many different forms of corruption, such as bribery, trading in influence, abuse of functions, and various acts of corruption in the private sector.” (from website)

Note also the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (2000)

See also:

1. UN Office on Drugs and Crime. “UNODC’s mission is to contribute to global peace and security, human rights and development by making the world safer from drugs, crime, corruption and terrorism.” (quote from website)

2. Global Civil Society Coalition for the UNCAC. A global network of about 400 civil society organizations in 120+ countries, committed to promoting the ratification, implementation and monitoring of the UNCAC. “[Member organizations] work on a wide range of issues related to advancing anti-corruption efforts, transparency and accountability, as well as policy areas linked to specific UNCAC provisions.”

3. UN Global Compact. “At the UN Global Compact, we aim to mobilize a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders to create the world we want. That’s our vision. To make this happen, the UN Global Compact supports companies to: Do business responsibly by aligning their strategies and operations with Ten Principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption; and Take strategic actions to advance broader societal goals, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with an emphasis on collaboration and innovation.” (quote from website)

�4. Gyeongju Actin Plan: Education for Global Citizenship. 2016, UN DPI/NGO. “In addition to literacy and numeracy, education must advance the cause of global citizenship which: promotes integrated development of the whole person emotionally, ethically, intellectually, physically, socially, and spiritually; imbued with an understanding of our roles, rights and responsibilities for the common good in service to humanity and the advancement of a culture of peace, non-violence, freedom, justice, and equality; inculcates a sense of care for the earth, reverence for the interdependent kinship of all life, and stewardship of all ecological systems for future generations; strengthens the societal relationships among individuals, institutions, communities, states, humanity, and the planet; “empowers learners to assume active roles to face and resolve global challenges and to become proactive contributors to a more peaceful, tolerant, inclusive, and secure world”; nurtures a sense of solidarity and empathy in order to end poverty, protect the planet, ensure human rights, and foster prosperous and fulfilling lives for all.”

5. UN International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime (15 November);

UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (2000s);

UN Human Rights Day (10 December)

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Thanks for participating! Kelly and Michele

In summary:

This special, annual day shines a global spotlight on moral health for a more-whole world. It is a practical impetus for people a) to live in integrity always and in every area of their lives and b) to learn about and support a variety of strategic efforts for integrity and anti-corruption.

We invite friends and colleagues around the world, and organizations and networks large and small, to join together in solidarity, finding common ground for the common good, to commemorate this special day on 9 June and throughout this year.

�--Dr. Michèle Lewis O’Donnell and Dr. Kelly O’Donnell are consulting psychologists based in Geneva and the USA. Respectively they are the COO and CEO of Member Care Associates, Inc (MCA), an NGO focusing on the wellbeing and effectiveness of staff and their organizations. Their multi-sectoral emphases for consultation, training, and writing include: personnel development, Global Mental Health, and integrity/anti-corruption. Kelly and Michèle did their doctoral training in clinical psychology and theology at Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University, USA MCAresources@gmail.com