International Anti-Corruption Day: Uniting Against Corruption and Climate Crisis for Sustainable Future
International Anti-Corruption Day: Uniting Against Corruption and Climate Crisis for Sustainable Future,
Date: 9th-December-2023
International Anti-Corruption Day is observed every year on 9th December, since the passage of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) on 31 October 2003 to raise public awareness for anti-corruption. This year UNCAC also marks 20 years since the adoption of the landmark convention to address corruption at global and national levels.
IACD holds immense significance as a global initiative to raise awareness and foster collective action against corruption. Corruption poses a serious threat to the social, economic, and political fabric of societies around the world. One of the primary purposes of Anti-Corruption Day is to highlight the detrimental effects of corruption on communities and individuals.
This year, Transparency International Pakistan under its ‘Strengthening Integrity and Inclusiveness in Climate Governance in Pakistan’ program organized awareness seminars and walks in 11 districts across 4 provinces of Pakistan. The programs were attended by Government officials, civil society, academia, media representatives, private sector, and the general public, including youth and vulnerable groups to raise their voices against corruption. A total of 556 citizens participated in these events including 167 females.
The awareness seminars drew attention towards corruption which poses a significant impediment to effective climate action. When funds intended for climate-related projects are siphoned off or misappropriated, it hampers the implementation of crucial initiatives aimed at mitigating environmental challenges. Combating corruption is, therefore, integral to ensuring that resources allocated for climate action are utilized efficiently, transparently, and in a manner that fosters sustainable development and environmental resilience. Ensuring transparent and accountable use of funds and community participation in climate planning and decision making is essential to enhance the resilience of communities to climate impacts.
In Sindh, an interactive session was held in District Umerkot and Sukkur. In Punjab, awareness seminars were organized in District Vehari and District Nankana Sahib and an awareness walk and session was held in District Sheikhupura. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, awareness seminars were held in District Abbottabad, District Lakki Marwat and District Kohat. While in Balochistan, awareness seminars were held in District Jaffarabad, Sibi and Osta Muhammad.
The activities captivated the attention of local and international media outlets, garnering extensive coverage across various platforms. Newspapers, television channels, and online publications extensively reported on the events. The widespread media coverage underscored the significance of IACD and brought the events to the forefront of public consciousness.
