Corruption in judiciary threatens the rule of law, says UN expert
Listen /Corruption in the judiciary threatens the rule of law and the protection of human rights.
Gabriela Knaul
That warning came from Gabriela Knaul, the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, during the presentation of her annual report to the General Assembly on Wednesday.
She said corruption in the judiciary remains what she called "a daunting challenge" in many countries.
"The existence of corruption in the judiciary directly undermines the rule of law and the ability of the judiciary to guarantee the protection of human rights. Judicial corruption directly threatens the very essence of the independence of the judiciary and the members of the legal profession. Judicial corruption extends from pre-trial investigations and procedures through the trial procedures and settlement to the enforcement of decisions by court bailiffs or the executive."
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Ms. Knaul urged governments around the world to place the independence of judges, prosecutors and lawyers at the centre of their policies to prevent and fight corruption.
