Maastricht Centre for Human Rights

Conference theme

Corruption, generally defined as the abuse of public office for private gain , is one of the greatests social evils of our time. In the words of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Corruption hurts the poor disproportionately by diverting funds intended for development, undermining a government s ability to provide basic services, feeding inequality and injustice, and discouraging foreign investment and aid. The adoption of several international anti-corruption treaties such as the United Nations Convention Against Corruption in 2003 put the problem on the international agenda, and it is likely to stay there.
Research on corruption is conducted by scholars in several academic areas and the problem is addressed by the major
international financial institutions and NGOs. However, from the human rights perspective, corruption has not been
studied extensively. This two-day conference aims to bring together researchers in various disciplines to further
examine the links between corruption and human rights.

Conference format

The conference will host the following keynote speakers:
Prof. Dr. John Hatchard (Open University Business School, UK) Mr. Drago Kos (GRECO); Prof. Dr. Nikos Passas
(Northeastern University College of Criminal Justice); Prof. Dr. Mark Pieth (University of Basel, OECD Working Group on
Bribery).
Discussion of conference findings will be conducted by Prof. dr. David Nelken (University of Macerata, Italy).

Furthermore, the conference offers six workshops, as described below. In order to offer all participants the
opportunity to take part in the entire programme, workshops will be held simultaneously, while each workshop is offered
on both the first and the second day of the conference. The workshops have an interactive character since participants
will be given the opportunity to download and read the conference papers in advance and are thus encouraged to engage in discussions with the presenters.

Workshop Themes

1. Corruption as a Violation of Human Rights?

Even though no human rights treaty refers explicitly to corruption, would it be possible to qualify (certain forms
of) corruption as a human rights violation in itself?

2. Corruption, Human Rights and the Natural Environment

Corruption is supposedly connected to the presence of natural resources within countries, as well as to the provision of aid after a natural disaster. This workshop aspires to clarify these topics, and also aims to answer the question whether grand corruption, for example by heads of State who plunder a country s resources, should be seen as an international crime.

3. Researching Corruption: Methodological and Cultural Challenges

This workshop is concerned with issues surrounding the research of corruption, such as measuring the amount of corruption, cultural issues, as well as identifying the relationship between corruption and the non-fulfillment of human rights.

4. Corporations and International Financial Institutions, Corruption and Human Rights

Corruption is not merely a practice for which State actors are to blame. Corporate conduct and the policies of International Financial Institutions should not be left out of the debate. This workshop therefore discusses the role of these players in the corruption discourse.

5. Towards a Fundamental Human Right to a Corruption-Free Public Service?

Is corruption serious enough to formulate a new, independent human right to a public service free of corruption? This
workshop aims to discuss arguments pro and con the establishment of such a right.

6. Police Corruption and Human Rights

Studies show that police work is vulnerable to corruption. The present workshop aims to offer insights into the matter,
and to elucidate the linkages between police corruption and human rights violations.

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