December 9 - International Anti-Corruption Day
When it is celebrated
The International Anti-Corruption Day is celebrated on December 9.
It was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly resolution 58/4 of 21 November 2003. It was first celebrated in 2004. In 2020, the date is observed for the 17th time. Russia joins the international celebration.
The International Anti-Corruption Day is celebrated by the population of all UN member states that have signed and ratified the Convention against Corruption. In Russia, various campaigns and events are held on this day, posters and leaflets are printed.
Concerned about the problems caused by "bribery," the UN General Assembly developed the Convention against Corruption and opened it for signature by all member states from December 9, 2003. In accordance with Article 68 (1), it entered into force on December 14, 2005. Russia was one of the first to sign it and ratified it on March 8, 2006 (Federal Law No. 40-FZ). It is December 9 (the date of the Convention's signing) that became the International Anti-Corruption Day.
Statistical studies have established that during the fight against corruption, state revenues can increase by 4 times (in the long term), business can develop more intensively by 3%, and the infant mortality rate can decrease by 75%.
According to the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, in the first half of 2012, more than 1300 citizens were convicted of giving bribes and 544 officials for receiving them.
According to the international organization Transparency International for 2014, out of 174 countries, the lowest level of corruption was found in Denmark.
Russia ranked 136th (in 2012, it was 133rd out of 180 countries, and in 2011, it was 143rd out of 183).
Ukraine ranked 142nd and is considered the most corrupt in Europe.
Somalia and North Korea shared the 174th position in the ranking.
According to The Daily Beast, Uzbekistan ranked 1st in corruption in 2011, and according to Transparency International for 2012, it was in 7th place.
The lowest level of corruption was recorded in New Zealand, Denmark, and Sweden.
The largest bribe in Poland amounted to 1 million euros, and in Ukraine in 2008 – 42 million dollars.
In Russia, Peter I created a special service – the fiscal service, whose activity consisted in identifying bribes.
The most outrageous and immoral manifestation of corruption was recorded in Zimbabwe. There, during childbirth, obstetricians fine women who scream during contractions. Each scream is equivalent to 5 dollars. It should also be taken into account that there is also a fee of 50 dollars for childbirth.
The total volume of bribes worldwide exceeds 1 trillion dollars. This data is provided by the World Bank.
Vitebsk Transport Prosecutor's Office
(compiled from open sources)