Each 9 December is celebrated as United Nations (UN) International Anti-Corruption Day.
The Thammasat University Library collection includes many books about the international anti-corruption effort.
As the UN website explains about the world perspective:
United against corruption for development, peace and security
Every year $1 trillion is paid in bribes while an estimated $2.6 trillion are stolen annually through corruption – a sum equivalent to more than 5 per cent of the global GDP. In developing countries, according to the United Nations Development Programme, funds lost to corruption are estimated at 10 times the amount of official development assistance.
Corruption is a serious crime that can undermine social and economic development in all societies. No country, region or community is immune.
To mark International Anti-Corruption Day, we will leverage the recognition of the multi-year “United Against Corruption” theme and will continue to support the 2030 Agenda, which forms the backbone of the campaign. In addition, the campaign will also have a youth component.
Corruption – An impediment to the Sustainable Development Goals: describes how corruption negatively affects us all.
Corruption – #YouthForJustice leading the change: describes the importance of empowering and mobilizing youth to fight for a corruption-free world.
United Against Corruption – Take action – Lead the change – Be the change: stresses that it is not enough to just know about corruption but that we need to take action, hold leaders accountable and become integer leaders ourselves.
What Can You Do?
People often think that corruption is “just a way of life”, but every society, sector and individual would benefit from standing United Against Corruption.
Thailand and Anti-Corruption
As TU students know, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand (ACT) both fight corruption.
The NACC is a constitutional organization, while ACT is a private foundation.
The Office of The National Anti -Corruption Commission (ONACC) is located on Nonthaburi Road, Thasaai District, Amphur Muang, Nonthaburi.
Among recent activities, on 24 August 2020, the NACC hosted the 16th ASEAN Parties Against Corruption (ASEAN-PAC) Secretariat Meeting by video conference.
According to the ACT website, the organization’s objectives are as follows:
To promote and support the operations of Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand on knowledge, administration and activities useful for anti-corruption.
To raise funds for the operation or development of Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand.
To promote education and research for students to have moral, ethics and integrity while fighting against corruption and supporting other activities beneficial for the public.
To promote and support identities of Thai art and culture by cultivating positive attitudes on moral and ethics beneficial for the society and the country.
To support preservation and protection of environments and nature for the society.
To organize social responsible activities and cooperate with other charity organizations in activities for the public.
To organize non-political activities.
Vision and Mission
Vision
Our aim is to serve as a social force that mobilizes Thai people & society in rejecting and fight against corruption
Missions
1 Create confidence in and recognition of the organization as the center of anti-corruption force best capable of mobilizing “social movement” against corruption.
- Create operation networks in both national and international levels through job distributions and tool development in order to enhance the ability of every sector involved to the best.
- Support change in policies in both state and private sectors in order to make anticorruption measures become tangible and effective quickly.4Promote a creation of role models, both individual and organizational levels, in the society.
– Monitoring government spending in mega-projects
Under the vision and missions above, ACT is committed to achieving the following roles:
- Serve as information provider to alert the society
- Serve as a coordination center with every sector
- Operate impartially, especially on issues that are under the public interest and widely impacts the society
- Operate transparently, examine thoroughly and cooperate with every sector, both state and private sectors
Politically Neutral
And ACT shall not act outside of the roles and duties defined above:
- ACT shall not take role to punish any individuals for it holds no legal authorization for penalties
- ACT shall not operate at will and without support from the public
- ACT shall not operate partially, including taking side with any particular parties
- ACT shall not process any activities that may bring about suspicion of non-public interest
Many TU students have visited have visited the Anti-Corruption Museum (ACM) located on Phitsanulok Road, Dusit, Bangkok:
ACT, in cooperation with the Office of the NACC and the Office of Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) recreated information into a sculpture exhibition under the theme of an Anti-Corruption Museum (ACM) to reveal 10 infamous corruption cases and scandals that have caused tremendous damage to the nation. The exhibition enabled the audiences to see and understand the origin and route of each case easily and clearly. The presentation was also available on the ACM website for the public to view and share with others as well as to create better awareness among the public. A TV commercial and an infographic presentation of the Museum of Thai Corruption were created and also presented in other forms including a still-picture, a slide and a video.
The ACM’s vision and goals are listed as follows:
To be a leading national museum which functions as a learning center dedicated to promoting knowledge for the prevention and suppression of corruption and developing a virtuous and transparent society.
Main Concept
Corruption starts with us and ends with us.
The Exhibition
Zone 1: Active learning
Shedding light on the everyday experience of corruption.
Zone 2: Choosing our path, creating our own future
Choosing our path and mission to fight corruption.
Zone 3: city of darkness
Thai people have to bear the cost of stupidity in corruption scandals.
Zone 4: exposing corrupt practices
Gaining insight into corrupt practices and dishonest ploys.
Zone 5: eradicating corrupt practices
Revealing every step of the NACC’s handling of corruption cases.
Zone 6: judgment day
Documentary films exposing epic corruption cases in Thailand.
Zone 7: power of virtue
The hall of fame honors individuals who performed virtuous deeds for society.
Zone 8: city of light
Examples of good deeds which can be done at all levels and a mission to defeat offenders.
Zone 9: NACC citizen reporter
Supporting the cause by becoming a citizen reporter who can expose organized corruption networks.
Zone 10: mobilizing public support
Getting to know the anti-corruption network the and applying to be an NACC youth ambassador to join anti-corruption movements…
(All images courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)