A/HRC/44/47 General Kofi Annan4 in 2003 and by the current Secretary-General António Guterres5 in 2018. 8. The destructive effects of corruption on human rights have become apparent as a result of, inter alia, concentration of power and a lack of transparency in public administration. Corruption also has a direct impact on States’ obligation to allocate the maximum available resources for the fulfilment of the economic, social and cultural rights of the population, affecting in particular the poorest sectors of society and children. 9. As has previously been stated, 6 corruption has a significant impact on public institutions, reducing their legitimacy and weakening society’s confidence in them and in States in general, and consequently impeding their ability to ensure that human rights are protected. These negative impacts include direct and indirect effects on the ability of judges, prosecutors, lawyers and other legal professionals to carry out their professional work and duties in an impartial and independent manner.7 10. In 2012, former Special Rapporteur Gabriela Knaul conducted an analysis of the role and status of prosecution services, including a comprehensive assessment of the guarantees protecting their independence.8 She examined the structural and functional independence of prosecution services with reference to the Guidelines on the Role of Prosecutors. 9 The report highlighted, among other issues, the role and responsibilities of prosecutors, as well as their relationship with other stakeholders with whom they interact within the criminal justice system. Lastly, Ms. Knaul made a careful analysis of the different elements that might influence their independence and impartiality.10 11. Another noteworthy initiative, implemented jointly by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the International Association of Prosecutors, involved prosecutors directly and gave rise to the publication of a report11 intended to assist and guide States in the review and/or development of international standards for their prosecution services or offices of attorneys general. Among the standards mentioned in that report are the Guidelines on the Role of Prosecutors, as well as the Standards of Professional Responsibility and Statement of the Essential Duties and Rights of Prosecutors issued by the International Association of Prosecutors.12 12. During 2019, the Special Rapporteur launched a series of initiatives, seminars and discussions to gather assessments and views; these have been a critical and invaluable source of information and observations in the preparation of the present report. The Special Rapporteur is grateful for all these contributions, which were an essential element in the drafting of this report and in further shaping his work on this topic. 13. The Special Rapporteur launched one such activity in New York in July 2019. Within the framework of the high-level political forum on sustainable development, a side event was organized to examine this issue within the theme of Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions. For the event, the Special Rapporteur convened a group of experts including the current President of the International Association of Prosecutors and current and former prosecutors and attorneys general from Africa, Asia, 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 GE.20-04343 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, United Nations Convention against Corruption, New York, 2004, Foreword, p. iii. António Guterres, 10 December 2018, available at https://www.unodc.org/bolivia/es/Las-actividadescontra-la-corrupcion-son-esenciales-para-construir-la-paz--proteger-los-derechos-humanos-ygarantizar-el-desarrollo-sostenible.html. A/72/140, para. 18. Ibid, para. 97. A/HRC/20/19. Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Havana, 27 August–7 September 1990. A/HRC/20/19, paras. 58–81. In order to avoid duplication, the Special Rapporteur draws attention to the content of that report. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, The Status and Role of Prosecutors, 2014, available at https://www.unodc.org/documents/justice-and-prison-reform/HB_role_and_status_prosecutors_1405222_Ebook.pdf. International Association of Prosecutors, Human Rights Manual for Prosecutors, 2nd rev. ed., The Hague, 2009, p. 239. 3