Kwale Governor, Salim Mvurya today lead the Kwale County in Commemorating International Anti-corruption day in Lungalunga.
According to United Nations, every year $1 trillion is paid in bribes while an estimated $2.6 trillion are stolen annually through corruption – a sum equivalent to more than 5 per cent of the global GDP.
In developing countries, according to the United Nations Development Programme, funds lost to corruption are estimated at 10 times the amount of official development assistance.
Corruption is a serious crime that can undermine social and economic development in all societies. No country, region or community is immune.
This year, 2016, UNODC and UNDP developed a joint global campaign, focusing on how corruption affects education, health, justice, democracy, prosperity and development.
The 2016 joint international campaign focuses on corruption as one of the biggest impediments to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Corruption attacks the foundation of democratic institutions by distorting electoral processes, perverting the rule of law and creating bureaucratic quagmires whose only reason for existing is the soliciting of bribes. Economic development is stunted because foreign direct investment is discouraged and small businesses within the country often find it impossible to overcome the “start-up costs” required because of corruption’ says UN through officail website..
On 31 October 2003, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against Corruption and requested that 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).
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.
“The aim of the UNODC/UNDP 2016 anti-corruption communication campaign is to support a positive and pro-active stance against corruption. The United Nations Convention against Corruption will be promoted as the key tool to fight corruption worldwide and as the impetus for a global and forceful movement,” says UN.
The Anti-Corruption day is usually annually celebrated every December 9th.