RES/23/9 The negative impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights

GE.13-14972

Human Rights Council Twenty-third session Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council∗

23/9. The negative impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, its purposes and principles, and reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and other relevant international human rights instruments,

Recalling all relevant resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, including Council resolutions 21/13 of 27 September 2012 on the panel on the negative impact of corruption on human rights, and 19/20 of 23 March 2012, on the role of good governance in the promotion and protection of human right, as well as General Assembly resolution 67/192 of 20 December 2012, on preventing and combating corrupt practices and the transfer of proceeds of corruption, facilitating asset recovery and returning such assets to legitimate owners, in particular to the countries of origin, in accordance with the United Nations Convention against Corruption, and the United Nations Millennium Declaration,

Recalling also the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which is the most comprehensive and universal instrument on corruption, and all relevant resolutions of the Conference of the State Parties to the Convention,

Deeply concerned about the increasing negative impact of widespread corruption on the enjoyment of human rights,

∗ The resolutions and decisions adopted by the Human Rights Council will be contained in the report of the Council on its twenty-third session (A/HRC/23/2), chap. I.

Recognizing that corruption constitutes one of the obstacles to the effective promotion and protection of human rights, as well as to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals,

Welcoming the resolve of States parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, noting with interest the provisions of the Convention that have led to the development of a mechanism among States parties to review their progress in combating corruption, and welcoming also the commitment made by all States in the 2005 World Summit Outcome1 to make the fight against corruption a priority at all levels,

Emphasizing that international cooperation and coordination among different stakeholders, at both the national and international levels, in the fight against corruption contribute positively to the promotion and protection of human rights,

Welcoming the joint statement on the negative impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights made on behalf of one hundred and thirty four States Members of the United Nations at the twentieth session of the Human Rights Council,

Welcoming also the holding by the Human Rights Council, at its twenty-second session, of a panel discussion on the negative impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights,

1. Takes note with appreciation of the summary report of the Human Rights Council panel discussion on the negative impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights prepared by the Office of the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights;A/HRC/23/26.

2. Recognizes that all forms of corruption can have a serious negative impact on the enjoyment of all human rights, and that the Human Rights Council should consider this issue further;

3. Also recognizes the link between anti-corruption efforts and human rights, and the importance of exploring how to better utilize United Nations human rights mechanisms in this regard;

4. Requests the Advisory Committee to submit a research-based report to the Human Rights Council at its twenty-sixth session on the issue of the negative impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights, and to make recommendations on how the Council and its subsidiary bodies should consider this issue;

5. Recalls the mandate of the Conference of State Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which will hold its fifth session in Panama City in November 2013, and encourages the Office of the High Commissioner to attend the Conference;

6. Requests the Advisory Committee to seek the views and inputs of Member States, relevant international and regional organizations dealing with the issue of corruption, in particular the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the International Anti-Corruption Academy and the Office of the High Commissioner, as well as national human rights institutions, civil society and relevant academic institutions, when preparing the above-mentioned research-based report;

7. Also requests the Advisory Committee, when elaborating the above- mentioned report, to take into account, as appropriate, the specific mandate of the Human

1 General Assembly resolution 60/1.

Rights Council as well as the work done on the issue by competent United Nations bodies and mechanisms within their respective mandates.

38th meeting 13 June 2013

[Adopted without a vote.]