Corruption is a complex social, political and economic phenomenon that affects all countries. Corruption undermines democratic institutions, slows economic development and contributes to governmental instability.
On Oct. 31, 2003, the UN General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against Corruption and requested that the secretary-general designate the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as secretariat for the Convention`s Conference of States Parties.
The 193-nation General Assembly also designated Dec. 9 as International Anti-Corruption Day, to raise awareness of corruption and of the role of the Convention in combating and preventing it. The Convention entered into force in December 2005.
The theme of the 2014 International Day, "Breaking the Corruption Chain," is geared toward showing the importance of individual engagement in tackling a phenomenon "that strikes hardest at the poor, hinders inclusive economic growth and robs essential services of badly needed funds."
"From cradle to grave, millions are touched by corruption`s shadow," Ban said, urging engagement of the public and private sectors. Public servants and elected officials had to be guided by ethics, transparency and accountability, while the private sector needed to recognize that good behavior is good business.
Looking ahead to agreement on a new post-2015 sustainable development agenda, Ban emphasized how the new agenda would promote better practices.
"Our aim is to empower individuals and catalyze governments, the private sector and civil society to help lift millions out of poverty, protect the planet and achieve shared prosperity and dignity for all," he said, adding that "eliminating corruption and its harmful impacts will be crucial to our future well-being."
Yury Fedotov, executive director of the UNODC, also remarked on the campaign, calling on everyone to mark the International Day with events, to use the Call to Action Matrix, and to spread the word through social media.
Outlining corruption`s reach into "boardrooms, government, law enforcement, education, healthcare and sport" among other areas, he stressed the practices destructive effects, especially on the poor.
"Corruption, today, represents a serious brake on the forward motion of sustainable development and building effective institutions," Fedotov said, adding that corruption "oils the wheels of other damaging crimes, including illicit trafficking in drugs, people, animals, timber and guns."
Echoing the secretary-general, he said global resistance to corruption hinged on worldwide ratification and implementation of the UN anti-corruption convention, together with participation in the treaty`s peer review mechanism, and he pointed to the tools` transformational effects.
"These range from meaningful reform to the strengthening of anti-corruption institutions all over the world," he said.
Touching upon next year`s Sixth Conference of the States Parties to Convention, which will be held in St. Petersburg, Russia, Fedotov said the meeting would offer "an opportunity to further strengthen global anti-corruption action and deliver the message that corruption has no place in our world."
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