10 Dec 2015

The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) recently commemorated the International Anti-Corruption Day by staging a march against corruption from Central Police Station to the agency’s headquarters.  

Delivering the UN anti-corruption message on behalf of the UN Secretary General Mr Ban Ki-Moon on recently, DCEC senior assistant director - Legal Services Mr Edwin Batsalelwang said it is disastrous when funds that should be devoted to schools, clinics and other vital public services are diverted into the hands of criminals and dishonest officials. 

He said corruption can lead to dissatisfaction with public institutions, disillusion with government in general and spirals of anger and unrest.

Mr Batsalelwang noted that global attitudes toward corruption have changed dramatically. 

He said where bribery, corruption and illicit financial flows were once considered part of the cost of doing business, today the practices are widely and rightly understood as criminal and corrosive.

“The new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, our plan to end poverty and ensure lives of dignity for all, recognises the need to fight corruption in all its aspects and calls for significant reductions in illicit financial flows as well as for the recovery of stolen assets,” he said.

 “On International Anti- Corruption Day, I call for united efforts to deliver a clear message around the world that firmly rejects corruption and embraces instead the principles of transparency, accountability and governance. This will benefit communities and countries helping to usher in a better future,” he said.

The UN General Assembly designated the day in 2003 in order to raise awareness about the disastrous impact of corruption on development throughout the world. 

This year’s commemoration was themed Break the Chain, highlighting that corruption is a cross-cutting crime that impacts many areas. Ends