THE
SECRETARY-GENERAL MESSAGE AT THE OPENING OF THE HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL CONFERENCE
FOR THE PURPOSE OF SIGNING THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION AGAINST CORRUPTION Delivered
by Mr. Hans Corell, Under-Secretary-General
for Legal Affairs Corruption
is an insidious scourge that impoverishes many countries, and affects
us all. The signing of this Convention is a major victory in our struggle
against it. Each year, this day will be celebrated as the United Nations
Day against Corruption. We
have come a long way. Until the early 1990s, corruption was hardly ever
mentioned in official circles, although everybody knew it was there.
It took great efforts and perseverance by many people to raise awareness
of the corrosive effects of corruption on societies, and to put the
fight against this plague on the global agenda. It
is now widely understood that corruption undermines economic performance,
weakens democratic institutions and the rule of law, disrupts social
order and destroys public trust, thus allowing organized crime, terrorism,
and other threats to human security to flourish. No
country - rich or poor - is immune to this evil phenomenon. Both public
and private sectors are involved. And it is always the public good that
suffers. But
corruption hurts poor people in developing countries disproportionately.
It affects their daily life in many different ways, and tends to make
them even poorer, by denying them their rightful share of economic resources
or life-saving aid. Corruption
puts basic public services beyond the reach of those who cannot afford
to pay bribes. By diverting scarce resources intended for development,
corruption also makes it harder to meet fundamental needs such as those
for food, health and education. It creates discrimination
between the different groups in society, feeds inequality and injustice,
discourages foreign investment and aid, and hinders growth. It is, therefore,
a major obstacle to political stability, and to successful social and
economic development. Our
only hope of removing this obstacle is through the effective application
of the rule of law. Let me congratulate the many governments that have
already adopted national legislation against corruption. Of course,
this does not make the new Convention less important. Criminals have
wasted no time in embracing today's globalized economy and the sophisticated technology that goes
with it. Up to now, our efforts to combat them have been fragmentary.
But now the Merida Convention, together with
another landmark instrument - the United Nations Convention against
Transnational Organized Crime, which entered into force a little more
than two months ago - gives us the tools to address crime and corruption
on a global scale. With improved international
cooperation, we can have an impact on criminal operations worldwide.
That may sound self-evident. But we have been able to agree on this
new Convention only through very difficult negotiations, which have
lasted two years.
I congratulate the negotiators on their achievement in producing an
instrument that is balanced, strong and pragmatic. The
Convention makes clear that eradicating corruption is a responsibility
of States, and it offers them a comprehensive set of standards that
they can apply to strengthen their regulatory regimes and institutions. Let
me stress in particular the provisions on asset recovery - the first
of their kind - which require Member States to return assets obtained
through corruption to the country from which they were stolen. This
is a major breakthrough. It will help tackle a pressing problem for
many developing countries, where corrupt elites have looted billions
of dollars that are now desperately needed by new governments to redress
the social and economic damage inflicted on their societies. The
Convention also makes clear that in order to succeed in our efforts
to eradicate corruption, the support and the involvement of civil society,
including the private sector, are crucial. I am particularly encouraged
that it includes measures to promote the transparency and accountability
of the international business community. My
Global Compact can play an active role in helping to implement the new
Convention. Practical measures to fight corruption are already an integral
part of many approaches developed under its umbrella. The Compact is
organizing an international dialogue on Transparency and Anti-Corruption
to be held in January in Let
me add that the United Nations itself has launched an Organizational
Integrity Initiative to reinforce integrity as a core value within the
Organization, and to ensure that we practice what we preach. The Initiative
is rooted in my determination to strengthen overall transparency and
accountability in the Organization, and to make the United Nations a
more effective instrument in the service of the peoples of the world. Our
greatest challenge today is to ensure that people everywhere can live
in dignity, free from poverty, hunger, violence, oppression and injustice.
For many people in a corrupt society, these freedoms remain only a dream. I
urge all States to ratify the Convention at the earliest possible date.
Let us bring it into force as a matter of urgency. If fully enforced,
it can help to ensure that the weak and vulnerable are protected from
the greed of corrupt officials and unscrupulous profiteers. It can help
ensure that, in today's fast-moving world, the poor do not become poorer.
And by removing an important obstacle to development, it can help us
achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and improve the life of millions
around the world. Let me assure you that the United Nations will continue
to do its part, working with Governments and civil society in this momentous
global struggle. I
would like to express my appreciation to the Government of Mexico, and
to the Municipality and people of Thank you very much. |