The United Nations(UN) International Anti-Corruption Day is observed annually on December 9 to raise awareness about corruption and ways through which it can be reduced. The day also aims to create awareness of the role of the UN Convention against Corruption and its role in combating and preventing corruption. The day also highlights the need to eradicate corruption.
Theme of International Anti-Corruption Day 2020– ‘Recover with Integrity’.
About Theme 2020:
i.The theme highlights the countries’ urgent need to ensure that anti-corruption is an integral part of all sustainable development efforts for the following reasons:
- To create greener economies, to end poverty, to invest in women empowerment and gender gender equality.
- To provide Universal Healthcare Coverage, and foster strong and inclusive institutions and societies.
ii.It also highlights that recovery is possible only by taking effective anti-corruption measures.
iii.It also emphasises that inclusive COVID-19 recovery can only be achieved with integrity.
iv.People need to stand ‘United Against Corruption’ to ‘Recover with Integrity’.
Note- Corruption prospers in the times of crisis and the ongoing global pandemic is not an exception to it
Background of the Day
i.The General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against Corruption on October 31, 2003.
ii.It requested 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).
iii.The assembly also designated December 9 as the day.
iv.The Convention came into force in December 2005.
Key Info
i.Worldwide, the Governments, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, the media and citizens are joining the forces to fight corruption.
ii.The United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) and UNODC are at the forefront of these efforts.
Statistics Regarding Corruption
i.According to the UN, USD 1 trillion is paid as bribes and USD 2.6 trillion are stolen due to corruptive measures.
ii.As per UNDP, 10 times of funds lost to corruption in developing countries can be used for development purposes.
Act in India for anti corruption-Prevention of Corruption (Amendment)Act, 2018.
Corruption Perception Index 2019: India ranks 80th; Denmark and New Zealand top the list
- Transparency International released the Corruption Perception Index 2019.
- As per the Index India ranks 80 out of 180 countries with a score of 41 out of 100.
- The list was topped by Denmark and New Zealand.
Gist about Corruption:
i.Corruption, a complex social, political and economic phenomenon affects all the countries.
ii.It undermines democratic institutions, slows economic development and contributes to the instability of the government.
iii.When a society is corruption free it promises development and prosperity.
About United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC):
Director-General/ Executive Director of UNODC and United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV)– Ms. Ghada Fathi Waly of Egypt(Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations)
Headquarters– Vienna, Austria
About United Nations Development Programme(UNDP):
Administrator– Achim Steiner
Headquarters– New York, USA
