On Tuesday, 19 January 2010, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) launched a report on Bribery and Corruption in Afghanistan
The findings of the report were presented by UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa.
Video of the Launch will be available shortly
Read the Report
Read Antonio Maria Costa's presentation
The Report, based on interviews with 7,600 people in 12 provincial capitals and more than 1,600 villages around Afghanistan, reveals how corruption – even ahead of insecurity and unemployment – is the biggest concern of Afghans.
The problem is enormous by any standards. In the aggregate, Afghans paid out $2.5 billion in bribes over the past 12 months – that’s equivalent to almost one quarter (23%) of Afghanistan’s GDP.
The report shows that in Afghanistan those entrusted with upholding integrity and the law are seen as being most guilty of violating them – namely public officials like police, judges and prosecutors. Corruption is also rampant among Members of Government.
This discussion was moderated by Col Christopher Langton, Senior Fellow for Conflict and Defence Diplomacy at the IISS. It took in the Lee Kuan Yew Conference Room at Arundel House, 13–15 Arundel Street, Temple Place, London WC2R 3DX.
