KABUL - Afghanistan authorities have made headway in their fight against corruption while enormous challenges remain, the United Nations said in a new report released on Tuesday.
“For the sake of the country’s future, corruption in Afghanistan must be addressed and eliminated,” said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan.
In a statement from his office, the UN top diplomat said the world’s body welcomed the progress already made.
He said they fully supported the Afghan government’s ongoing efforts at fighting corruption in the interest of ending impunity, ensuring accountability and transparency, and restoring integrity to the management of public services, finances and natural resources.”
In the report, titled ‘Afghanistan’s Fight Against Corruption: The Other Battlefield,’ the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) highlighted the progress the country had made in addressing corruption.
The report draws on internationally recognized best practices to provide recommendations for how the government, with the continued support of the public and the international community, can build on those achievements.
“It is my sincere hope that the progress made so far in the fight against corruption and the recommendations contained in our report will serve as a platform to achieve greater policy coherence and coordination in Afghanistan,” said the UN envoy.
The report, which was circulated to Afghan ministries and the judiciary for input and endorsement prior to release, points out that corruption has affected all aspects of life in Afghanistan.
The menace has undermined public trust and confidence in government institutions and hindered efforts to bring lasting peace and prosperity to the country.
The report called the Anti-Corruption Justice Centre (ACJC) a key component of Afghanistan’s fight against corruption.
The report indicated that Afghanistan was showing progress in restoring institutional control over the delivery of essential public services and management of public finances.
The report made several recommendations, recognizing that the government’s ongoing anti-corruption efforts had yet to impact the lives of most Afghans.
It concludes that, notwithstanding the many legal and policy reforms that have been undertaken, corruption remains a substantial obstacle to Afghanistan’s long-term peace and prosperity.
“The report serves as a stark reminder that the fight against corruption cannot be won in the short term, and that the battle requires the sustained commitment on the part of the government and the general public, and full support from the international community,” said Yamamoto.(Pajhwok)