Santo Domingo — The head of one of the world’s leading anti-corruption watchdogs has highlighted the Dominican Republic’s robust progress in rooting out public sector graft, positioning the Caribbean nation as a standout global example for tangible action on transparency and governance reform.
In a conversation with Dominican local media outlets, Transparency International President François Valérian emphasized what sets the country apart from many other nations: while dozens of states have comprehensive, well-written anti-corruption legislation on their books, few follow through with consistent enforcement. In the Dominican Republic, by contrast, three core pillars of government — the executive branch, public prosecution service, and national judiciary — are actively moving forward with corruption investigations and trials, Valérian explained.
“The Dominican Republic is not just talking about fighting corruption — it is delivering on that promise,” Valérian said, acknowledging that the country still faces persistent challenges in fully eradicating graft. Even so, he underscored that national authorities have demonstrated clear, unwavering commitment to opening high-profile corruption cases and holding influential actors accountable under the law.
Valérian’s positive assessment arrives ahead of a major global governance milestone for the country: the Dominican Republic is slated to host the 18th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) from December 1 to 4, 2026. The quadrennial event, one of the largest global gatherings focused on transparency reform, is expected to draw more than 2,000 attendees from 140 nations. Participants will span sectors and include sitting government officials, civil society activists, leaders of multilateral international organizations, academic researchers, and private sector executives, all coming together to refine shared global strategies for advancing openness and combating transnational corruption networks.