London, England

12 May 2016

Secretary-General's message to Anti-Corruption Summit

Ms. Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

The world has united behind the 2030 Agenda and its 17 integrated Sustainable Development Goals.  Reducing corruption, bribery and illicit financial flows, as well as strengthening effective recovery of stolen assets, are recognized as key targets under Goal 16 on justice and effective and accountable institutions.  But corruption and bribery threaten not just to undermine our collective efforts to achieve Goal 16, but the entire 2030 Agenda.

Corruption exacerbates inequalities, siphons off essential funds from schools and hospitals, stifles growth, hampers innovation and spreads environmental devastation.  It erodes the rule of law, compromises the ability of governments to protect human rights and destroys public trust.  It abets criminals in exploiting the vulnerable, and provides fertile ground for violence, conflict and radicalization.

Corruption breeds still more corruption, entrapping too many people in cycles of poverty and want.  To build a life of dignity and opportunity for all, we must confront this insidious threat together.  Developed and developing countries, financial centres, international organizations, business and civil society must all join the fight.

This Summit is a welcome and timely effort to reinvigorate the international response to corruption in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.  We are not starting from scratch.  We have the framework provided by the 2030 Agenda and we have the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

The Convention has been ratified by nearly every country in the world.  It is a legally binding instrument that delivers a comprehensive set of measures to prevent corruption, end impunity, punish the corrupt and recover stolen assets.  It also provides a platform to engage the private sector, civil society, and other stakeholders as crucial partners.

The Convention is equipped with a unique review mechanism that promotes dialogue between countries, and identifies needs and challenges they face.  Governments launched the second cycle of the review mechanism at the Conference of the States Parties in St. Petersburg last November.  We must use this tool more effectively, and help each other to do so, based on the principle of shared responsibility and in the spirit of SDG 17 on partnerships.

I urge all Governments to support developing and least developed countries to address the gaps in anti-corruption responses identified by the review mechanism, by providing the technical assistance and resources needed.  The United Nations stands ready to support you in these endeavours.

I wish you a successful meeting.