Corruption kills says UN human rights chief

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay  says there is no doubt that corruption is an enormous obstacle to the realization of all human rights.

Ms Pillay spoke at a panel discussion on the Negative Impact of Corruption on the Enjoyment of Human Rights held in Geneva on Wednesday.

She said corruption violates the core of human rights principles of transparency, accountability, non-discrimination and meaningful participation in every aspect of life of the community.

“Corruption kills. The money stolen through corruption every year is enough to feed the world's hungry 80 times over. Nearly 870 million people go to bed hungry every night, many of them children; corruption denies them their right to food, and, in some cases, their right to life. Bribes and theft swell the total cost of projects to provide safe drinking water and sanitation around the world by as much as 40 per cent." 

Ms. Pillay said as the impact of corruption on development and on human rights is multifaceted, so too must be our response.

It is reported that from 2000 to 2009, developing countries lost US$8.44 trillion to illicit financial flows, 10 times more than the foreign aid they received.

UNRadio