20 February 2026 –

On Wednesday, 18th February, the Human Rights and Corruption Working Group of the Global Civil Society Coalition for the UNCAC, had the opportunity to deliver a statement at the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee’s 34th session in Geneva.

The HRC Advisory Committee’s panel discussion on “Guidelines on implementing existing procedural and substantive human rights obligations of States in the context of preventing and combating corruption” discussed the ongoing preparation of a comprehensive study as mandated by Human Rights Council Resolution 59/6.  According to the resolution a comprehensive study is to be conducted to outline “the existing procedural, substantive, and nondiscrimination human rights obligations in the context of corruption” and will “develop clear guidelines for states to implement these obligations”. 

The inclusion of this comprehensive study in Resolution 59/6 came as a result of joint advocacy between civil society organizations and experts, who issued an open letter ahead of the 59th Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) in July 2025 where the resolution was tabled. 

With such a mandate now being pushed forward, the 34th session of the Advisory Committee proved a pivotal moment for civil society to influence the drafting of the study. In its statement, the Working Group reiterated the importance of reading human rights law and anti-corruption law alongside each other, and that States’ commitments under international human rights law must guide the interpretation and implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). Many UNCAC provisions are rooted in human rights, and ensuring legal coherence is crucial for consistent and effective national implementation of both anti-corruption and human rights commitments, as they are mutually reinforcing.

To ensure that the Committee’s guidelines provide practical, actionable, and people-centered guidance that can be applied across regions and contexts, the Working Group shared the following recommendations:

• The study should explicitly address the perspectives and rights of victims of corruption and the critical role of civil society organizations. 
• Integrating equality, non-discrimination, and participation as implementation obligations can significantly strengthen prevention, oversight, and accountability.
• From a human rights perspective, States have procedural duties to ensure participation, protect civic space, and enable access to information. These obligations allow CSOs, journalists, victims, witnesses, experts, academia, and affected communities to contribute effectively to anti-corruption efforts. 
• The study should provide guidance on how to operationalize these obligations, including legal standing in anti-corruption proceedings, protection from reprisals, and meaningful participation in review and decision-making processes, including under the UNCAC framework.

For civil society, this study would serve as an essential tool to support advocacy, guide effective implementation of anti-corruption measures, and reinforce public trust in institutions. 

Thanks to joint advocacy amongst civil society and experts, the mandate for this study was included in the resolution, demonstrating the power of collective action in influencing international frameworks. The Human Rights and Corruption Working Group thanks all those who have contributed in shaping the statement and in keeping the momentum going to integrate a human-rights based approach in anti-corruption efforts.