Human rights

Anti-corruption efforts and human rights are inherently interconnected and mutually reinforcing. Countering corruption fosters an environment conducive to the respect, protection and promotion of human rights, while upholding human rights bolsters anti-corruption efforts by ensuring adherence to legal principles, due process and the rule of law.

Corruption undermines the foundation of democratic institutions by, among others, distorting electoral processes, perverting the rule of law and creating bureaucratic quagmires sustained by bribery and misappropriation of funds. By infiltrating the executive, legislature and judiciary, corruption undermines the state and the effectiveness of its institutions. When institutions are perceived as corrupt and criminal acts go unpunished, the legitimacy of government is compromised, damaging trust and popular support.

Corruption not only leads to violations of specific human rights, but also represents a structural obstacle, exacerbating existing violations experienced by members of vulnerable groups by obstructing their access to justice, public goods and services.

Anti-corruption efforts that are not grounded in human rights principles may, in turn, impact their own outcomes, with the infringement of due process rights potentially leading to the dismissal of court cases and the refusal of requests for mutual legal assistance. Anchoring anti-corruption initiatives in human rights ensures transparency, accountability and the rule of law, which are essential for the long-term success and legitimacy of these efforts.

UNODC recognizes the linkages between human rights and anti-corruption efforts and is committed to:

Integrating and mainstreaming human rights in UNODC’s programming, research and normative work as one of the main cross-cutting commitments embedded in the UNODC Strategy 2021-2025 and its implementation plan. As part of UNODC’s pledge for the 75^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 2023, UNODC committed to strengthen its efforts to mainstream human rights in anti-corruption programming, by including human rights as part of the agenda in capacity-building activities in 50 countries in the next 3 years. This includes integrating a human rights-based approach into the planning and conduct of all activities, including those aimed at raising awareness and deepening the understanding of the inherent links between human rights, gender and corruption.
Contributing to strengthening the integrity and accountability of local institutions, improving government transparency and fostering citizens’ participation in decision-making.
Supporting States in their efforts to implement the United Nations Convention against Corruption and address corruption across a wide range of sectors, while incorporating a human rights perspective, including with respect to education, sport, health, crimes that affect the environment, judicial integrity, international law enforcement cooperation and asset recovery. Part of UNODC’s pledge for the 75th anniversary of the UDHR included a commitment to develop a brief by 2025 on the interlinkages between human rights and corruption which will inform such work and will highlight the importance of due processes, witness and whistle-blower protection, as well as the protection of journalists and civil society actors, asset recovery processes and the right to information.

International recognition of the links between human rights and corruption

The United Nations Convention against Corruption is directly relevant to the realization of human rights in several key thematic areas including access to information and the participation of society (articles 10 and 13), judicial and prosecutorial integrity (article 11), the protection of witnesses, experts, victims and whistle-blowers (articles 32 and 33), and more broadly, the entire chapters on international cooperation and asset recovery (chapters IV and V). The Convention and the recommendations emanating from the country reviews under the Convention’s Implementation Review Mechanism therefore serve as a significant additional entry point for the discussion of human rights aspects at the national level when developing and strengthening anti-corruption solutions.

Member States recognized the links between human rights and anti-corruption efforts in the political declaration adopted at the General Assembly special session against corruption, where they committed to prevent and combat corruption and strengthen international cooperation in a manner consistent with their obligations with regard to and respect for all human rights, justice, democracy and the rule of law at all levels. Member States also expressed concern about the negative impact that corruption can have on access to basic services and the enjoyment of all human rights.

More broadly, anti-corruption efforts and the protection of human rights have been recognized as mutually reinforcing in resolution 47/7 of 2021 on the negative impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights by the United Nations Human Rights Council, where the Council invited the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNODC to exchange views to deepen the understanding of the links between corruption and human rights. In its resolution 52/21 of 2023 on the negative impact of the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin to the countries of origin on the enjoyment of human rights, the United Nations Human Rights Council invited the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption to consider ways of implementing the Convention that take human rights into full consideration.

Resources

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) - Regional Office for South-East Asia, in collaboration with UNODC | 2025

Anti-Corruption and Human Rights in ASEAN: Areas of Overlap based on the UNCAC Implementation Review Mechanism and UN Human Rights Mechanisms Recommendations

This report examines the intersection of human rights and corruption through the respective monitoring mechanisms of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and the core UN human rights treaties. It analyzes overlapping recommendations issued to ASEAN Member States (“focus States”) by UNCAC’s Implementation Review Mechanism and UN human rights bodies.

United Nations

Office on Drugs and Crime

Corruption and Financial Crime Branch

Human rights

International recognition of the links between human rights and corruption

Resources

Anti-Corruption and Human Rights in ASEAN: Areas of Overlap based on the UNCAC Implementation Review Mechanism and UN Human Rights Mechanisms Recommendations