UN Secretary General calls for int'l measure to undermine corruption

CAIRO – 13 December 2021: UN Secretary General António Guterres has called for an international measure to face and undermine corruption.

Addressing the ninth session of the Conference of Countries Parties (COSP) to the UN Convention against Corruption, which opened Monday in Sharm El-Sheikh, Guterres said this is a good chance to take important international measures to block and counter corruption.

Speaking via video conference, Guterres said that corruption is now a challenge that has grown even bigger during the coronavirus pandemic. It is gnawing at some societies, he warned, urging expanded efforts to protect state resources against corruption.

This would be an important step toward sustainable development in societies, the UN chief noted.

Corruption is a threat that shakes confidence in public institutions, thus incurring big economic losses, Guterres told the gathering.

The opening of the ninth session of COSP was attended by Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli.

Five heads of state will be delivering speeches via video conference during the event.

Fifty heads of government will be attending the event, including 30 in person. Also, 30 chairmen of anti-corruption authorities and representatives of 268 civil society organizations will be attending the conference. The total number of participants in the conference is about 2,700.

The COSP is the main policymaking body of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. It supports States parties and signatories in their implementation of the Convention, and gives policy guidance to UNODC to develop and implement anti-corruption activities