Venezuela gets a "moderate" rating in the Public Integrity Index, which tracks corruption, openness and accountability in 25 countries. This peer-reviewed country report includes a timeline covering corruption over the past one to two decades, a reporter's notebook on the culture of corruption and an assessment of the six main integrity categories. The integrity scorecard lists the full set of integrity indicators with scores, commentary and references.
Clink, clink, clink, clink!
The clinking of cutlery against glass is common these days in the eastside restaurants of Caracas, a signal that patrons use to indicate the unwelcome presence of high-ranking civil servants, military officers, representatives of the government or public institutions, or members of President Hugo Chávez's party. The tinkling noise may start at one table or another, but soon enough other guests join in. The purpose of the ensuing racket, which everyone in the restaurant is aware of, is to make the objectionable officials feel despised. This kind of action recurs on the streets via the banging of pots and pans in what is known as a "cacerolazo," a sign of rejection in Venezuelan society. However, it is outdone by the conduct of Chávez's hordes in downtown and west Caracas, where the opposition cannot demonstrate peacefully. More than once they have been attacked and shot at, with fatal results, because the "Chavistas" (Chávez supporters) consider those areas to be theirs, and theirs alone. There is a rift in the society of Caracas, capital city of Venezuela. >>
The actions of civil society organizations serve as a check on human rights violations and the poor performance of the executive and judicial branches. CSOs are becoming an effective resistance to arbitrary governmental actions that endanger public participation and prevent the proficient development of institutions.
Although some of these organizations initiated their activities, over the past six years they have created and strengthened a domestic non-governmental movement that embraces a broad diversity of topics and has earned an important measure of credibility. That reputation trespasses local boundaries, reaching international public opinion, as well. >>