Washington, DC - Secretary of State John Kerry: "Today, on International Anticorruption Day, I call on partner countries, civil society groups, and business leaders to strengthen our common efforts to combat corruption.

"Simply put, bad governance is one of the biggest challenges globally. The cost of corruption is beyond debate: it fuels instability and robs innocent people of their due and their possibilities. And yet, as deeply rooted as corruption can be in some countries, it is not inevitable.

"That is why the United States is committed to using every tool at our disposal to fight corruption. We have joined with 177 other nations to adopt the UN Convention against Corruption. Together with the G-20, we adopted new principles that will raise standards for integrity and transparency in public procurement and in opening government data to the public. And for the first time, the UN Sustainable Development Goals now include access to justice, accountable institutions, and the reduction of illicit financial flows as essential building blocks for lasting progress.

"In 2016, the international community can - and must - build on this positive momentum. But the truth is that governments cannot fight the scourge of corruption alone. Civil society and the private sector are indispensable to this effort.

"The United States remains steadfast in its commitment to advance democratic accountability and transparency, and to root out corruption wherever it lies."