Every day, but especially today, December 9, — International Anti-Corruption Day — it is especially important to speak out and expose how corruption undermines trust, weakens democracy, hinders and even halts economic development, and further exacerbates inequality, poverty, social division, and environmental crises.
The Corruption Perceptions Index published by the global movement Transparency International, which has examined corruption levels in more than 180 countries over the past few years, reveals an alarming trend — a lack of progress in combating corruption on a global scale and the fact that nearly two-thirds of the countries surveyed have results that confirm deep-rooted and systemic problems with corruption. Bulgaria is one of them, and it is very difficult to be optimistic that we are moving in the right direction; however, at Transparency International Bulgaria, we believe that sustainable results in the fight against corruption and the achievement of transparency, accountability, and integrity at all levels of government and in all spheres of public life can be achieved through the joint efforts of central government authorities, local authorities, the media, the academic community, and civil society. We also believe in the power of young people as a driving force for change.
Young people are particularly vulnerable to corruption
In July 2024, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) launched an international essay contest, inviting young people from around the world to share how corruption affects their lives, families, and communities, and how civil society works to prevent and combat corruption. A review of the 1,331 essays received shows that young people feel their daily lives are negatively affected by the consequences of corruption: underfunded schools limit access to quality education, scarce job opportunities diminish their prospects, healthcare is becoming less accessible, and participation in public discourse is hindered. These obstacles affect their personal growth, limit their participation in decision-making processes, and undermine their trust in the justice system, institutions, and the rule of law.
Young people are not indifferent
Over the past two years, young people in Nepal, Peru, Morocco, Madagascar, Serbia, and many other countries around the world have been protesting against mismanagement and corrupt practices that are robbing them of their future. It is no coincidence that this year’s UN theme for International Anti-Corruption Day is “Together with the Younger Generation Against Corruption: Integrity for Tomorrow.”
This issue is particularly relevant in Bulgaria, which has consistently scored low on the Corruption Perceptions Index, ranging between 41 and 45 points over the past decade, and regularly ranks second-to-last among EU countries, ahead of only Hungary.
In November and December 2025, thousands of young people in various cities across the country took to the streets to express their dissatisfaction with corruption, the lack of accountability, and the slow pace of reform. Their protests clearly show that young people refuse to accept corruption as an inevitable part of everyday life. They are demanding effective institutions, transparent decisions, and policies that ensure their future can be built on stability, justice, and integrity.
International Anti-Corruption Day reminds us that sustainable change requires not only political will but also the active participation of citizens. Bulgaria is part of this global wave of action. Young people in our country have made it clear that they want real reforms, greater institutional accountability, and mechanisms that effectively prevent the abuse of power.
On this December 9, we express our solidarity with young people in Bulgaria and around the world. Their energy, courage, and drive for change remind us that the fight against corruption is a collective effort that requires unity, consistency, and determination.