Centre for Civil and Political Rights
Corruption as approached by the Human Rights Committee in its 125th and 126th session

Overview and timeline of the possibilities to engage with the Committee 
prepared by the Centre for Civil and Political Rights


This newsletter presents the latest developments on the  Human Rights Committee's approach towards corruption and its negative impact on the enjoyment of civil and political rights.  The analysis is based on the decisions taken by the Human Rights Committee (HR Committee) during its 125th and 126th session (March and July 2019). 

The HR Committee was concerned about corruption in the Concluding Observations of Angola , Niger, Mauritania, Paraguay, Tajikistan, Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria. 
It also asked questions about corruption in the Lists of Issues to Dominica, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Portugal and Uzbekistan. These LOIs form the basis of the review, after which the Concluding Observations will be adopted. 
Lastly, the Committee asked Lesotho, Indiaand the Republic of Koreato provide information about corruption in their List of Issues Prior to Reporting. 

Civil society can submit responses to these questions to the HR Committee. Scroll down for more information. 

The angle under which the Committee has approached corruption in these sessions, is linked to the judiciary (article 14 ICCPR), participation in public life (article 25 ICCPR) or slavery (article 8 ICCPR). Moreover, the Committee has a tendency to dedicate more and more entire separate paragraphs on corruption in general, showing how important this problematic has become.   

In This Issue
Angola
Equatorial Guinea
Mauritania
Niger
Nigeria
Paraguay
Tajikistan
Cabo Verde
Central African Republic
Dominica
Portugal
Uzbekistan
India
Republic of Korea
Lesotho
Engaging with the HR Committee
Admissible Concluding Observations
Angola 
 
The HR Committee was concerned about: 
  • Corruption in the judiciary
  • Illicit financial flows
  • Protection of whistle blowers

Main recommendations were to:

  • Strengthen the legal framework
  • Train prosecution, judiciary and law enforcement better
  • Investigate acts of corruption by an independent mechanism
  • Raise awareness among the population
Deadline follow-up report  29 March 2021

Positive aspect

3. The Committee welcomes (...) the adoption of: (e) The Strategic Plan on the Prevention and Combatting of Corruption and the Directorate on Crimes of Corruption within the Criminal Investigation Service, in 2018.
 
Combating corruption (articles 2, 14 and 25)

12. The State party should: 
(a) Strengthen its efforts to combat corruption and illicit financial flows, review the legal framework with a view to making it more comprehensive and protective of whistle-blowers, as well as to reinforce good governance practices, by developing effective preventive measures and monitoring the implementation of the anti-corruption strategy that was adopted; 
(b) Strengthen the capacity of the prosecution service and law enforcement agencies to combat corruption, including through continuing training and providing them with adequate means; 
(c) Ensure, through effective implementation of relevant provisions of the Penal Code, that all acts of corruption are investigated in an independent and impartial manner and that those responsible, including officials at the highest level of government in the State party and other notable figures, are brought to justice and adequately punished, if convicted; 
(d) Carry out further awareness-raising campaigns on the economic and social costs of corruption among politicians, government officials, the business sector and the population in general.

 
Independence of the judiciary and administration of justice (article 14)

38. The State party should pursue its efforts to reform the justice system and ensure that all court proceedings are conducted in full observance of the due process guarantees set forth in article 14 of the Covenant. In particular, it should:
(a) Strengthen the independence of the judiciary and the prosecution service;
(b) Intensify its efforts to eliminate corruption in the judiciary, including by prosecuting and punishing perpetrators, including judges and prosecutors, who may be complicit therein;
(c) Continue efforts to increase the number of trained judges, prosecutors and lawyers through education and training as well as their deployment in rural areas;
(d) Accelerate the implementation of the judicial reform with a view to ensuring that the newly established tribunals and courts (municipal and provincial) are fully staffed and operational in order to ensure that justice is accessible to all, in particular to disadvantaged persons and those living in rural areas;
(e) Ensure that free legal aid is accessible in all cases where the interest of justice so requires. 

The Concluding Observations are available here. 
Equatorial Guinea
 
The HR Committee noted that the State ratified the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), but was concerned about: 
  • Widespread corruption 
  • Natural resources management 
  • Corruption in the judiciary
  • Protection of whistle blowers and others who denounce acts of corruption
Main recommendations were to:
  • Review the legal framework
  • Strengthen the capacity of the Office of the Prosecutor
  • Bring to justice the persons responsible for corruption 
  • Carry out awareness campaigns 
  • Ensure transparent management of natural resources
  • Eradicate corruption in the judiciary
The recommendation on widespread corruption was selected for the follow-up procedure, meaning that the State has to provide information regarding the implementation of these recommendations. This proves that the issue of corruption has become crucial for the enjoyment of civil and political rights, according to the HR Committee.

Deadline follow-up report  26 July 2021

Aspectos positivos

6.  El Comité celebra que el Estado parte haya ratificado los siguientes instrumentos internacionales o se haya adherido a ellos: a) La Convención de las Naciones Unidas contra la Corrupción, en 30 de mayo de 2018.
 
Lucha contra la corrupción y gestión de los recursos naturales

19. El  Estado parte debe: 
a) Intensificar sus esfuerzos para combatir la corrupción, incluyendo el blanqueo de capitales, revisar el marco jurídico con miras a hacerlo más exhaustivo y protector de los denunciantes y reforzar las prácticas de buena gobernanza supervisando la aplicación de la estrategia de lucha contra la corrupción que se ha adoptado; 
b) Fortalecer la capacidad de la Fiscalía y de los organismos encargados de hacer cumplir la ley para combatir la corrupción, en particular mediante la formación continua y el suministro de recursos suficientes; 
c) Asegurar que se investiguen de manera independiente e imparcial todos los actos de corrupción y que los responsables sean llevados ante la justicia y debidamente sancionados, en caso de ser declarados culpables; 
d) Llevar a cabo más campañas de concienciación sobre los costes económicos y sociales de la corrupción entre los políticos, los funcionarios públicos, el sector empresarial y la población en general; y 
e) Adoptar las medidas necesarias, incluso con la aplicación efectiva del Decreto No. 42/2007 que regula la participación de la sociedad civil en la iniciativa de la transparencia de las industrias extractivas, para garantizar una gestión transparente de los recursos naturales, con la participación de la sociedad civil. 

 
Independencia del poder judicial y administración de justicia

49. El Estado parte debe proseguir sus esfuerzos por reformar el sistema de justicia y velar por que en todos los procedimientos judiciales se respeten plenamente las debidas garantías procesales enunciadas en el artículo 14 del Pacto. En particular debe:
b) Intensificar sus esfuerzos para erradicar la corrupción del poder judicial, en particular enjuiciando y sancionando a los autores, incluidos los jueces y los fiscales que puedan ser cómplices;

The Concluding Observations are available here (ES). 
Mauritania 
 
The HR Committee was concerned about: 
  • the fact that persons detained for corruption crimes may be placed in custody for very long periods
Main recommendations were to:
  • Revise the Code of Criminal Procedure to bring it in compliance with international standards
Deadline follow-up report  26 July 2021
 
Liberté et sécurité de la personne 

33. L'État partie devrait : 
a) Réviser les dispositions du Code de procédure pénale et des lois relatives à la lutte contre le terrorisme, la corruption et les stupéfiants qui sont en conflit avec la loi no 2015-033 relative à la torture et les mettre en conformité avec les normes internationales en matière de garanties fondamentales ; accroître les activités de formation et de diffusion de la loi relative à la torture;

 
The Concluding Observations are available here (FR). 
Niger 
mauritania
The HR Committee was concerned about: 
  • Corruption within the police and the judiciary
  • A lack of transparency in the management of natural resources  
Main recommendations were to: 
  • Fight against corruption and impunity 
  • Conduct independent investigations into acts of corruption 
  • Ensure a transparent management of public contracts
Deadline follow-up report  29 March 2021

Lutte contre la corruption (articles 1, 2, 14, 25 et 26)

10. (...) le Comité s'inquiète de rapports faisant état de la persistance de la corruption au sein des administrations, incluant le secteur policier et judiciaire. Le Comité est en outre préoccupé par des informations rapportant un manque de transparence quant à la gestion des ressources naturelles, notamment des exonérations importantes accordées à des compagnies d'extraction minière internationales, au détriment du budget de l'Etat.

11. L'État partie devrait : 
a) redoubler d'efforts dans sa lutte contre la corruption et l'impunité qui y est associée ; 
b) garantir que l'ensemble des affaires de corruption fassent l'objet d'enquêtes indépendantes et impartiales et au besoin de sanctions judiciaires adéquates ; et 
c) prendre les dispositions nécessaires pour assurer une gestion transparente des contrats avec les compagnies minières internationales, ainsi que des recettes en découlant. 


The Concluding Observations are available here (FR). 
Nigeria
mauritania
The HR Committee was concerned about : 
  • Pervasive corruption, including in the oil and security sectors and in the judiciary
  • The fact that the proposed law to protect whistle blowers has not yet been adopted
Main recommendations were to: 
  • Combat corruption and promote good governance and transparency
  • Strengthen the independence of the judiciary 
Deadline follow-up report  26 July 2021

The fight against corruption 

13. The State party should continue its efforts, including through international cooperation and effective implementation of legislation and preventive measures, to combat corruption and promote good governance, transparency and accountability, including in the management of natural resources. The State party should adopt legislation protecting whistle blowers.


Administration of justice, independence of the judiciary and right to a fair trial 

38. The Committee is concerned about reports of political influence and corruption in the judiciary, the limited role of the National Judicial Council in appointments of judges, and delays in the administration of justice linked inter alia to the lack of resources and staff. The Committee is concerned about the reported absence of legal representation in some criminal cases, general nature of some charges and mass trials of terrorist suspects. (arts. 7, 9 and 14)

39. The State party should take measures to strengthen the independence of the judiciary. It should also ensure fair trail safeguards, including by providing legal aid in criminal cases, and reduce delays in the administration of justice, inter alia by providing adequate resources and staff.

The Concluding Observations are available here.
Paraguay 
mauritania
The HR Committee was concerned about :
  • Politicization and corruption in the judiciary 
  • The system of selection and appointment of judges and prosecutors
Main recommendations were to: 
  • Combat corruption through sensibilization of judges, prosecutors and law enforcement
Deadline follow-up report  26 July 2021

Independencia del Poder Judicial

35. El Estado parte debe: 
a) Intensificar sus esfuerzos para combatir la corrupción en el Poder Judicial, incluido a través de la sensibilización de jueces, fiscales y la policía sobre las formas más efectivas de lucha contra la corrupción;


The Concluding Observations are available here (ES). 
Tajikistan
mauritania
The HR Committee was concerned about : 
  • Widespread corruption 
  • The definition of corruption, that does not comply with international standards
  • The lack of independence of the specialized body in charge of detecting and investigating corruption
Main recommendations were to: 
  • Revise the Criminal Code in accordance with OECD recommendations 
Deadline follow-up report  26 July 2021

Corruption

12. The State should take all the measures necessary to combat corruption effectively, including by revising the Criminal Code to give effect to the OECD recommendations regarding the definition and criminalization of all elements of corruption, providing relevant training to law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and judges on detecting, investigating and prosecuting corruption, and strengthening the operational and structural independence and specialization of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors dealing with corruption cases to enable the investigation of complex and high level corruption cases.


The Concluding Observations are available here.
Admissible Lists of Issues
Cabo Verde 
mauritania
The State should provide information on: 
  • Measures taken to prevent nepotism and bribery
  • The code of ethics and conduct for public officials
  • The transparency of public administration
  • The decentralization efforts 
Deadline NGO Submissions 16 September 2019
Deadline registration NGOs 4 October 2019 
Review 14 October - 8 November 2019

Participation in public affairs (arts. 2, 19, 25 and 26) 

21. Please provide information on measures aimed at: 
(a) preventing and eliminating alleged and reported acts of nepotism and bribery, particularly at the municipal level; 
(b) ensuring that the code of ethics and conduct for public officials adopted in 2015 applies to all public authorities, including elected officials; and 
(c) enhancing the transparency of public administration, including in the context of bidding in public contracts and infrastructure projects involving the private sector, particularly regarding access to and the publication of information held by public entities. 

22. Please provide information on the new decentralization efforts proposed by the government programme and in particular on the expected results of those efforts in terms of: 
(a) an increase in public participation in local decision-making; and 
(b) reduction of the de facto regional disparities, notably in terms of access to services and infrastructure. 
 

The LOI is available here. 
Central African Republic 
mauritania
The State should provide information on: 
  • The independence of the judiciary 
  • The measures taken to combat corruption 
  • The irremovability of judges and prosecutors
  • Necessary resources for the functioning of the judiciary
  • Management of natural resources
Deadline NGO Submissions 16 September 2019
Deadline registration NGOs 4 October 2019
Review 14 October - 8 November 2019

Administration de la justice (art. 14) 

20. Commenter les rapports selon lesquels les zones sous contrôle rebelle, soit 12 préfectures sur 16, ne sont pas couvertes par la présence effective de magistrats, que les juridictions dans ces zones ne sont pas effectives - de nombreux tribunaux hors de Bangui ayant été détruits-, et que des groupes armés exercent de facto des fonctions judiciaires, se traduisant par des arrestations et des détentions arbitraires. Veuillez indiquer les mesures prises pour recruter des magistrats supplémentaires, et pour mettre en place des juridictions indépendantes et fonctionnelles couvrant l'ensemble du territoire.  

21. Veuillez expliquer comment l'Etat partie réconcilie l'article 107 de la Constitution du 30 mars 2016, qui dispose que : « la justice constitue un pouvoir indépendant du pouvoir législatif et du pouvoir exécutif », avec le fait que les magistrats sont nommés par l'exécutif. Décrire les mesures prises pour renforcer les capacités du système judiciaire, en particulier : 
(a) garantir l'indépendance du pouvoir judiciaire ; 
( b) mettre en place des procédures qui le prémunissent contre les influences et des ingérences du pouvoir exécutif et la corruption ; 
(c) garantir, dans la pratique, l'inamovibilité des magistrats du siège et du parquet et ; 
(d) le doter de ressources suffisantes nécessaires à son fonctionnement, y compris des ressources humaines. 

22. Tout en prenant bonne note des informations fournies par l'Etat parties, relatives à l'établissement de la Haute Autorité chargée de la Bonne Gouvernance en 2016, et notant que la corruption d'agents publics nationaux est incriminée (art. 369 et 370 du Code pénal), fournir des informations sur les mesures concrètes entreprises pour lutter efficacement contre la corruption, y compris en rapport avec la gestion des ressources naturelles. Indiquer le résultat de telles mesures, ainsi que des données sur les poursuites et condamnations éventuelles en matière de corruption.


The LOI is available here (FR). 
Dominica 
mauritania
The State should provide information on : 
  • Measures taken to eliminate corruption
  • The citizen investment programme
  • The transparency of public administration
  • Concerns related to the electoral process
Deadline NGO submissions TBC
Deadline registration NGOs TBC
Review TBC

Participation in public affairs and corruption (arts. 2 and 25)

23. Please provide information on measures to prevent and eliminate acts of corruption, particularly regarding the concerns over the citizen investment programme, and to improve the transparency of public administration, particularly with regard to access to information and the publication of information. Please provide information on the measures taken to respond to concerns related to the electoral process, particularly regarding:
(a) the outdated voters' list;
(b) the unbalanced sizes of constituencies, which have not been changed since 1990; and
(c) the lack of requirement for political parties to publish sources of campaign funding.

The LOI is available here. 
Portugal
mauritania
The State should provide information on : 
  • Measures taken to prevent corruption in government
Deadline NGO submissions TBC
Deadline registration NGOs TBC
Review TBC

Anti-corruption measures (arts. 2 and 25)

4. Please report on measures taken to prevent and address corruption in government, including international cooperation in the fight against corruption.

The LOI is available here.
Uzbekistan 
mauritania
The State should provide information on : 
  • The measures taken to criminalize corruption offenses
  • The steps taken to provide for liability of legal entities for corruption crimes
  • The independence of the law enforcement agencies and prosecutors dealing with corruption cases
  • Corruption in the cotton sector
Deadline NGO submissions 16 September 2019
Deadline registration NGOs 4 October 2019
Review 14 October - 8 November 2019 

Anti-corruption measures (arts. 2 and 25) 

3. Please report on progress made in preventing and combating corruption effectively, including in relation to the prosecution of corruption at the highest level. Please clarify whether steps have been taken to:
(a) criminalize all mandatory elements of bribery offences;
(b) make all corruption offenses criminal offenses;
(c) define the meaning of the term "substantial harm" as an element of the offence of abuse of power or office;
(d) provide for liability of legal entities for corruption crimes;
(e) strengthen the operational and structural independence and specialization of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors dealing with corruption cases.
Please also clarify whether consideration has been given to excluding the functions of combating economic and corruption crimes from the mandate of the state security bodies.

Elimination of slavery and servitude (art. 8)

14. Please report on further measures taken to eliminate forced labour in the cotton sector and on their practical impact. Inter alia, please:
(a) respond to continued reports of forced labour during the cotton harvest, including requiring public sector and private institutions, enterprises and businesses to send their employees to pick cotton or pay for replacement pickers and cover their costs;
(b) report on measures taken to ensure financial transparency and address corruption in the cotton sector, including on any planned or implemented reforms to the Stateset mandatory cotton production quota system that reportedly remains the main cause of forced labour and contributor to corruption;
(...)

The LOI is available   here. 
Admissible Lists of Issues Prior to Reporting
India
mauritania
The State party should provide information on: 
  • The implementation of the Prevention of Corruption Act 
  • The progress in achieving corruption in government and judiciary 
Deadline NGO Submissions TBC
Deadline registration NGOs TBC
Review TBC

Anti-corruption measures (arts. 2 and 25) 

5. Please respond to reports that corruption, including bribery of public officials, remains common and judicial corruption is widespread, and report on the implementation of the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Act 2018 and on the progress achieved in combatting corruption at all levels of government and within the judiciary. 


The LOIPR is available here.
Republic of Korea
mauritania
The State party should provide information on: 
  • The independence of the judiciary
  • The impact of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act
  • The relationship between business interests and government officials
Deadline NGO Submissions TBC
Deadline registration NGOs TBC
Review TBC

Corruption and judicial independence (arts. 2 and 14)

19. Please provide information on the measures taken to address corruption in the judiciary and guarantee its independence as well as the right to a fair trial and due process. Please report on the impact of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act and other anticorruption measures on the relationship between business interests and government officials.


The LOIPR is available here (LINK).
Lesotho 
mauritania
The State party should provide information on: 
  • The political instability in the country
  • Intimidation against opposition leaders
  • Transparency of the government, including access to public information 
  • Measures taken to tackle corruption in law and in practice
  • Investigations at all levels for acts of corruption 
Deadline NGO Submissions TBC
Deadline registration NGOs TBC
Review TBC

Participation in public affairs (arts. 19 and 25) 

28. Please provide information on measures aimed at addressing political instability in the country, notably since 2014, that lead to challenges for the National Assembly's functioning. Please also comment on allegations of acts of intimidation against opposition leaders. 

29. Please provide information on measures to strengthen accountability and transparency of the government and indicate particularly whether the State party intends to adopt a legislative framework related to access to public information. Please also provide information on the measures taken to tackle corruption in law and in practice and on current investigations, prosecutions, convictions and penalties imposed against government officials at all levels for acts of corruption.


The LOIPR is available here. 
Admissible Engaging with the Human Rights Committee
mauritania
The 127th session of the Human Rights Committee will take place in Geneva, Palais Wilson, from 14 October to 8 November 2019. It will review the State reports of  Belgium, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Czech Republic, Mexico and Senegal.  The Lists of Issues (Prior to Reporting) of Bolivia, Nicaragua, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Croatia and Spain  will be adopted. 

The deadline for NGO reports on Lists of Issues is 30 August 2019. 
The deadline for NGO reports on State reviews is 16 September 2019. 
The deadline to register to attend the session is 4 October 2019. 

For more information on engaging with the Human Rights Committee, please visit our website.