Winners of the 5th edition of the Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani International Anti-Corruption Excellence Award were honoured at a ceremony in Tunis yesterday. 

President of Rwanda Paul Kagame, in a videotaped speech, praised the role of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and the valuable partnership with the United Nations which paved the way for this award, noting that fighting corruption is a global goal that requires concerted efforts. He added that fighting corruption may have a political cost, but the cost of ignoring it is much greater.

Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Dr Ghada Waly said that corruption is a betrayal of the public trust and a theft of the resources from the people who need them most.

"In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, and the worst economic crisis in a century, we need trust in institutions and accountability in public spending more than ever," Dr Ghada added.

"We need role models who help enhance integrity and transparency," she stressed, expressing the gratitude of the UNODC to Qatar for establishing the Anti-Corruption Excellence Award.

The monument of the award was also unveiled on the occasion.

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security Institutions Alexandre Zouev delivered a speech during the honouring ceremony, in which he praised Qatar - the Amir and the Government - and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center in Doha.

He said that corruption is draining resources from government budgets, frustrating the results of judicial procedures and feeding criminal and extremist networks, noting that corruption is present in all countries and is not limited to fragile states, however, the effect it creates may be more destructive in resource-hungry countries that are still working to develop their good governance system.

He underlined that corruption constitute an obstacle to lasting peace in conflict-hit societies, therefore combating it becomes more important during the current emergency condition due to the coronavirus pandemic, given the competition among community members to obtain personal protective equipment and access to health care and vaccinations.

Meanwhile, UN Special Advocate on the Prevention of Corruption and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Center (ROLACC) Dr al-Marri delivered a speech saying that choosing a country to organise the honouring ceremony of the Award is not random, rather studied in all respects.

He said that Tunisia was chosen due to its history in fighting corruption, stressing that Tunisia is capable at the present time, just as it was, to push the Arab world towards more transparency and fighting corruption.

President of the National Anti-Corruption Authority (INLUCC) of Tunisia Judge Imed Boukhris also delivered a speech noting that Tunisia, which ratified the United Nations Convention against Corruption, sees this day as a confirmation of its firm determination to tackle corruption with all available means and capabilities.

He said corruption is an epidemic that causes social diseases, impedes development, threatens political stability and social peace, and cultivates feelings of inequality among citizens. Therefore, all peoples and organizations have an important role in fighting corruption in order to safeguard national sovereignty.

The award ceremony of Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani Anti-Corruption Excellence Award marks the culmination of its fifth year of excellence and international presence. The award is based on Qatar's belief in the necessity of serious work to combat the scourge of corruption in the world due to its grave danger to the future and progress of nations, the well-being of peoples and the provision of a decent life for them.

QNA