On 2 July 2026, the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (APF), in partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), delivered the second session in their joint Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) Webinar Series, focusing on Corruption and Human Rights: Understanding the Linkages and the Role of NHRIs in Anti-Corruption Measures.

The webinar attracted strong participation from across the APF network, bringing together NHRI representatives from throughout the Asia Pacific region. Building on the success of the first webinar on human rights-based budgeting, held in April, the session provided an opportunity for participants to deepen their understanding of how corruption can undermine the enjoyment of human rights and impede sustainable development.

The discussion explored the growing recognition of the links between corruption and human rights, highlighting how corruption can affect access to essential services, weaken accountability, exacerbate inequalities, and undermine trust in public institutions. Participants also examined the important role National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) can play in addressing corruption through monitoring, advocacy, complaints handling, public education, and engagement with national and international accountability mechanisms.

The session generated considerable discussion and exchange among participants, who shared experiences, challenges and emerging practices from their respective contexts. Feedback received indicates that participants found the webinar highly informative and valued the opportunity to learn from both the presentation and peer exchanges across the region.

The APF and OHCHR thank all participants for their active engagement and look forward to continuing these important conversations through future sessions in the ESCR Webinar Series.