Unite against corruption for development

(December 9 is Intertiol Anti-Corruption Day)

By Ranjan K Baruah

We are familiar with the word corruption. In India, we have been hearing this since childhood and shall continue to hear till death. Some people may be optimistic that corruption would end from India but I would rather say that it would continue for years and years as it has become something like way of life for many. What we can do is take part pro actively against corruption and try to minimize the same.

In simple, corruption is a form of dishonest or unethical conduct by a person entrusted with a position of authority, often to acquire persol benefit. Corruption may include many activities including bribery.  Corruption occurs when an office-holder or other governmental employee acts in an official capacity for persol gain.

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. In developing countries, according to the United tions 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 and no country, region or community is immune. It 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 31 October 2003, the General Assembly adopted the United tions Convention against Corruption and requested that the Secretary-General desigte the United tions Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as secretariat for the Convention’s Conference of States Parties (resolution 58/4). The Assembly also desigted 9 December as Intertiol 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 for this year is ‘united against corruption for development, peace and security’. The 2016 joint intertiol campaign focuses on corruption as one of the biggest impediments to achieving the Sustaible Development Goals (SDGs).

Ban Ki-moon, United tions Secretary-General on his message on the occasion said that “corruption strangles people, communities and tions. It weakens education and health, undermines electoral processes and reinforces injustices by perverting crimil justice systems and the rule of law.  By diverting domestic and foreign funds, corruption wrecks economic and social development and increases poverty.  It harms everyone, but the poor and vulnerable suffer most.” "On Intertiol Anti-corruption Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to ending the deceit and dishonesty that threaten the 2030 Agenda and our efforts to achieve peace and prosperity for all on a healthy planet, “ , he added .

Yury Fedetov, Executive Director of UNODC on his statement said that “The G20 estimates that 90 trillion US dollars in infrastructure investment is required between 2015 and 2030 to support global growth and development. To protect this investment corruption’s destructive impact should not be ignored. There needs to be a wholehearted and determined contribution to global anticorruption efforts from the world’s public and private sectors.” On the Intertiol Anti-Corruption Day, Yury Fedetov invited all countries, intergovernmental organizations, and civil society to join the UNODC/UNDP campaign titled, “Corruption: An impediment to the Sustaible Development Goals.” We must end corruption now.

There is no doubt that fighting corruption is a global concern because corruption is found in both rich and poor countries, and evidence shows that it hurts poor people disproportiotely. It contributes to instability, poverty and is a domint factor driving fragile countries towards state failure. In India, we are aware the impact of corruption. It has been hampering the growth of the tion.  Corruption attacks the foundation of democratic institutions by distorting electoral processes, perverting the rule of law and creating bureaucratic quagmires whose only reason for existing is the soliciting of bribes. Governments, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, the media and citizens around the world are joining forces to fight this crime. The United tions Development Programme (UNDP) and the United tions Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) are at the forefront of these efforts. Together we may bring some change but it depends upon us whether we are really committed to end corruption or by pass it by accepting it as way of life.

(With inputs from UN publication and published on the occasion of intertiol anti corruption day and feedback may be sent to bkranjan@gmail.com)