Doha, December 19 (QNA) - Experts and specialists in the field of combating corruption affirmed that strengthening the rights of victims of corruption represents a fundamental pillar in building effective and inclusive justice systems. They stressed that enabling victims to access justice and obtain redress contributes to consolidating integrity and enhancing trust in public institutions.

This came during a panel discussion held as part of the final day of the eleventh session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, held in Doha, with broad participation from government representatives, international experts, civil society organizations, and academic institutions.

Participants said that the international declaration on the rights of victims of corruption emphasizes the importance of access to justice and fair treatment, while underscoring several core principles. Chief among these is enabling victims to present their views and concerns and have them considered at appropriate stages of legal proceedings whenever their personal interests are affected, without prejudice to the rights of the accused and in a manner consistent with national criminal legislation.

Experts noted that the protection of victims is not limited to procedural aspects alone, but also includes providing appropriate assistance throughout the legal process, taking necessary measures to protect their privacy when required, ensuring their safety and that of their families, and protecting witnesses who testify from any acts of intimidation or retaliation.

Speakers emphasized that these principles constitute an important foundation for activating Article 35 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which relates to access to justice and compensation for harm. They pointed out that several Human Rights Council resolutions recognize the negative impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights and affirm the importance of victim participation in justice processes.

In this context, experts stressed that combating corruption cannot be effective if it is limited to punitive responses alone, but must be built on a comprehensive approach that places victims at the heart of public policy and links prevention, accountability, redress, and respect for human rights.

Participants affirmed that the United Nations Convention against Corruption recognizes that prevention is not a theoretical concept, but a practical program requiring institutional design that reduces opportunities for abuse of power, enhances transparency, and ensures the existence of reliable accountability mechanisms, particularly in sectors characterized by broad discretionary authority and high-stakes decision-making.

They noted that the absence of safeguards in such sectors may lead to violations becoming negotiable behavior, opening the door to coercion, extortion, illicit gains, manipulation of records, and abuse of authority, all of which negatively affect the rights of individuals and society as a whole.

Experts explained that States Parties are required, under the Convention, to entrench integrity and accountability in the areas of public safety and public service through clear standards of conduct, transparent systems, and effective internal controls, as these constitute essential elements of the preventive chapter of the Convention.

The panel discussion also addressed the importance of adopting clear and auditable standards in the work of public institutions, making decisions subject to review, helping to detect improper patterns, and reducing gray areas in which abuse of office may occur.

Participants emphasized that aligning training and capacity-building with professional values and real-world decision-making is a critical factor in strengthening integrity. They noted that evidence drawn from international experiences has shown that well-designed training helps reduce violations and fosters a culture of compliance and respect for the law.

Concerning evidence management, experts stressed that systematic documentation of incidents, the integrity of chains of custody, and data governance constitute core pillars of administrative and criminal accountability, limiting the risks of manipulation or concealment of facts and thereby enhancing the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts.

They also highlighted the importance of internal controls and secure reporting mechanisms, affirming that protecting good-faith whistleblowers represents a fundamental safeguard for integrity within public policy environments and contributes to the early detection of violations and the prevention of their escalation. 

Experts discussed international experiences in developing national protocols to protect whistleblowers and victims of corruption, based on a rights-based approach and drawing on best practices derived from international law, human rights, and public administration. These protocols aim to reduce fear of reporting and to strengthen a policy of zero tolerance for impunity.

They affirmed that involving civil society organizations in judicial proceedings, whether criminal, civil, or related to human rights, serves as a complementary element to state efforts and helps ensure that victims’ voices are heard, particularly in cases affecting collective interests.

In a related context, participants addressed the role of multilateral banks in combating corruption, noting that their sanctioning systems are not intended to punish for punishment’s sake, but rather to deter wrongdoing, protect public funds, enhance compliance, and assist in rehabilitating companies by establishing effective compliance systems.

Experts said that these systems help send a clear message to the market that corruption has consequences, while at the same time encouraging the development of a culture of integrity whose effects extend to the private sector and supply chains.

They emphasized that placing victims and human rights at the heart of anti-corruption efforts does not weaken those efforts, but rather strengthens their coherence and effectiveness and makes them more closely connected to people’s daily lives.

They stressed that the success of the United Nations Convention against Corruption depends on adopting a comprehensive approach that balances prevention, enforcement, redress, and respect for human dignity. (QNA)