December 9: Anti-Corruption Day
The Theme for the International Anti-Corruption Day 2020 is: “Corruption begets more corruption, and fosters a corrosive culture of impunity”.
On 31 October 2003, the UN General Assembly designated this Day to raise public awareness on corruption. The UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) is the first international anti-Corruption instrument that provides a global response to corruption. A treaty was signed on 9 December and came into effect from 14 December 2005.
It legally binds the member states to take steps to reduce corruption and enforce law and order.
Five main points are stressed:
- Prevention of Corruption
- Enforcement of Law and Order
- International Cooperation for reducing Corruption
- Asset Recovery and its return to the Country of Origin
- Technical Assistance and Information Exchange
So far, 186 states have signed the treaty. India officially validated its consent on 9 May 2013, reaffirming its commitment to fight corruption.
Corruption is a serious crime affecting every country: bribery, manipulation in electoral processes, disturbing law and order, drug peddling, human trafficking, tampering with judicial processes, covering up mistakes or silencing whistleblowers, abuse of power for private gain, …
United against Corruption
We need a new generation of change-makers to assure accountability and integrity in global leadership, business, politics, media and civil society.
“Your NO Counts” is an international campaign to fight corruption.
It stresses that it is not enough to just know about corruption, but to take action, hold leaders accountable and become leaders of integrity ourselves.
‘What can I do about it?’ Most people shrug it off and believe that nothing much can be done. But this is not true. This fight can only be won through unity. There are many ways by which we can contribute our bit for the cause.
Some of them are:
- Spread awareness, and be vigilant about corruption;
- Be vocal and courageous enough to report it;
- Remember that every ‘NO’ counts;
- Demand transparency in all official and government dealings;
- Support those who have raised their voice.
When you fight corruption, you contribute to the progress of humanity. A corruption-free society is possible if we work in unison.
11 December: UNICEF Day
The UN General Assembly created UNICEF – the UN International Children’s Emergency Fund, on 11 December 1946. The programme was initiated to improve the health, nutrition, education, and general welfare of children devastated by World War II.
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save the lives of children, defend their rights and help them fulfil their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
UNICEF upholds and aims at assuring:
- Physical and Moral Safety
- The right to survive and thrive in a safe and inclusive environment. This is denied where there is child labour, physical and sexual abuse, female infanticide …
- Protection in emergency situations, like war and conflict
Some thirty million children have been displaced by conflict. Many are being enslaved, trafficked, abused and exploited. Many are without official immigration status or access to education and health care. Warring parties are ignoring one of the most basic rules of war: the protection of children.
- Nutrition and Medical Aid
- The reduction of poverty and shielding children from its lifelong consequences. The overall number of children under the age of five who develop severe malnutrition, is around 2.4 million.
- Lowering the percentage of infant mortality
§ Preventing and controlling infections
The spread of Ebola first and now COVID-19 is terrifying for adults, but even more so for children. They are exposed to death, suffering and loss of loved ones. They may be infected themselves or may have to spend weeks in isolation.
- Education
- The right to quality learning for every child
- The empowerment of girls and women, to ensure their full participation in political, social and economic systems.
Before COVID-19, around two million children in India were out of school. Now, with schools closed around the country, some 7.8 million children are unable to access education.
At least 175 million children – 50 per cent of the world’s pre-primary-age population – are not enrolled in pre-primary programmes.
UNICEF dedicates its services to this precious and most vulnerable section of our society on which the future of our world depends.
Sr Esme da Cunha FDCC
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