9 July 2012: The High-level Segment (HLS) of the UN Economic and Social Council’s (ECOSOC) 2012 substantive session included High-level Panel discussions on “Accountability, transparency and sustainable development: turning challenges into opportunities,” which featured statements from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson.

The Panel took place on 9 July 2012, in New York, US, and featured two dialogues on multidisciplinary approaches and innovative partnerships against corruption. Ban urged an end to corruption, underlining that peace, development or human rights cannot flourish in an atmosphere of corruption. He highlighted the destructive impact of corruption on development, noting that in 2011, for instance, corruption prevented 30% of development assistance from reaching its final destination. He recalled that the outcome of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) urged all remaining countries to ratify the UN Convention against Corruption and begin its implementation. Ban concluded that only by being accountable can the world achieve sustainable development.

Eliasson underlined that no society can function without honesty and trust, and that corruption is a threat to sustainable development. He therefore urged accountability among donors, recipients and partners, and highlighted the importance of all stakeholders participating in efforts to end corruption. Eliasson called on governments to include anti-corruption measures in all national development programmes, and pledged to ensure that, working with Secretary-General Ban, the fight against corruption and the promotion of transparency and accountability will be fully addressed as the post‑2015 development agenda is being formed. [Meeting Webpage] [Statement of UN Secretary-General] [Statement of UN Deputy Secretary-General]