Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in partnership with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), held its 7th International Seminar on the subject of ‘Combatting Corruption-A pre-requisite for the full realization of all human rights and sustainable development’ in Islamabad on 6-7 January 2022.

 The Seminar was attended by IPHRC Members, relevant international experts on the subject, representatives of OIC Member and Observer States as well as their National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs). Particularly, the First Deputy Director of the National Centre of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights Mr. Mirzatilla Tillabaev also participated in the Seminar.

 In addition to comprehensive presentations made by the experts/panellists, participants of the Seminar analysed the impact of corruption on the enjoyment of human rights at different levels, including how it can lead to human rights violations and how corruption itself can serve as a structural obstacle to the enjoyment of all human rights, shared relevant best practices, policies, and measures for building efficient anti-corruption models. It also analyzed ways and means to strengthen national legislations, institutional infrastructures, and action plans aimed at combating corruption by involving all relevant stakeholders on these issues and ongoing international, regional, and OIC initiatives, frameworks, and organizational structures related to anti-corruption and accountability measures and identify contours of international cooperation to deal with these challenges.

 The seventh international seminar of the OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission on Corruption and Human Rights has adopted Islamabad Declaration urging all states to introduce strong anti-corruption legislation and step up efforts to address the injustices and other negative consequences of corruption.

It noted that recovering and returning confiscated assets and illicit financial flows can contribute to effective resource mobilization, poverty eradication, sustainable development and the enjoyment of all human rights particularly for the developing countries.

The declaration encouraged all OIC states to enhance the capacity of the judiciary, prosecution service and law enforcement agencies to combat corruption. It further asked them to establish fully equipped, empowered and independent accountability institutions capable to investigate corruption including sophisticated transnational crimes in an independent and impartial manner.

The declaration also called for the establishment of an OIC intergovernmental working group to actively explore innovative ideas and initiatives to strengthen the existing international framework to prevent corruption and to end impunity.

The declaration stressed the need for integrating the role of technology in promoting increased transparency, accountability, accessibility and citizen participation.

The adopted outcome document of the Seminar will help OIC Member States in adopting informed and coherent positions during the deliberations at the UN General Assembly on combatting corruption.