Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, and UN Secretary-General’s Representative and Executive Director of UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Yury Fedotov, honoured the winners of the four awards of Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Awards (International ACE Awards) during a ceremony held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday.
The awards include Lifetime/Outstanding Achievement, Innovation, Youth Creativity and Engagement and Academic Research and Education.
The Award every year welcomes nominations from all around the world to nominate organisations, groups and individuals of any nationality, demonstrating a significant commitment and contribution toward the prevention and control of corruption. According to the organizing body, last year the Award received more than 100 nominations from 50 countries; out of those seven winners were selected across all the four categories, and winners shared a total of $1m.
Talking about broad concept of corruption which is basically misuse of public power; it has destructive and disproportionate impact on development projects and the poor and most vulnerable segments of societies, increasing costs and reducing access to basic services such as health, education and justice granting impunity to the corrupt cycles.
So it is hard to imagine the health outcomes of children and the life-long impacts of the effect of counterfeit drugs or vaccinations, or the major challenges of corruption to ending the extreme poverty overall the world.
Based on the fact that corruption impedes development and investment with consequent effects on growth and job opportunities, it erodes trust in governments, fuels and prolongs inequalities and discontent that lead to impairment, violent extremism, and conflict.
Qatar, as a country located within a region affected by violent conflicts and dictatorships, believes that corruption remains endemic epidemic covering and affecting all aspects of nations in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Qatar launched the initiative of this Award in 2016 by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center (ROLACC) in support of the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and its anti-corruption mandates aiming at shedding light on the danger of corruption damaging the seeable future of nations and hindering development and destabilising countries in many parts of the world.
“The corrupt cannot fight corruption. Unless you find a leader that believes in the elimination of corruption, you will not win, no matter how hard you fight,” aptly said Qatar’s Attorney-General H E Dr Ali bin Fetais Al Marri.
Strengthening citizens demand for anti-corruption and empowering them to hold government accountable and breaking the cycle of impunity is a sustainable approach to curbing corruption.
