Press Release: International Anti-Corruption Day 2024
09 November 2024– On the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day 2024, we reaffirm our commitment towards combatting corruption and improving transparency. The theme of this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day is “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity” highlighting the vital role young people play in the fight against corruption. With the launch of our Youth Civil Handbook this year and through continuous engagement of youth through our advocacy activities, we hope to empower youth to become future leaders in combatting corruption.
During COP 29 (Conference of the Parties) held in November, 2024, important discussions were held on addressing the global climate crisis with priorities targeted towards strengthening climate finance and building resilient communities. To highlight the critical need for transparency in climate related matters, the biennial Anti-Corruption Conference of this year, hosted in collaboration with the Anti-Corruption Commission centers around the theme “Strengthening Climate Governance’. The conference aims to highlight the pressing need for robust oversight mechanisms in climate-related financing, policies, and initiatives. By uniting a diverse range of state, non-state actors and civil society organizations, we affirm our commitment and call on relevant authorities to improve transparency and accountability measures in climate financing and address corruption in climate to achieve meaningful progress on climate action.
With the announcement of the “Government’s Legislative Agenda 2023-2028”, we also highlight the urgent need for the introduction and enforcement of key anti-corruption related legislation around Asset Declaration and Asset Recovery. We reiterate our calls to the government to urgently enforce existing anti-corruption legislations, conform to national and international commitments to combat corruption effectively, and prioritize protecting the state coffers instead of protecting entrenched cultures of impunity and secrecy.
We also reiterate our call to empower independent commissions, who, through their autonomous functioning, play a crucial role in oversight of government activities, safeguarding fundamental rights and ensuring transparency. Government and People’s Majlis must ensure that independent commission are equipped with the necessary financial, human resources and technical capacity to carry out their mandates, and all appointments to independent institutions are transparent, on a merit basis, and free from any political/undue influence.
Furthermore, with Maldives officially joining the Open Government Partnership, it is pivotal for the government and civil society to work collaboratively to formulate an effective national action plan. The national action plan must prioritize transparency, accountability, and ensure citizen participation of diverse groups to achieve sustainable and impactful governance reforms.
While corruption poses adverse effects on the society, it is important to recognize and take action to address the diverse challenges faced by groups such as youth, women, persons with disabilities, migrant workers and other marginalized groups. Corruption disproportionately impacts those who are already vulnerable, deepening inequalities, further magnifying the detrimental effects of those affected. In our fight against corruption, we call on all state and non-state actors to engage in inclusive and meaningful consultations with civil society and the community, to bring impactful action in combatting corruption!