8.5C - Political Corruption
Levels of political corruption vary and can be measured (Index of Corruption); high levels of corruption are a threat to human rights as the rule of law can be subverted.
Human rights depend on having people in power who are prepared to protect them.
Perhaps the most important aspect of this is having an independent judiciary system (courts, may even judge new laws to be illegal) that is not interfered with by politicians and cannot be 'bought' by people with power and money. An independent judiciary is a key principle of a democratic government, referred to as separation of powers between those who make laws (government) and those who apply them (judiciary),
The judiciary is undermined by corruption (for private benefit) because this can subvert the rule of law.
The overall impact of corruption is to create an untouchable group of powerful, wealthy people supported by a corrupt judicial system. Ordinary people are then left with no means of having their human rights upheld, so human rights abuses are widespread. Inevitably, countries with high levels of corruption (as measured by indices such as Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index (CPI)) are those with the worst track records on human rights.
Perhaps the most important aspect of this is having an independent judiciary system (courts, may even judge new laws to be illegal) that is not interfered with by politicians and cannot be 'bought' by people with power and money. An independent judiciary is a key principle of a democratic government, referred to as separation of powers between those who make laws (government) and those who apply them (judiciary),
The judiciary is undermined by corruption (for private benefit) because this can subvert the rule of law.
- Judges can be bribed to dismiss legitimate human rights abuse cases, perhaps by wealthy business owners or TNCs
- The appointment of judges can be influenced by politicians, rather than them being appointed independently
- Corrupt politicians can steal government money, or foreign aid, so that it cannot be used as intended to improve human rights.
The overall impact of corruption is to create an untouchable group of powerful, wealthy people supported by a corrupt judicial system. Ordinary people are then left with no means of having their human rights upheld, so human rights abuses are widespread. Inevitably, countries with high levels of corruption (as measured by indices such as Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index (CPI)) are those with the worst track records on human rights.