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15 October 2020
- Corruption is criminal, immoral and the ultimate betrayal of public trust. It is even more damaging in times of crisis – as the world is experiencing now with the COVID-19 pandemic
- As we fight COVID-19, we must work together to stop corruption, thievery and exploitation by clamping down on illicit financial flows and tax havens, and by exercising utmost vigilance over how resources are spent nationally
- In our fight to recover from COVID-19 we must create more robust systems for accountability, transparency and integrity without delay. We must hold leaders to account. Businesspeople must act responsibly. A vibrant civic space and open access to information are essential.
- For many, corruption has been a long-standing source of distrust and anger against their leaders. But corruption in the time of COVID-19 has the potential to seriously undermine good governance around the world. I urge governments and leaders to be transparent and accountable.