Uniting with youth against corruption: Shaping tomorrow’s integrity.
Let’s stand united against corruption for people, planet and prosperity. Government officials, civil servants, law enforcement officers, media representatives, the private sector, civil society, academia, the public and youth are invited to tackle corruption.
The United Nations General Assembly designated 9 December as International Anti-Corruption Day, to raise awareness of corruption and of highlight the role of the Convention in combating and preventing it. The United Nations Convention against Corruption entered into force in December 2005. 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. Economic development is stunted because foreign direct investment is discouraged and small businesses within the country often find it impossible to overcome the “start-up costs” required because of corruption.
What We Do
Governments, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, the media and citizens around the world are joining forces to fight this crime.
The financial and economic costs of corruption are enormous: US$1 trillion are paid in bribes per year (The World Bank Institute) and there were US$1.8 trillion in illicit financial flows from Africa between 1970 and 2008 (Global Financial Integrity, 2010). The United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) is the first legally binding instrument against corruption. As of 12 July 2017, UNCAC has 182 State Parties. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) now make an explicit link between corruption and peaceful, just and inclusive societies. SDG 16 and its targets on reducing bribery, strengthening institutions and accessing information are not only valuable aspirations in their own right, they are also vital conditions for the achievement of all the 17 goals. UNDP’s approach aims at strengthening anti-corruption institutions and systems, supporting the implementation of UNCAC, mitigating corruption risks in essential sectors, and strengthening the collective actions of governments, civil society and the private sector in fighting corruption.
.On 31 October 2003, the UN.General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against Corruption and requested that the U.N. Secretary-General designate the UNODC as secretariat for the Convention’s Conference of States Parties (resolution 58/4).
Corruption is a complex social, political and economic phenomenon that affects all countries. Corruption undermines democratic institutions, slows economic development and contributes to governmental instability.
The United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) are at the forefront of these efforts.
FACTS & FIGURES
Each year, over US$ 1 trillion is paid in bribes
worldwide.
Corruption and the transfer of illicit funds
have contributed to capital flight in Africa, with more than US$ 400 billion having been
looted and stashed away in foreign countries.
Of that amount, around US$ 100 billion is
estimated to have come from Nigeria alone
Corruption reduces a government’s ability
to provide basic resources and services for
its citizens.
Former President of Zaire, Mobutu Sese Seko
(in power 1965-1997) is believed to have looted
the country’s treasury of some US$ 5 billion—
an amount equal to the country’s external
debt at the time.
In Mexico, the brother of former President
Carlos Salinas amassed US$ 120 million as a
result of corruption, an amount that the World
Bank estimates could have covered the annual
health care costs for more than 594,000
Mexican citizens.
The late Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha and
members of his inner circle looted and exported an estimated US$ 2.2 billion. The
World Bank estimates that 70 per cent of the
population of Nigeria live on less than US$ 1
a day
“Corruption undermines human development. It diverts public resources away from the provision of essential services.”
“Corruption increases inequality and hinders national and local economic development by distorting markets for goods and services.Love the flexibility.”
“Corruption corrodes rule of law and destroys public trust in governments and leaders.”
Corruption causes reduced investment.
• Investment in a relatively corrupt country
compared to an uncorrupt one can be as much as 20 per cent more costly.
• Nations that fight corruption and improve their rule of law could increase their national income by 400 per cent.
Corruption allows organized crime
and terrorism to flourish.
• Corrupt practices facilitate drug trafficking and organized crime.
• Corruption is associated with money-laundering and illicit international money transfers, which can be used to support international terrorists.
Increasing evidence indicates widespread
corruption in the judiciary in many parts of
the world.
• Judicial corruption undermines the rule
of law and government legitimacy.
• A corrupt judiciary cripples a society’s
ability to curb corruption.
• A report examining the judiciary in 48
countries found that judicial corruption
was pervasive in 30 of them.
Strong political commitment is required to combat corruption.
• The United Nations Convention against Corruption, adopted on 31 October 2003, is the first legally binding global instrument to combat corruption.
• The United Nations Convention against Corruption entered into force on 14 December 2005. It obliges countries to criminalize certain corrupt practices, including bribery, embezzlement and money-laundering. To date, 36 countries have ratified the Convention and more than 130 have signed it.
• The UN Global Compact is an international initiative that calls on its more than 2000 partners to support 10 universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption. They should embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of influence, its 10 principles.
• Added in June 2004, the tenth principle, derived from the UN Convention against Corruption, stipulates that businesses should work against all forms of corruption, including extortion and bribery. The Global Compact brings together the private sector with UN agencies, labour and
civil society organizations.
. Preventive anti-corruption body or bodies
- Each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, ensure the existence of a body or bodies, as appropriate, that prevent corruption by such means as:
(a) Implementing the policies referred to in article 5 of this Convention and, where appropriate, overseeing and coordinating the implementation of those policies;
(b) Increasing and disseminating knowledge about the prevention of corruption.
ACTIONS
Share good practices and examples of preventing and countering corruption worldwide through strengthening international cooperation against corruption.
Reduce the risks of mismanagement and corruption.
Tackle the linkages with other forms of crime.
Enable the recovery and return of stolen assets.
Leverage youth engagement.
Develop innovative solutions to fight against bribery.
Advance prevention through education.
Mobilize allies in civil society, academia, and the private sector.
Previous Observances
New Technologies for Sustainable Development: Perspectives on Integrity, Trust and Anti-Corruption.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has brought immense opportunities to leverage digitalisation and technological innovation to meet many development challenges. In the area of anti-corruption, technology has become one of the greatest allies for preventing and…
Panel discussion 1 – Young people as integrity builders: Successes and lessons learned from youth engagement and education.
The panel discussion will be composed of youth representatives, Member States, anti-corruption experts and academia. It aims to (a) highlight recent progress and successes in engaging young people in anti-corruption efforts, as well as in anti-corruption education;…
Explore how to empower young people to contribute to preventing and fighting corruption.
1.9 billion reasons to care and take action against corruption.
International Anti-Corruption Day 