Corruption Hurts Everyone

Say No To Corruption

Corruption hurts everyone. It deepens poverty. It distorts social and economic development, erodes the provision of essential public services and undermines democracy. Instead of fair competition based on price, quality and innovation, corruption leads to competitive bribery. This harms trade and deters new investment. And also it is a universal challenge. No country is free from it. Cultural gift-giving traditions vary widely, but there is no country where the people consider it right for public officials to abuse their positions for private gain. 

Corruption is the abuse of public office for private gain. It means that:

• Decisions are taken not for the public benefit, but to serve private interests.

• High-cost, overly complex and prestigious projects are favored over cost-efficient development projects making use of the most relevant technology.

• A private levy is imposed on public investment which may rise to as much as thirty percent of the cost of the project. Such inflated costs often add to the national debt.

• The environment is threatened. When environmental protection agencies are corrupt the very foundations of sustainable human development are eroded.

• Human rights abuse flourishes. As corruption increases, regimes become more secretive, less tolerant of dissent and more fearful of the loss of power. Basic social and economic rights like access to medical care, education, adequate shelter and good water are threatened.

Sok Sovannarith

ID#:  01956