A WORRYING number of young people believe that in order to succeed in life, they have to compromise their values and conform to corruption, says Transparency International Fiji.
In a report based on surveys done in 2012 in the Asia-Pacific region, TI Fiji said the nation's young people faced an integrity issue as this large population group entered the education system and the workplace.
The survey deals with viewpoints provided by the youths and adults on the issue corruption. In Fiji, the youth population of the 15-29 year age group makes 28 per cent of the population.
"The young people have high standards of integrity and an overwhelming number of young people believe they have a role to play in fighting corruption," said TI Fiji in a statement.
"However, a worrying number of young people believe that in order to succeed in life, they have to compromise their values and conform to the current status quo.
"As these big youth populations enter the education system and workforce, we are facing an integrity crisis. The findings represent a warning that urgent action is needed to bring young people, governments, businesses, schools, parents and others together in order to ensure the next generation helps to transform society into one of integrity, transparency and accountability."
TI Fiji said the findings from the survey formed the basis of recommendations, laid out in the report, for advocacy activities to mobilise young people's involvement in the fight against corruption and integrity in the four countries surveyed in the Asia-Pacific region.