International Anti-Corruption Day - 2023

                                 I'd like to dedicate this post to Thiago Rodrigues, pre candidate to mayor of Guarujá murdered last month. A little more than one month ago, precisely on 9th December, the whole world celebrated the importance to fight corruption. This year there will be election in October, so let's see what the candidates will promise to help us in this important fight, ask them about it. The public money must be very well used, so that we can have better schools, better hospitals, better security, better streets and roads, better jobs, greater development, less inequality, less injustice. To sum things up a more functional government and consequently a better country for all. The fight against corruption is very important,  so we all should be involved in this fight, because the theft of public resources harm us all. But we all should know that this fight is not easy, activists for this important ethical cause can suffer persecution, including having their political rights systematically disrespected. The people should not be naive, there are many people that are not interested in this activism, in this fight. This post is a summary of three articles. The first was published at  https://www.un.org/en/observances/anti-corruption-day The second was published at  https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/international-anti-corruption-day-2023/    The third was published at https://commissioners.ec.europa.eu/news/statement-commissioner-home-affairs-ylva-johansson-international-anti-corruption-day-2023-12-09_en

                            The U.N. Convention against Corruption at 20: Uniting the world against corruption. The world today faces some of its greatest challenges in many generations, challenges, which threaten prosperity and stability for people across the globe. The plague of corruption is interwined in most of them. Corruption has negative impacts on every aspect of society and is profoundly interwined with conflict and instability, jeopardizing social and economic development and undermining democratic institutions and the rule of law. Corruption fuels conflict and inhibits peace processes by undermining the rule of law, worsening poverty, facilitating the illicit use of resources, and providing financing for armed conflict. Preventing corruption, promoting transparency, and strengthening institutions is crucial, if the targets foreseen in the Sustainable Development Goals are to be met. The 2023 International Anti-Corruption Day seeks to highlight the crucial link between anti-corruption and peace, security and development. At its core is the notion that tackling this crime is the right and responsibility of everyone, and that only through cooperation and the involvement of every person and institution can we overcome the negative impact of this crime, we all have a role to play in uniting the world against corruption. Corruption is a complex social, political and economic phenomenon that affects all countries. Corruption undermines democratic institutions, slow economic development and contributes to governmental instability. Corruption attacks the foundation of democratic institutions by distorting electoral processes, perverting the rule of law and creating bureaucratic quagmires, whose only reason for existing is the soliciting of bribes. On 31 October 2003, the General Assembly adopted the U.N. Convention Against Corruption and designated 9th December as International Anti-Corruption Day, to raise awareness of corruption and the role of the Convention in combating and preventing it.                                                                                                                                                              International Anti-Corruption Day is a global observance dedicated to raising awareness about the detrimental effects of corruption on societies and economies worldwide. It serves as a call to action to combat corruption, promote transparency, and upon ethical values in both public and private sectors. This day is an annual event that emphasizes the need to tackle corruption and its far-reaching consequences. Corruption undermines trust in institutions, hampers economic development, and erodes justice. Here are 5 ways to get involved in the fight against corruption: 1) Use social media, educational forums, and community discussions to raise awareness about the negative impacts of corruption and the importance of combating it. 2) Support anti-corruption organizations. Contribute to or volunteer with organizations working to combat corruption locally or internationally. 3) Support efforts to improve governmental transparency. 4) If you encounter corruption or unethical behavior, report it through the appropriate channels. Whistleblower protection lwas exist in many countries to safeguard those who report corruption. 5) Familiarize yourself with anti-corruption laws and conventions in your country and around the world. Know your rights and responsibilities.                                                                                                             Corruption is highly damaging to society, to our democracies, to the economy and to individuals. With the legal proposals on anti-corruption adopted on 3rd May 2023, the European Commission placed a strong focus on preventing and creating a culture of integrity, in which corruption is not tolerated. We put forward strengthened rules criminalising corruption offences and harmonised penalties across the E.U. The proposal also included the creation of the E.U. Network against corruption. The Network is a forum for all key stakeholders in the E.U. to exchange good practices, opportunities, ideas and plans for further work on anti-corruption measures. Through its annual Rule of Law reports, the commission also monitors anti-corruption developments at national level, identifies challenges and issues recommendations to Member States.