Corruption
has thrived under the coronavirus pandemic and anyone involved in graft
must be prevented from exploiting the rollout of new vaccines, the UN
Secretary-General has said.“Governments are spending rapidly to get
economies back on target , provide emergency support and procure medical supplies. Oversight may be weaker. And the development of vaccines and coverings adds to the danger of bribery and profiteering,” he said.
Corruption drains resources from people that need them, undermines trust in institutions, exacerbates the vast inequalities exposed by the virus, and hinders a robust recovery, he added.
“We cannot allow stimulus funds and vital emergency resources to be diverted … recovery from the pandemic must include measures to stop and combat corruption and bribery.”
Broad partnerships
In
his message, Mr. Guterres outlined the need for broad partnerships to
strengthen oversight, accountability and transparency, building on the
global anti-corruption tools provided by the UN Convention against
Corruption.
He called for action against corruption to be part of
broader national and international reforms and initiatives to strengthen
good governance, tackle illicit financial flows and tax havens, and
return stolen assets, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs).
“On International Anti-Corruption Day, all folks – governments, businesses, civil society and every one stakeholders – must resolve to figure together to market accountability and end corruption and bribery for a more just and equal world,” the UN chief said.
The International Day
The
International Day, observed on 9 December every year, was established
by the UN General Assembly in 2003 to raise awareness of corruption and
of the role of the Convention against Corruption in combating and
preventing it.
This year, it is being commemorated under the theme of
“Recover with Integrity”, which emphasizes that an inclusive COVID-19
recovery can only be achieved with integrity and accountability. Events
will focus on mitigating corruption and enhancing accountability in the
public health sector, emergency/economic responses to the pandemic, and
the private sector.
In addition, corruption in sports and gender and
corruption will also be highlighted, to outline the importance of sport
for development and peace, and the need for diversity to break up
corrupt networks, respectively.
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