The United States Secretary of State, Mr John Kerry, on Friday said that it was time for the international community
to jointly treat corruption with the seriousness and attention it deserved.
Kerry said in a statement that the ongoing London Anti Corruption Summit would help promote global efforts at increasing transparency and citizens’ empowerment with oversight responsibilities of fighting corruption.
“In nearly every corner of the world in recent years, from the Arab Spring to Latin America and many places, there are growing concerns about corruption.
“Corruption is a poison that erodes trust, robs citizens of their money and their future and stifles economic growth in the places that need it most.
“It is long past the time for the international community to treat corruption with the seriousness and attention it deserves.
“That is why, this week, I will join representatives from over fifty nations, multinational organisations, and civil society for the first-of-its-kind global Anti-Corruption Summit in London,’’ it said.
According to the statement, corruption persists in every region and country around the world, including the United States.
The statement said that the U.S. would announce practical steps to strengthen the fight against corruption, including the inauguration of an International Anti-Corruption Coordination Center at the Summit.
It said that the inauguration of the centre was aimed at improving data sharing between major financial hubs on investigations and providing support for journalists interested in reporting graft globally.
The statement restated the U.S. government’s commitment to the fight against corruption, saying that it was imperative for the international community to redouble efforts at fighting corruption.
“Stronger penalties and enforcement are important, but as a former prosecutor, I know that focusing on punishment alone won’t solve the underlying problem.
“We have to match our emphasis on punishing corruption with new efforts, to prevent corruption in the first place.
“We can do that by helping governments to create more transparent and streamlined processes to reduce opportunities for graft.
We can train citizens and journalists to provide oversight and deter wrongdoing.
“And we can embrace new technologies to expand access to information and empower civil society to partner with law enforcement.,’’ it added.
