International Anti-Corruption Day has been observed annually, on 9 December, since the passage of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption on 31 October 2003.
The Convention states, in part, that the UN is:
"concerned about the seriousness of problems and threats posed by
corruption to the stability and security of societies, undermining the
institutions and values of democracy, ethical values and justice and
jeopardizing sustainable development and the rule of law"
and delegates to the Convention the power to:
"promote and strengthen measures to prevent and combat corruption
more efficiently and effectively... promote, facilitate and support
international cooperation and technical assistance in the prevention of
and fight against corruption… [and] promote integrity, accountability
and proper management of public affairs and public property…"
Your NO counts campaign
The "Your NO Counts" campaign is a joint international campaign created by the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to mark International Anti-Corruption Day (9 December) and raise awareness about corruption and how to fight it.
The 2009 joint international campaign focused on how corruption
hinders efforts to achieve the internationally agreed upon MDGs,
undermines democracy and the rule of law, leads to human rights
violations, distorts markets, erodes quality of life and allows
organized crime, terrorism and other threats to human security to
flourish.
UN Secretary-General's Message for 2013
Corruption suppresses economic growth by driving up costs, and
undermines the sustainable management of the environment and natural
resources. It breaches fundamental human rights, exacerbates poverty
and increases inequality by diverting funds from health care, education
and other essential services. The malignant effects of corruption are
felt by billions of people everywhere. It is driven by and results
in criminal activity, malfunctioning state institutions and weak
governance.
Good governance is critical for sustainable development, and
vital in combating organized crime. Every link in the trafficking
chain is vulnerable to corruption, from the bribes paid to corrupt
officials by dealers in arms and drugs to the fraudulent permits and
licenses used to facilitate the illicit trade in natural resources.
Corruption is also rife in the world of sport and business, and
in public procurement processes. In the last decade, the private
sector has increasingly recognized its role in fighting corruption. A
Call to Action launched by the United Nations Global Compact and
partners is mobilizing businesses and Governments to engage in
transparent procurement. Guidelines are also being developed to help
business fight corruption in sport sponsorship and hospitality.
The UN is strongly committed to fulfilling its own obligations.
Operating in some of the world’s most unstable environments, the UN
faces multifaceted corruption risks that can undermine our efforts to
advance development, peace and human rights. We have developed a
robust system of internal controls and continue to remain vigilant and
work hard to set an example of integrity.
Corruption is a barrier to achieving the Millennium Development
Goals and needs to be taken into account in defining and implementing a
robust post-2015 development agenda. The UN Convention against
Corruption, adopted 10 years ago, is the paramount global framework for
preventing and combating corruption. Full implementation depends
crucially on effective prevention, law enforcement, international
cooperation and asset recovery. On this International Anti-Corruption
Day, I urge Governments, the private sector and civil society to take a
collective stand against this complex social, political and economic
disease that affects all countries. To achieve an equitable, inclusive
and more prosperous future for all, we must foster a culture of
integrity, transparency, accountability and good governance.
- Ban Ki-moon
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