G7 nations support effort to 'drive out culture of corruption'

World leaders recognize that there is a correlation between corruption and, among other things, the persecution of religious minorities around the globe, and the G7 said they support the effort to "drive out the culture of corruption."

"The G7 has endorsed the London Summit's outcomes, and will play a leading role in their implementation," British Prime Minister David Cameron said at the conclusion of the G7 Summit in Japan on May 27.

The G7 is a group of the seven industrialized democracies in the world, namely Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and the meeting Cameron was referring to was the Anti-Corruption Summit held in London, England in May.

"Corruption is at the heart of so many of the world's problems," the Anti-Corruption Summit's official communiqué reads. "It erodes public trust in government, undermines the rule of law, and may give rise to political and economic grievances that may, in conjunction with other factors, fuel violent extremism. Tackling corruption is vital for sustaining economic stability and growth, maintaining security of societies, protecting human rights, reducing poverty, protecting the environment for future generations and addressing serious and organised crime."

Its aim is to have a common approach in order to: expose corruption, including misusing companies and legal entities to hide the proceeds gained from illegal financial flows; punish perpetrators and support those who have been or are affected by corruption by making sure that there are laws in place; and "drive out the culture of corruption wherever it exists" by encouraging "long-term institutional partnerships which promote integrity." The comminique discusses in further detail how countries individually and collectively can take steps in battling this problem.

Cameron said, reports TruNews, that it is "undermining our security by pushing people towards extremist groups."

The meeting brought together world leaders as well as business executives and representatives from civil society organizations and G20 nations. According to the report, many countries agreed to publish their respective "register of beneficial ownership," which is a list of the real owners of corportation within their territories. Among those who have agreed to or have expressed a desire to maintain such registers are Afghanistan and Nigeria, along with Britain, France, Kenya, and the Netherlands.

However, the United States reportedly did not sign the pledge during the summit, and neither did other territories like the British Virgin Islands, which is deemed as a tax haven.