A/HRC/4/71
page 4
Introduction
1.
In accordance with Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/68, the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) organized, in collaboration
with the Government of the Republic of Poland, the Conference on anti-corruption, good
governance and human rights, held in Warsaw on 8 and 9 November 2006 and chaired by
Ms. Anna Fotyga, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland. More than 240 participants from
102 countries attended the Conference, including representatives of Member and Observer
States, national human rights institutions (NHRI), intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and invited experts and panellists.
2.
The Conference built on the sharing of good practices and experiences to generate debate
with a view to identifying and clarifying the main conceptual issues related to each of the four
sessions (see annex I to the present report). The approach was to start from the specific and to
move on to the general, with experts drawing general observations from the presentations. An
open discussion at the conclusion of each session further illustrated and elaborated on the key
elements debated by the panel. At the end of each day, the Rapporteur presented conclusions
and recommendations.
3.
The present report contains a summary of proceedings, expert comments and discussions,
and the Chairperson’s statement (contained in annex II). It also draws on remarks by the
Rapporteur, Robert Archer. Introductory statements on the relationship between anti-corruption
measures, good governance and human rights are summarized in section II. Section III deals
with the impact of corruption on human rights. Section IV explores how human rights and good
governance principles can help in combating corruption. Section V looks specifically at the role
of civil society, the private sector and the media in efforts to stem corruption. Section VI
presents the possible conflicts between human rights principles and anti-corruption measures,
and ways to safeguard human rights while fighting corruption. Section VII contains the
conclusions of the Conference in the form of recommendations and proposals for consideration
by relevant agencies and bodies. The list of participants to the Conference is contained in
annex III.
4.
OHCHR would like to thank the Government of Poland for hosting the Conference, the
Government of Australia for its financial support, and the Governments of Chile, South Africa
and Republic of Korea, the other cosponsors of resolution 2005/68 for their substantive support.
OHCHR would also like to thank the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in
Poland for providing logistical and other local support for the Conference.
I.
ANTI-CORRUPTION MEASURES, GOOD
GOVERNANCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS
5.
In her introductory remarks, the Chairperson, Anna Fotyga, stressed the importance
Poland has attached to the fight against corruption since 1995. She reviewed the major changes
to the country’s legal system introduced by the former and current prime ministers, and the
recent establishment of the Central Anti-Corruption Office.
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