Speakers

• Sérgio Moro, Federal Judge, Brazil
• Brian Winter, Vice President of Policy, AS/COA; Editor-in-Chief, Americas Quarterly

After Americas Quarterly's Brian Winter opened the magazine's conference on Latin America's fight against corruption, Brazil's Federal Judge Sérgio Moro took the stage with Winter to discuss how Lava Jato—an anti-corruption operation with a regional reach—as well as the consequences for Brazilians' faith in democracy. Moro also responded to criticisms of how people have been targeted by the Lava Jato investigation, saying his team has investigated politicians on the left and right. "Sometimes people have illusions about some idols and sometimes it's time for people to realize the truth," said Moro.

Speakers:

• Eduardo Engel, Professor of Economics, University of Chile; Former Chairman, Presidential Advisory Council on Conflicts of Interest, Influence Peddling, and Corruption in the Bachelet administration
• Néstor Humberto Martínez, Attorney General, Colombia
• Rodrigo Janot, Professor, Universidad de los Andes; former Attorney General, Brazil
• Iván Velásquez, Commissioner, Comisión Internacional contra la Impunidad en Guatemala (CICIG)
• José Ugaz, Former Chair, Transparency International
• Shannon K. O’Neil, Vice President, Senior fellow for Latin America Studies, Council on Foreign Relations (moderator)

At Americas Quarterly's conference about the fight against corruption in Latin America, leaders heading investigations that cracked down on corruption at the highest levels of government talked about what these operations accomplished in Latin America and the lessons learned in recent years. Although millions of people took to the streets against corruption across the region, as Transparency International's José Ugaz explained, panelists agreed that having an independent judiciary, proper communication, and following the money with the help of external actors are all crucial. The next steps, said panelists, would be working on structural changes with all levels of government and engaging the private sector in better compliance and regulation.

Speakers:

• Geert Aalbers, Senior Partner, Control Risks
• Thelma Aldana, Attorney General, Guatemala
• Alan Clutterbuck, President and Co-founder, Fundación Red de Acción Política
• Claudio X. González, President and Co-Founder, Mexicanos contra la Corrupción y la Impunidad
• Sérgio Moro, Federal Judge, Brazil
• Brian Winter, Vice President of Policy, AS/COA; Editor-in-Chief, Americas Quarterly (moderator)

What are the next steps and policies needed to continue making gains on anti-corruption movements in Latin America? At the Americas Quarterly's conference, experts and Latin American leaders from Brazil, Guatemala, and Mexico discussed measures needed in the public and private sectors, as well as changes in societies' culture. Top issues, panelists concurred, include rooting out illicit financing of political parties and campaigns. collaborating with international agencies, and ensuring freedom of the press.

Speakers:

• Antonio Carlos Welter, Brazilian prosecutor, senior member of the Lava Jato unit investigating crimes at Petrobras
• Iván Velásquez, Colombian prosecutor, head of the UN-backed investigative body CICIG in Guatemala 
• Thelma Aldana, Guatemalan attorney general
• José Ugaz, Peruvian jurist, global chair of Transparency International 
• Brian Winter, Editor-in-Chief, Americas Quarterly; Vice President, Policy, Americas Society/Council of the Americas (moderator)

Top leaders fighting corruption in Latin America discussed how operations such as Lava Jato in Brazil and the CICIG in Guatemala work in practice, what is changing in the region, and the institutional reforms needed to make systemic graft a thing of the past.  

In its latest issue, Americas Quarterly identifies five "corruption busters" from Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru. Their stories of persistence define the anti-corruption work sweeping much of the region, resulting in stronger democracies, judicial systems, and civic engagement. Read the complete profile of Latin America’s Top Five Corruption Busters.

In its latest issue, Americas Quarterly spotlights how a new generation of prosecutors and activists is making historic progress in the battle against graft—and jailing those responsible, no matter how powerful. The magazine identified five "corruption busters" from Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru. Their stories of persistence define the anti-corruption work sweeping much of the region, resulting from stronger democracies, judicial systems, and civic engagement.

Citing recent cases in Brazil, Guatemala, and Honduras, José Ugaz, Peruvian jurist and global chair of Transparency International, says the shift "reflects a trend in the region in order to confront corruption." The trend might change the course of Latin American politics and business for good. 

• Read the complete profile of Latin America’s Top Five Corruption Busters.
• Watch a live event with AQ's corruption busters on February 9.