A/HRC/4/71 page 28 the weakening of institutions and the erosion of public trust in government as well as through impairing the ability of Governments to fulfil human rights, particularly the economic and social rights of the most vulnerable and marginalized. The Conference also addressed the abuses and derogations to human rights made in the name of the fight against corruption, limiting, inter alia, the rights to privacy, due process and freedom of expression. Accordingly, the Conference focused on three themes: • Impact of corruption on human rights; • How human rights principles and approaches can help in fighting corruption - this theme was discussed in two panels: − the first panel focusing on general issues related to this problem; − the second panel focusing on the role of the private sector, civil society and media; • Fighting corruption while safeguarding human rights. 1. Impact of corruption on human rights The following problems were drawn from the presentations: • Violations of human rights are both a cause and an effect of corruption; • There is a need to reconcile private claims and public interests, right to privacy and efficient investigation and access to information, human rights principles and some anti-corruption work, etc.; • There is a wide range of human rights that are affected by corruption; • Civil service appointment system is especially important. Although there is no perfect system - each has advantages and disadvantages - basic elements include: transparent procedure and criteria, competitive and non-political appointments, etc.; • For corruption to prevail, civil and political rights must be curtailed, and when it happens, enjoyment of economic and social rights decline; • Corruption is universal but it appears to be better controlled in countries that have adequate procedures, mechanisms and active public accountability; • The importance of language: many values and principles are shared by people working on anti-corruption, good governance and human rights, but their use of the terms cannot be assumed to be the same. There is a question how far practitioners in different sectors can use a single set of principles. Another important issue is the sensitivity of terms, with an example of chief justice’s willingness to work on the right to a fair trial by an impartial tribunal rather than talk about corruption directly;