The latest 2025 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) from Transparency International has highlighted significant corruption concerns across the Americas, revealing a stagnant average score of 42 out of 100. This indicates that the region has made no substantial progress in combating corruption for over a decade, as evidenced by the fact that twelve out of thirty-three countries have seen a decline in their scores since 2012. The findings underscore the detrimental effects of corruption on public trust, democratic institutions, and the proliferation of transnational organized crime.

The presentation of these troubling results coincided with an academic forum titled 'The Fight Against Corruption in Argentina and the World,' held on February 12 by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in South America, the School of Politics, Government and International Relations at Universidad Austral, and the Hanns Seidel Foundation. Notable participants in the event included Delia Ferreira Rubio, the former president of Transparency International, highlighting the seriousness of the issue and the need for collaborative action against corruption.

This discussion is pivotal as it brings together experts and policymakers to analyze the current state of corruption, its implications for democracy, and the effectiveness of existing anti-corruption measures. The stagnation in scores points to the urgent need for strengthened enforcement mechanisms, public engagement, and policies aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability within governments across the region, ensuring that they can adequately address the challenges posed by corruption and organized crime.