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Lives Disrupted by Corruption: Women Left Behind in Fight Against Gender-Based Violence

Berlin - A recent conference shed light on the devastating impact of corruption on human rights, particularly for women who are often at the receiving end of gender-based violence. The phenomenon of “sextortion” - where women are coerced into providing sexual favors to receive public services - is a stark reminder of how corruption is linked to other offenses that directly violate human rights.

The Correlation between Corruption and Gender-Based Violence

According to experts, while there is no data to show that women are more honest than men, the fact remains that more men hold positions of power, making them more likely to commit acts of corruption. Moreover, when teams are diverse, there is less corruption - a crucial factor in addressing gender-based violence.

Challenges and Solutions

However, women continue to be used as a smokescreen, with many believing that having women in public office automatically makes government more honest. In reality, supporting women’s networks is crucial in the fight against corruption, particularly within the framework of Germany’s feminist foreign policy.

The judiciary remains largely male-dominated, with staff development measures failing to sufficiently consider the need for work-life balance. Witness protection schemes also fail to accommodate the realities of women’s lives, leaving them vulnerable to further abuse and exploitation.

Ongoing Training and Support

As part of the conference, experts highlighted the need for ongoing training and support for those fighting corruption in Central America and the Caribbean. The launch of projects such as GIZ’s LAK-FSDRIO project and FEDACC project were also discussed, with a focus on building capacities for criminal justice officers and launching operations in the Dominican Republic.

Conference Outcomes

The conference concluded with two workshops focused on developing a concept for a hybrid training module and drawing up specific recommendations for future measures. Delegates shared their outcomes, emphasizing the need for sustained effort to combat corruption and protect human rights - particularly for women who are disproportionately affected by these violations.

Conference Panelists

Among those participating in the conference were:

  • Ana Linda Solano López, academic researcher, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime
  • Ana María Calderón, former head of the Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH)
  • Daniel Kempken, jurist and consultant on issues concerning the rule of law, judicial systems, and the fight against corruption
  • Demil Ramírez, International Relations Expert, Chamber of Accounts, Dominican Republic
  • Gabriela Castellanos, Executive Director, National Anti-Corruption Council (CNA), Honduras
  • Guglielmo Castaldo, Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer (Anti-Corruption), UNODC Anti-Corruption Hub for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mexico

Conclusion

The conference highlighted the urgent need to address corruption as a form of gender-based violence and to support women’s networks in their fight against these violations.