KATHMANDU, Dec 9: The International Anti-Corruption Day is being observed in Nepal by organizing various programs on Sunday.

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and Transparency International Nepal chapter are organizing separate functions today in the capital to observe the day.

The United Nations has announced to observe International Anti-Corruption Day on December 9, 2018 to impart awareness to masses about its adverse effects and to minimize the problems caused by it.

In his message on the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said “Corruption is present in all countries, rich and poor, North and South. It is an assault on the values of the United Nations. It robs societies of schools, hospitals and other vital services, drives away foreign investment and strips nations of their natural resources.”

Guterres said that corruption undermines the rule of law and abets crimes such as the illicit trafficking of people, drugs and arms.

“Tax evasion, money laundering and other illicit flows divert much-needed resources for sustainable development. The World Economic Forum estimates that the cost of corruption is at least $2.6 trillion – or 5 per cent of global gross domestic product. And according to the World Bank, businesses and individuals pay more than $1 trillion in bribes each year,” he said.

The UN Secretary General is of the view that corruption begets more corruption, and fosters a corrosive culture of impunity.

“The United Nations Convention against Corruption is among our primary tools for advancing the fight. Sustainable Development Goal 16 and its targets also offer a template for action. Through the Convention’s peer review mechanism, we can work together to build a foundation of trust and accountability. We can educate and empower citizens, promote transparency and strengthen international cooperation to recover stolen assets,” he further said.

Guterres has urged everyone to stand for integrity on the occasion of the International Anti-Corruption Day. “Millions of people around the world have gone to the ballots this year with corruption as one of their top priorities. On International Anti-Corruption Day, let us take a stand for integrity,” he added.

Every year $1 trillion is paid in bribes while an estimated $2.6 trillion are stolen annually through corruption – a sum equivalent to more than 5 per cent of the global GDP, according to the United Nations.

In developing countries, according to the United Nations Development Programme, funds lost to corruption are estimated at 10 times the amount of official development assistance.

“Corruption is a serious crime that can undermine social and economic development in all societies. No country, region or community is immune,” the UN said.

Background

On 31 October 2003, the 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 (resolution 58/4). 

The Assembly also designated 9 December 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.

Governments, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, the media and citizens around the world are joining forces to fight this crime. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) are at the forefront of these efforts.

 
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