Director General/Executive Director
Director-General Li Yong,
Under-Secretary General Archarya,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the UN Office in Vienna I would like to welcome you to today's ministerial debate on the progress made by LDCs in seeking to graduate from the least developed country category.
The Istanbul Programme was a major milestone in assisting countries to make the transition towards greater development, and greater prosperity for the millions of people living in those countries.
It leveraged the considerable efforts under the Brussels Programme of Action in 2001, but also introduced a new vision for the international community's work. In particular, by focusing on building production capacities.
These developments were essential. Allow me to congratulate the countries involved, as well as their international partners, including UNIDO, on the progress already made.
However, LDCs continue to suffer enormous economic and structural handicaps. Dozens of countries and hundreds of millions of people live in the weakest and poorest sections of the international community, and the challenges are complex and multifaceted.
The Istanbul Programme of Action reflects this; and I quote: "good governance at national and international levels and the fight against corruption, respect for human rights, gender issues…[are] important to a broad approach to poverty eradication."
The 2030 Agenda goals specifically recognise that peace, security, the rule of law, human rights and development are not operating in separate silos, but are interconnected and mutually reinforcing.
This is most clearly evident in Goal 16, which promotes the rule of law by confronting transnational threats that include: illicit drugs, organized crime, illicit trafficking, corruption and bribery.
Goal 16 is a recognition that without access to justice and effective, accountable and transparent institutions, organized crime is an obstacle to the achievement of the sustainable development goals.
As the appalling recent events in Paris, Beirut Bamako, Tunis and elsewhere make clear, combatting terrorism and extremism is also vital. Crime and terrorism promote fear and undermine inward investment.
Tackling these global challenges are not simply relevant to sustainable development, they are impossible to ignore.
Another tangible impediment to sustainable development is the impact of corruption, which takes billions from less developed countries each year.
Bribery prevents hospitals from being built, hinders education, and leaves entire communities without the infrastructure to transform lives and deliver opportunities. But, it also prevents a level playing field for new businesses, undermines tendering processes, and deeply harms industries.
Transnational organized crime, as a result, is a multi-billion dollar threat that disproportionally effects poor, weak and vulnerable nations.
UNODC is rising to these challenges. Working in partnership, we are helping to create institutions that address conflicts, crime and violence, as well as coordinate efforts to combat illicit financial flows and trafficking.
Earlier this month, the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption achieved successes in the areas of prevention of corruption and bribery, the development of public/private partnerships and the launch of the second cycle of the review mechanism under UNCAC.
It is clear evidence of the power of the international conventions on drugs, crime and corruption, as well as the international instruments on terrorism, to deliver on international cooperation, and coordinated action.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Effective and resilient institutions are essential to achieving the SDGs, including secure and peaceful societies that promote the rule of law and seek to eradicate poverty.
But peaceful societies are also the foundation for sustainable industry and development.
I hope that by working together, both within and outside the UN, we can continue to make people's lives safe and secure, and by doing so, improve sustainable development within less developed countries. Thank you.