It is the handmaiden of terrorism, buying safety for those who pursue violence and protection from prosecution and extradition. Corruption not only deters foreign and domestic investment, it fuels capital flight and it robs labor and business from the rightful fruit of their effort. It fuels environmental degradation. It poisons the environment business needs to create jobs. It distorts economic choices and leads to the economic instability that often precedes political breakdown and violence.
Corruption has personal and direct implications for our individual citizens.
Corruption allows human rights violations arising from abuse of authority and crimes like trafficking in women and children. Globalization compels us as never before to confront the challenges of corruption to all aspects of democratic political and security institutions, economic stability and growth, the rule of law and individual rights. The OSCE is far along in recognizing this challenge. Last February, Vice President Gore gathered ministers and senior officials from ninety governments at a first-ever Global Forum on Fighting Corruption among Justice and Security Officials. Today, however, more than ever in the past, the rejection of corruption offers grounds for optimism.