Human Rights, Gender and Corruption - Linkages, good practices, potential and limitations: panel discussion

Wednesday, 18 December 2019

This panel discussion took place at the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 16 - 20 December 2019.

It is widely recognised that corruption negatively affects the enjoyment of human rights. It is also widely recognised that anti-corruption measures contribute to the effective enjoyment of human rights and that respect for and protection of human rights contributes to effective anti-corruption strategies.

Implementing the United Nations Convention against Corruption plays an important role in this regard, not least because of the many linkages between the Convention and human rights standards.

Lack of awareness of the impact of corruption on human rights has been identified as a key cause of corruption. Increasing awareness of the detrimental impact of corruption on human rights, in particular women's rights is therefore an important goal. At the same time, promoting gender equality is smart anti-corruption action.

The potential of mainstreaming the anti-corruption and human rights agendas is huge.

Human rights mechanisms, for example, can play an important role in strengthening anti-corruption efforts. And anti-corruption practitioners can make use of these mechanisms.

The overall goal of the event was to raise awareness of the negative impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights and the consequent need to undertake effective anti-corruption measures. Implementing the UNCAC plays a central role in this regard. Participants will shared good practices and their views on the potential and limitations of mainstreaming the anti-corruption and human rights agendas.

Moderator:

• Mr. Richard Lapper, OHCHR

Speakers:

• H.E. Mr. Azzeddine Farhane, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the International Organizations in Vienna: The contribution of the Kingdom of Morocco for introducing corruption on the agenda of the Human Rights Council
• Ms. Jennifer Sarvary Bradford, UNODC: How can the implementation of the UNCAC support human rights and what are the main linkages between UNCAC and international human rights law?
• Mr. Charles Ayamdoo, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Ghana: The experience of the CHRAJ in increasing awareness of the negative impact of corruption on human rights and promoting gender equality
• H.E. Mr. Stefan Estermann, Switzerland: The potential of mainstreaming the anti-corruption and human rights agendas
• Ms. Lazarie Eeckeloo, Centre for Civil and Political Rights: Launch of a Practitioners' Guide on Corruption and Human Rights
• Mr. Juan Pablo Bohoslavsky, UN Independent Expert on Debt and Human Rights: Illicit Financial Flows and Human Rights
• Bios of speakers and moderator