Domenico Zipolli
21 September 2017
On Monday 18 September we organized, together with the Permanent Mission of Bolivia, a side event at the Human Rights Council on the fight against corruption with a human rights-based approach.
The discussion notably showcased experiences and best practices, highlighted that a detailed analysis of how corruption violates human rights is lacking, and analysed a human rights-based approach to fight corruption. Panelists also stressed the need for more precise definitions and methodological approaches to counter human rights violations linked to acts of corruption.
Our Manager of Policy Studies, Felix Kirchmeier, moderated the panel featuring presentation by Ambassador Nardi Suxo Iturry (Permanent Representative of Bolivia to the UN), Renate Winter (Chairperson of the Committee on the Rights of the Child), Richard Lapper (Human Rights Officer at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Visiting Fellow at the Geneva Academy) and Martin Zapata (International Anti-Corruption Academy).
The first part of the discussion showcased experiences and best practices from the national and international levels. Bolivia’s efforts towards countering corruption through institutionalization and the Committee on the Rights of the Child’s strong commitment to underline the links between specific acts of corruption and human rights violations showed that opportunities do exist in the promotion of transparency and the fight against corruption for the protection of human rights.
Panelists also highlighted that despite the stated impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights, the issue receives comparatively little attention. Some mechanisms explicitly state that corruption is a human rights violation, but a detailed analysis of how corruption violates human rights is lacking.
The latter part of the discussion consisted in an analysis of the human rights-based approach, defined as a victim-oriented approach, with emphasis on effective measures to prevent corruption-induced human rights violations and on access to remedies for victims. The panel also introduced concrete proposals to fight corruption, such as collective action, a methodology which promotes collaboration amongst the state, civil society and corporations. The event ended with a call for more precise definitions and methodological approaches to counter human rights violations linked to acts of corruption.
Geneva Academy
The Geneva Human Rights Platform is launching its 2025 training programme, designed to empower stakeholders engaging with UN human rights system.
Adobe
Our new series of Research Briefs examine the impact of digital disinformation and potential solutions for its regulation
Adobe Stock
This seminar explores how national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up can better integrate the capacities, data, and experiences of local and regional governments in advancing human rights implementation and reporting.
Adobe Stock
The event, as part of the AI for Good Summit 2025 will explore how AI tools can support faster data analysis, help uncover patterns in large datasets, and expand the reach of human rights work.
ICRC
Participants in this training course will gain practical insights into UN human rights mechanisms and their role in environmental protection and learn about how to address the interplay between international human rights and environmental law, and explore environmental litigation paths.
Adobe
This training course, specifically designed for staff of city and regional governments, will explore the means and mechanisms through which local and regional governments can interact with and integrate the recommendations of international human rights bodies in their concrete work at the local level.
UN Photo / Jean-Marc Ferré
A series of events aimed at discussing contemporary issues and challenges related to the promotion and protection of human rights in Geneva and beyond.
Adobe
This research will provide legal expertise to a variety of stakeholders on the implementation of the right to food, and on the right to food as a legal basis for just transformation toward sustainable food systems in Europe. It will also identify lessons learned from the 2023 recognition of the right to food in the Constitution of the Canton of Geneva.
Geneva Academy
Geneva Academy