Opening remarks by Maria Suokko, UNDP Resident Representative

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening and welcome to the 2019 Anti-Corruption Journalism Awards!

We are gathered here tonight - on the International Anti-corruption Day - to celebrate journalists. We often think that combatting corruption is all about putting corrupt officials behind bars. But without investigative journalists, we would not get far in the fight against corruption. 

Journalists play an important role in holding the authorities to account and informing the public about how corruption affects their everyday lives. What better way to mark this day than to celebrate those brave journalists who are dedicated to uncovering the truth and are firmly committed to their task - despite the significant risks they face.

Today, UNDP has launched the Global Human Development Report 2019 that focuses on inequalities in human development – beyond income, beyond averages, beyond today. It examines the many forms and dimensions of inequality shaping the 21st Century - and how to tackle them.

While significant progress has been made in the fight against poverty, hunger and disease - in many parts of the world, people are going to the streets to protest. Inequalities remain widespread and, in some cases, have even deepened. Corruption contributes to inequalities in societies and it attacks indiscriminately.

Corruption undermines human development by limiting access to public services – by diverting public resources for private gain. Corruption steals resources and opportunities to improve lives of those that are most vulnerable. It slows down economic development by distorting markets and employment opportunities.  

Corruption weakens environmental safeguards and allows for bad quality construction to take place. This results in greater numbers of victims when a natural disaster strikes.

Corruption affects particularly those that are marginalized, vulnerable and poor. 

As we approach the end of the 16 days of activism campaign, I would like to remind that women are disproportionately affected by corruption. Gender inequality makes women more vulnerable, also to corruption. This vulnerability is pronounced in patriarchal societies - such as Kosovo - in which high officials tend to be mostly men. And all too often, perpetrators who commit crime against women and girls, walk free.   

People in Kosovo are concerned about corruption and understand how it impacts their lives. According to the latest UNDP Public Pulse perception study, corruption is one of the three most important issues faced by people. 30% of respondents stated they perceive large-scale corruption to be present in Kosovo. A total of 84% of respondents – the highest level recorded by the Public Pulse so far – consider that employment in Kosovo’s public institutions is not based on merit. These are worrying figures.

Combating corruption can be successful only if the public is engaged. Investigative journalists contribute to the public good by informing the public of corruption cases that might otherwise go unnoticed and unpunished. In turn, public awareness and discourse can lead to changes in policies and actions that improve the lives of all.

For these reasons UNDP, together with the Swiss Development Cooperation Office in Kosovo, organize the annual Anti-corruption Journalism Award.

This year, the submissions deal with extraordinary stories of alleged nepotism and corruption in public enterprises, violations of procedures for issuing public contracts, illegally issued construction permits, and the abuse of power by municipal authorities. To mention a few. Stories that leave no doubt how corruption impacts people’s everyday lives. 

Let us all stand together in the fight against corruption.