Why is the signing of a UN treaty on anti-corruption important?
It is unprecedented. This Convention is the first global legally binding instrument to fight corruption. In fact, the UN had tried for decades to initiate such a process towards consensus on anti-corruption, but failed. The time was right as many institutions, including the Bank had raised awareness of the debilitating effects of corruption on a nations development and growth. Over the last three years, the UN has worked hard to get the Convention off the ground. The Members States succeeded in bringing about the adoption of this Convention, by a resolution of the General Assembly at the end of October. And now in Mexico, over a 100 countries and major multilateral organizations were evidence to the signing of this Convention by over 90 countries. Kenya did more than that it immediately ratified it as well. Why now? The time was right. There is a sea change taking place where people are increasingly demanding democratic accountability and transparency. This, together with the explosion
