Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Exploring the Links Between Corruption and Human Rights Violations with a Focus on the Private Sector

  • Published:
Journal of Human Rights and Social Work Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The goals of social work are linked with the realization of universal human rights as essential to a just society. This article explores the links between violations of human rights and corruption, with a focus on the private sector and recent initiatives by the United Nations on the matter. It demonstrates that these links are not well-defined in the literature, which reflects itself in the behavior of companies. As the issue becomes more present in the private sector, it is pressing that more studies are done on the links between corruption and human rights violations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alston, P., & Goodman, R. (2013). International human rights. The successor to international human rights in context: law, politics and morals. Oxford University Press.

  • Banks, S. (2015). Social work ethics. In: J. D. Wright (Ed.), International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences (2nd ed., Vol 22, pp. 782–788). Elsevier.

  • Bonini, M. (2019). A violação dos Direitos Humanos por atos de corrupção. Revista Estudios Avanzados. 31, julio 2019, 66–80. https://doi.org/10.35588/idea.v0i31.4279

  • Boone-Barrera, E. (2019). Extractive industries and investor–state arbitration: Enforcing home standards abroad. Sustainability., 11(24), 6963. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11246963

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breakey, H. (2017). Arbitrary power, arbitrary interference and the abuse of power: Corruption, natural rights and human rights. Research in Ethical Issues in Organizations., 17, 125–145. https://doi.org/10.1108/s1529-209620170000017013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carini, C., Rocca, L., Veneziani, M., & Teodori, C. (2018). Ex-ante impact assessment of sustainability information–The directive 2014/95. Sustainability, 10(2), 560. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10020560

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ciupa, K., & Zalik, A. (2020). Enhancing corporate standing, shifting blame: An examination of Canada’s extractive sector transparency measures act. The Extractive Industries and Society, 7(3), 826–834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2020.07.018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Connor, T., & Haines, F. (2013). Networked regulation as a solution to human rights abuse in global supply chains? The case of trade union rights violations by Indonesian sports shoe manufacturers. Theoretical Criminology, 17(2), 197–214. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362480612472783

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, K. E. (2018). Corruption as a violation of international human rights: A reply to Anne Peters. European Journal of International Law, 29(4), 1289–1296. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejil/chy074

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deluca-Acconi, R. A. (2017). Empowering social workers to transform the dominant narrative: Advocating for human rights over corporate profit. Journal of Human Rights and Social Work., 2(1–2), 3–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41134-016-0025-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donnelly, J., & Whelan, D. (2018). International human rights. (5th ed.). Routledge.

  • Filgueiras, F. (2008). Corrupção, democracia e legitimidade. Editora UFMG.

  • Garciandia, R. (2018). Euro-Latin-American cooperation against corruption and its impact on human rights. Revista Iberoamericana De Filosofía, Política y Humanidades, 20(40), 605–630.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffin, J. (2008). On human rights. Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Guerra, A., Oliveira, A. L. M., Carvalho, A. C., Jakobsen, K. A., Manzano, M., Toledo, M. T., Ribeiro, P. S. C. T., Silva, R. A., Bokany, V. L., & Nozaki, W. (2017). Poder e corrupção no capitalismo. (1st ed.). Editora Perseu Abramo.

  • Jain, A. K. (2001). Corruption: A review. Journal of Economic Surveys, 15, 71–121. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6419.00133

  • Manrique-Molina, F. E. R. (2019). El impacto de la corrupción y la cleptocracia en los derechos humanos: hacia el fortalecimiento de mecanismos de tutela multinivel para su defensa en América Latina. LogosCyT, 11(3), 169–180. https://doi.org/10.22335/rlct.v11i3.903

  • Miller, M. C., & Shubin, L. G. (2020). Fostering justice and stability: Rights protection and national sovereignty in the Honduran zones for employment and economic development. A&C - revista de direito administrativo & constitucional, 20(80), 49. https://doi.org/10.21056/aec.v20i80.1413

  • Nash, C. (2018). Derechos Humanos y Corrupción. Un enfoque multidimensional. Estudios de Derecho, 75(166), 137–162. https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.esde.v75n166a07

  • Ogrean, C. (2017). The directive 2014/95/EU – Is there a “New” beginning for CSR in Romania? Studies in Business and Economics, 12(1), 141–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Omoteso, K., & Yusuf, H. (2017). Accountability of transnational corporations in the developing world. Critical Perspectives on International Business, 13(1), 54–71. https://doi.org/10.1108/cpoib-08-2014-0040

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orend, B. (2002). Human rights: Concept and context. Broadview Press.

  • Orzes, G., Moretto, A. M., Moro, M., Rossi, M., Sartor, M., Caniato, F., & Nassimbeni, G. (2020). The impact of the United Nations global compact on firm performance: A longitudinal analysis. International Journal of Production Economics, 227, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2020.107664

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Panait, M., Voica, M. C., & Radulescu, I. (2014). The activity of capital market’ actors: Under the sign of social responsibility. Procedia Economics and Finance, 8, 522–528. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2212-5671(14)00123-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peters, A. (2018). Corruption as a violation of international human rights. European Journal of International Law, 29(4), 1251–1287. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejil/chy070

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Purnomo, W., Rudiany, N. P., & Hennida, C. (2017). Private actor accountability on international regimes. Masyarakat, kebudayaan dan politik, 30(4), 323–332. https://doi.org/10.20473/mkp.v30i42017

  • Rose-Ackerman, S. (2006). International handbook on the economics of corruption. Edward Elgar.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Rossi, P., David, G., & Chaparro, S. (2020). Política fiscal, desigualdades e direitos humanos. In: E. Dweck, P. Rossi & A. L. M. Oliveira (Eds.) Economia pós-pandemia: desmontando os mitos da austeridade fiscal e construindo um novo paradigma econômico. (1st ed., pp. 23–39). Autonomia Literária.

  • Scholtens, B., & Dam, L. (2007). Cultural values and international differences in business ethics. Journal of Business Ethics, 75(3), 273–284. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9252-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sekalala, S., Masud, H., & Bosco, R. T. (2020). Human rights mechanisms for anti-corruption, transparency and accountability: Enabling the right to health. Global Health Action, 13(sup1), 1699343. https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2019.1699343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silveira, F. G., & Passos, L. (2017). Impactos distributivos da tributação e do gasto social – 2003 a 2008. In: J.R. Afonso, M. R. Lukic, R. O. Orair & F. G. Silveira (Eds.). Tributação e desigualdade. (1st Ed., pp. 451–500). Letramento.

  • Tangcharoensathien, V., Srisookwatana, O., Pinprateep, P., & Posayanonda, T. (2017). Multisectoral actions for health: Challenges and opportunities in complex policy environments. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 6(7), 359–363. https://doi.org/10.15171/ijhpm.2017.61

  • UNGC. (2021). Our participants. Retrieved April 18, 2021, from https://www.unglobalcompact.org/what-is-gc/participants/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search%5Bkeywords%5D=&search%5Bcountries%5D%5B%5D=24&search%5Bper_page%5D=10&search%5Bsort_field%5D=&search%5Bsort_direction%5D=asc

  • Vanclay, F. (2020). Reflections on social impact assessment in the 21st century. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 38(2), 126–131. https://doi.org/10.1080/14615517.2019.1685807

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vasak, K. (1977). A 30-year struggle; the sustained efforts to give force of law to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UNESCO Courier: a window open on the world, XXX, 11, 28–29, 32.

  • Vázquez, D., Ortiz, H. (2020). Impunity and economic and social rights. Human Rights Review, 21, 159–180. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12142-020-00580-3

  • Wamara, C. K. (2017). Corruption in Uganda: Does this have anything to do with social work? Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, 2(1–2), 52–61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41134-017-0031-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

The sole author designed the structure, conducted the research, and wrote the article.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ana Luíza Matos de Oliveira.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The author declares no competing interests. The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Matos de Oliveira, A.L. Exploring the Links Between Corruption and Human Rights Violations with a Focus on the Private Sector. J. Hum. Rights Soc. Work 8, 51–56 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41134-022-00224-1

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41134-022-00224-1

Keywords

Navigation