“Corruption is not a victimless crime. When hospitals and schools aren’t built because public officials divert funds from public contracts, the right to health and the right to education are violated,” said Pradeep Wagle, Chief of the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Section. When local authorities demand bribes for the provision of free services, it is the marginalized, vulnerable and the economically disadvantaged who suffer most, and who have their right to non-discrimination violated,”

Corruption takes different forms across countries and sectors and, because of its hidden and illicit nature, measuring how much is lost corruption is technically complex. While an estimated USD2.6 trillion are stolen through corruption — a sum equivalent to more than 5 percent of the global GDP — according to the United Nations Development Programme, another figure commonly used is over USD1 trillion paid in bribes every year.

Corruption exists in all countries but is also a transnational phenomenon requiring international cooperation, including in the recovery of the proceeds of corruption.

Not only does corruption deprive populations of essential services, it also undermines States’ ability to meet their legal obligations to maximize all available resources to respect, protect and fulfil economic, social and cultural rights. It also poses a challenge to the functioning and legitimacy of institutions and processes, the rule of law and the State itself.

UN Human Rights fights corruption by being human rights centred. It makes sure anti-corruption efforts respect countries' human rights responsibilities, put victims first, and investigate how corruption harms people’s economic, social, and cultural rights. The Office’s approach includes prevention, effective administration of justice and redress for the victims of human rights violations caused by corruption related offences and anti-corruption responses.

The Office has developed a multiyear strategy to address corruption from a human rights perspective. This includes organizing a series of trainings around the world that bring together civil society actors, representatives of regional intergovernmental bodies, and governments and other agencies working on corruption and human rights.

“We are advocating to countries that they promote effective institutions, adopt appropriate laws and policies, good governance, as well as justice and redress for victims,” Wagle said. “Civil society plays a key role in anti-corruption efforts, and their full and meaningful participation is essential across all areas of anti-corruption policy development, implementation and monitoring.”

This year, UN Human Rights hosted one of its trainings in Banjul, capital of The Gambia, with an aim to strengthen the capacity of national anti-corruption oversight and policy-making bodies and institutions to adopt a human rights-based approach to responding and preventing corruption.

Following the fall of former president Yahya Jammeh, during whose 22-year rule corruption plagued the country, in 2017 the National Human Rights Commission of The Gambia was established to promote and protect human rights in the country. Education and awareness raising is at the core of the Commission’s mandate.

“The gaps within the domestic setting in The Gambia is knowledge on the linkage between corruption and human rights. Obviously, people know what corruption is, but we want them to know that it is not a victimless crime and what the link is and how to ensure that funds are adequately allocated so the services the people need are provided,” said Mam Ndeban Jobe, Director of the Commission’s programmes and resource mobilization department. “Human rights-based budgeting is something that the Commission is working on to ensure the appropriate allocation of public finances for the needs of the people.”

Ndeban Jobe pointed out that the Commission has a strategic objective to eradicate poverty in The Gambia and addressing corruption contributes to that objective.