Every country has responsibility to end corruption: UN chief

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday said that "no country is immune, and every country bears a responsibility to end it (corruption)" as "corruption strangles people, communities and nations."

The secretary-general, in his message on International Anti-Corruption Day, said that "It weakens education and health, undermines electoral processes and reinforces injustices by perverting criminal justice systems and the rule of law."

"By diverting domestic and foreign funds, corruption wrecks economic and social development and increases poverty. It harms everyone, but the poor and vulnerable suffer most," said the statement.

"The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is the world's inspiring new manifesto for transforming our world and building a better future for all. But as we undertake this crucial journey of implementation, a broad barrier stands in our path: corruption," the statement said.

The theme of this year's observance is "Corruption: An impediment to the Sustainable Development Goals," the statement noted.

Goal 16 urges substantial reductions in corruption and bribery and the development of effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels, the statement said. "The UN Convention against Corruption, buttressed by its peer review mechanism, is mobilizing action for honest, transparent, accountable governance, but far more is needed."

International Anti-Corruption Day has been observed annually on Dec. 9 since the passage of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption on Oct. 31, 2003. Enditem