If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.
Options
Bribery and Corruption
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Having just come back from a few day in Moldova I witnessed blatant corruption to the extent that the first thing a customs officer says to you is "present"
Not that I did, but if giving a customs officer 20 GBP/USD means that they do their job efficiently and don't mess you around, should it be done?
In Turkey (where I spent a day meeting and working with some refugees I have been supporting from the UK) bribery and corruption is normal. Paying a bit extra often means getting to the front of the queue and getting paperwork completed more quickly and therefore reduces the risk a refugee is face with, should it be done? With some demands there is no way of not paying -
example: a refugee in Turkey who has UN refugee status and clearance to immigrate to the US still has to pay 500USD at passport control in order to get out of the country and not be deported. How can this be right?
another example - refugees have to report to the UN offices at regular intervals - there are often long queues outside and various police and secret police monitor queues and subsequently arrest and deport people. if you pay a "fee" to the door security you can jump the queue.
As someone involved in humanitarian work, seeing people suffer emotional, physical and psychological damage by those in authority doesn't get any easier as time goes by and knowing that is a bribe is paid it will help them by reducing the dangers they face - should it be done?
sorry this is a bit rambling but it makes me mad that in trying to do humanitarian work one has to do things that one shouldn't have too, things that wrong - ie paying a bribe to save a life.
Not that I did, but if giving a customs officer 20 GBP/USD means that they do their job efficiently and don't mess you around, should it be done?
In Turkey (where I spent a day meeting and working with some refugees I have been supporting from the UK) bribery and corruption is normal. Paying a bit extra often means getting to the front of the queue and getting paperwork completed more quickly and therefore reduces the risk a refugee is face with, should it be done? With some demands there is no way of not paying -
example: a refugee in Turkey who has UN refugee status and clearance to immigrate to the US still has to pay 500USD at passport control in order to get out of the country and not be deported. How can this be right?
another example - refugees have to report to the UN offices at regular intervals - there are often long queues outside and various police and secret police monitor queues and subsequently arrest and deport people. if you pay a "fee" to the door security you can jump the queue.
As someone involved in humanitarian work, seeing people suffer emotional, physical and psychological damage by those in authority doesn't get any easier as time goes by and knowing that is a bribe is paid it will help them by reducing the dangers they face - should it be done?
sorry this is a bit rambling but it makes me mad that in trying to do humanitarian work one has to do things that one shouldn't have too, things that wrong - ie paying a bribe to save a life.
0
Comments
or unless they have a sponsor who is prepared to pay.
being prepared to pay a bribe in east europe/russia when refugees are concerned isn't normally about "money can buy anything" but about survival and about trying to get people to do the job they are paid to do, okay I admit they probably don't get paid well by our standards.
virtually everywhere these days is westernised to some extent in some aspect. even china.
the correct answer is that the rest of the world is so why shouldn't they be?
and i think it is wrong, it is against my principles. by paying the bribe you are only contributing to the corruption and hence are no better. what is more important to you? your life? or the very esence that makes you what you are, your beliefs and principles? if you can't keep them then what do you have?
what if your values and principles mean defending freedom and the right to live.
Have you ever been in a situation whereby a good friend, a relative or someone you love has been illegally arrested in "westernised" east/middle east country and their freedon is attainable by paying a bribe, which despite it being wrong and ensuring the cycle of corruption continues, means someone you love won't be tortured or murdered?
sorry long sentance but have you?
quite similar i guess.
but is taking risks for your self the same as taking risks for someone you love...
if it was pay the money or we'll cut your child up in front of you what would you do?