Geneva – Morocco on Tuesday presented on behalf of 132 countries, that is over two thirds of the UN member states, a transregional declaration on “the impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights” to the UN Human Rights Council.
In this declaration, read out by Morocco’s permanent representative to the UN office at Geneva, ambassador Omar Hilale, the 132 states, which represent all regions of the world, say they are “deeply concerned by the growing adverse impact of rife corruption on the enjoyment of human rights”.
They note that “corruption is one of the biggest obstacles to effective promotion and protection of human rights, particularly the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals”, and believe that corruption is “a universal phenomenon, which is a matter of great concern to all citizens throughout the world.”
They also insist that the fight against corruption can contribute significantly to promoting the fundamental principles of human rights and enshrining the rule of law, as “a necessary element for the establishment of a free, democratic society” and “an important step towards fulfiling countries’ aspirations for a sustainable and balanced human development.”
They expressed support for the call of the Human Rights Council reaffirming “the importance of concerted actions, both governmental and intergovernmental, in the implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption.”
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