The Effect of Human Rights on the Fight Against Corruption

Today, corruption is considered as one of the main challenges to realization, development, and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Corruption not only leads to discrimination and lack of  equality, it also seriously threatens the rule of law as the backbone of democracy. Corruption intensifies the distance between the state and the people. It also intensifies citizens’ dissatisfaction. The states’ commitment to observe fundamental rights and freedoms provides the conditions for citizens oversight of the states’ activities. Moreover, enhancing the rule of law and placing the state in its rightful position as the supervising institution will increase the state’s authority and strengthen national sovereignty. In the process of combating corruption, factors such as public participation, a strong civil society and raising public awareness, are crucial. The states’ lack of commitment to fundamental rights and freedoms undermines public trust, and makes it impossible for citizens to control the state. In this study, conducted by descriptive-analytical method, we intend to prove the  hypothesis that observance of human rights and respect for the notion of fundamental freedoms of citizens by the government,  is the most effective tool for fighting corruption.