Anti-Corruption Day

On 31 October 2003, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against Corruption. The Assembly also designated 9 December as International Anti-Corruption Day, to raise awareness of corruption and of the role of the Convention in combating and preventing it.  The Convention entered into force in December 2005.

"I call on business leaders worldwide to denounce corruption and to back their words with strict prohibitions against it. They should adopt anti-corruption policies in line with the United Nations Convention and put in place the necessary checks to strengthen integrity and transparency. I also urge corporations to work more closely with the United Nations on this issue." - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Let’s have a look at what people say. Not surprisingly many have little trust in the institutions that are supposed to help and protect them. TI’s Global Corruption Barometer, released today is a public opinion survey that covers people’s experiences and perceptions of corruption in their country. The results show us that people do not trust their governments to fight corruption. It also shows that poor people are more frequently penalised by corruption, especially when they try to get basic services such as water or electricity, or when trying to get access to healthcare or the education system.

One out of four people worldwide said they paid a bribe in the past 12 months for one of nine public services.

The good news, and I think this is really very good news, is that people are willing to engage in the fight against corruption. More than two thirds of those surveyed believe that people can make a difference. And about half of all people that were asked could imagine themselves becoming involved in the fight against corruption. So Anti-corruption Day provides a great opportunity for people to raise their voice against corruption. You are not alone. There are people around us that are eager to stand up and demand a life without corruption, a better life.

Thought : 

If we in India, leave our politicians and bureaucrats out of this equation, we could have been very favourably placed in the chart above.  Unfortunately we can't do much about it now, but come election time, we need to seriously ponder on this burning issue and make few course corrections, necessarily. Do what we must, in whatsoever or whichever way we can, each one of us has a responsibility to get us out of this shamefully uncomfortable situation. I hope, we all agree on that? As it is, I am not liking the company we are keeping!

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