“The worst disease in today’s world is corruption and the best remedy to cure this disease is transparency.”
According to Transparency International, corruption is the abuse of delegated power for personal gain.
Corruption makes life miserable for everyone by destroying trust, undermining democracy, hindering economic development, and exacerbating inequality, poverty, social division, Environmental disaster and contributing to governmental instability.
Every year on the 9th of December, the world observes International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD) with the aim of making people aware of the disadvantages of corruption and to spread awareness about it to maintain transparency. Today Transparency International is one of the most prominent anti-corruption organizations around the world.
Denmark, Finland, and New Zealand scored 88 out of 100 in Corruption Perceptions Index released by the Transparency International in 2021, making them the least corrupt countries. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka is ranked 102nd with 37 out of 100 points.
In 2022, the United Nations seek to highlight the decisive link between anti-corruption and peace, security, and development through this International Anti-Corruption Day. Suppressing this crime is everyone’s right and responsibility, and the negative impact of this crime can only be overcome with the cooperation and intervention of every person and institution.
States, government employees, law enforcement personnel, journalists, academics, the general public, and particularly young people around the world, all have a part to play in unifying the world against corruption. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) take the battle at the frontline of these efforts.
International Day Against Corruption is a day set aside as a reminder to encourage each of us to actively speak out and fight against corruption in our lives and the lives of others.
To fulfill the purpose of this special day to the fullest, be a responsible person who arises against corruption and helps build a better society for all.
“The duty of youth is to challenge corruption”
-Kurt Cobain, Nirvana-
