The battle against corruption: the need for a space for civil society
A group of UN human rights experts has issued a joint Statement urging State Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) to protect and expand civic space in both national and global anti-corruption fora, and to strengthen the inclusiveness and transparency of its review mechanism (press release by OHCHR).
“Corruption threatens the stability and security of societies and erodes citizens’ trust in public institutions”, the experts said. However, the issue extends beyond questions of governance, constituting a profound and systemic threat to the fulfillment of a broad spectrum of human rights. The experts warned of the detrimental hurdles that corruption imposes on advancements in “climate change and environmental justice, development, education, health, water and sanitation, judicial independence, and undermines protections for human rights defenders, journalists, Indigenous Peoples, women and girls, and marginalised groups.”
The experts also called for UNCAC reviews to consider the findings of other relevant anti-corruption and human rights mechanisms, including the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Incorporating UPR findings into the UNCAC mechanism can strengthen anti-corruption reviews by spotlighting the crucial role of civil society and transparency. By leveraging UPR recommendations, States are encouraged to meaningfully engage with non-state actors, close accountability gaps, and ensure that anti-corruption efforts align with international human rights standards. This approach makes the review process more inclusive, credible, and effective.
Additionally, inviting civil society and fostering institutional collaboration, especially with human rights mechanisms, can strengthen the integration of human rights and anti-corruption frameworks, as well as ensuring civil society voices and actions are heard and included, which ultimately legitimizes the convention.
This call reflects growing momentum among civil society actors. In recent months, UPR Info, together with the UNCAC Coalition, has advanced concrete initiatives such as “Bridging Anti-Corruption and Human Rights Efforts”, a guide helping civil society use the UPR to address corruption. The UPR, with its regular check-up on the status of the human rights health of each State, contains a detailed listing of what each State needs to do to thrive and become more resilient. By ensuring growing compliance with UPR anti-corruption recommendations each State warrants further adherence with its international human rights obligations.
An alarming pattern was mentioned by the experts; “individuals and organisations who speak truth to power—activists, journalists, academics, students, and human rights defenders—are being silenced or punished under the guise of national security, anti-terrorism laws, or other restrictions.” They cautioned that sidelining or constraining civil society participation within anti-corruption initiatives gravely undermines both the credibility and the effectiveness of such efforts. Hence the urgent call to State Parties to reform the IRM to make it more inclusive, transparent, and effective in its second phase at the 11th UNCAC CoSP.
The reform, as the experts stressed, would require measures such as launching formal consultations with civil society; strengthening the integration of human rights and anti-corruption frameworks; encouraging transparency and the active involvement of civil society in UNCAC forums, and the creation of a global mechanism to track reprisals against anti-corruption defenders.
“Failure to act risks accelerating the erosion of civic space, weakening anti-corruption efforts, and undermining the enjoyment of human rights globally”, the experts said. States must demonstrate genuine political will through tangible measures – not merely to honor the principles and obligations of the Convention, but also to protect and promote human rights.