Sisi reiterates Egypt’s support to UN against int’l challenges related to terrorism, crime, drugs

CAIRO – 3 January 2021: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s support to the role of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in facing regional and international challenges related to terrorism, crime, and drugs.

The president made the remarks in a meeting with Under-Secretary-General of the UN and Executive Director of the UNODC Ghada Waly on Sunday.

During the meeting, Sisi also affirmed Egypt’s keenness to enhance the ongoing efforts to exchange expertise with the UNODC in the fields related to organization.

This comes with the aim of activating the UN programs related to drugs and crime in a comprehensive way and on a global scale to preserve security and stability, Sisi affirmed.

Waly voiced appreciation of Sisi’s continuous support to the role of the UNODC.

She affirmed reliance on Egypt’s continuous support during the coming period to enhance the role of the organization in maximizing the capabilities of the international community to face threats of transborder crime and corruption.

Last month, Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh city hosted the ninth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

During the conference, Waly called the COVID-19 pandemic “a global wake-up call” to stand for integrity.  

“The world loses trillions of dollars every year to corruption, at a time when every dollar is needed to increase public investment,” she said in her opening remarks. “Just as it breaks down resilience and exposes people to hardship, corruption also enables criminals, traffickers, and terrorists.”

Waly highlighted the need to raise awareness and bring together all stakeholders – political leaders, institutions, the private sector, civil society, media, youth and women – in the fight against corruption.

“To truly overcome endemic corruption, we need to aim for a fundamental change in mindsets, one which rejects corruption at every level,” she said. “We must send that message to the people we serve, through this conference and through our actions.”