While corruption makes daily headlines around the world, little is written about the commitment of the 189 countries that have signed the UN Convention Against Corruption, a legally binding treaty.
Trillions of dollars are being bled from legitimate economies of the world through elicit transactions, tax evasion, bribery and theft. These practices corrupt societies and governments alike and put the brakes on social upliftment projects and infrastructure developments that ultimately rob us all.
Jonathan Granoff, the Permanent Observer of the International Anti-Corruption Academy at the United Nations and President of the Global Security Institute, and Thomas Stelzer, an Austrian diplomat who serves as the Dean of the International Anti-Corruption Academy, addressed the importance of this global phenomenon that affects the daily lives of everyone — from local commmunities to international geopolitics. During the online webinar, Granoff and Stelzer attempted to answer the following questions: How do we begin to remedy the situation? How do we recapture massive stolen assets and make them available to serve real human needs?
At the end of the Cold War, the world expected a peace dividend, where budgets for defense spending were assumed to be at least partially redirected to social programs. It was never delivered. This discussion examined how an effective fight against corruption can deliver a peace dividend.
The event was moderated by Patrícia Vasconcellos, the U.S. correspondent for the Brazilian news network SBT and a board member of the Club of the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents (AFPC-USA Club).
The Global Security Institute is dedicated to strengthening international peace and security based on co-operation, diplomacy, shared interests, the rule of law and universal values. Our efforts are guided by the skills and commitment of our team of former heads of state, distinguished diplomats and politicians, celebrities, religious leaders, Nobel Peace Laureates, disarmament and legal experts, and concerned informed citizens. Our focus is on controlling and eliminating humanity’s greatest threat – nuclear weapons.
