Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday said terrorist attacks in Nigeria and some other affected countries in the world are encouraged by corruption.
The United Nations helmsman told participants at the ongoing Sixth Session of the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption holding in St. Petersburg, Russia pressed further that other crimes, including human and illegal wildlife trafficking are also facilitated by corruption.
Represented by the Executive Director of UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Yury Fedotov, Ban underlined that ending corruption and bribery were crucial for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted in September by member states to wipe out poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate change over the next 15 years.
Speaking further, he said no country is immune to the problems posed by corruption, adding that the malicious impact of corruption makes people’s lives more expensive.
Adding that corruption erodes consumer confidence and business credibility, the United Nations chief said it also depletes public funds and destroys prospects for a fair society.
He urged world leaders to take bold decisions and act decisively to strengthen the global fight against corruption and bribery, because ending corruption is vital to efforts to achieve sustainable development
His words: “The 17 Sustainable Development Goals contain the promise of a better collective future for people and planet, and they address the potential challenges that can impede our progress. One such threat is highlighted in Goal 16, which calls for substantial reductions in corruption and bribery in all its forms.
“Our ultimate goal must be to turn hands thrust out in hope of payment into hands joined together against this pernicious crimes. Let us forcefully convey the message that when bribes are paid, everyone counts the cost.”
He said corruption and bribery devastate lives across the globe and that there was need to ensure that public resources go where they are supposed to go.
He also underscored the Convention’s strength as a solid platform for engaging the private sector as a key partner in the fight against corruption and in global action to achieve sustainable development outcomes.
-Leadership
