Corruption has been a problem in the Americas for centuries. But something different – and, we believe, historic – is happening right now. From Brazil to Guatemala and beyond, a new generation of prosecutors, judges, and activists is prosecuting offenders and sending them to jail in unprecedented numbers – no matter how powerful they are.
Some of the leaders behind this historic crackdown have become household names in their home countries. Antonio Carlos Welter is a Brazilian prosecutor and senior member of the Lava Jato unit investigating crimes at Petrobras. Thelma Aldana and Ivan Velasquez, the Guatemalan attorney general and a Colombian prosecutor, conducted sweeping investigations that helped oust a sitting president. José Ugaz, a Peruvian jurist and now chair of Transparency International, is taking lessons learned fighting corruption at home to the global stage.
For the first time, these “Corruption Busters” will be celebrated together at the New York launch of Americas Quarterly’s first magazine of 2016. The four honorees will take part in an on-the record panel discussion with AQ’s editor-in-chief, Brian Winter, sharing their personal stories of courage and persistence and analyzing what is yet to come.
This is the first time anyone has gathered such a high-level panel to discuss a trend that may transform the hemisphere forever.
Registration for the event is full, but anyone can tune in at 6pm on Tuesday, February 9 for a live broadcast of the event.
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 @Ivan_Velasquez_
- Thelma Aldana, Guatemalan attorney general
- José Ugaz, Peruvian jurist, global chair of Transparency International @JoseUgazSM
- Brian Winter, Editor-in-Chief, Americas Quarterly; Vice President, Policy, Americas Society/Council of the Americas (moderator) @BrazilBrian
