Alexis Sinduhije, candidate for president in Burundi's 2010 elections, talked of the link between corruption and human rights:

Alexis Sinduhije, candidate for president in Burundi's 2010 elections, talked of the
link between corruption and human rights:
“Crime and corruption are deeply rooted in many countries, including Burundi….In such
countries, corruption sustains crime, while criminal acts protect the corrupt. In Burundi, the
state commits crimes against humanity, despite the fact that we are now supposedly a
democracy at peace. Each day, at least 20 people are assassinated for political reasons-—
more deaths than during our 12 years of civil war. And most such deaths today are fueled
by corruption. Crime and corruption reign in poor countries, where there is little
international interest in eradicating it. In my country, the global community prefers to
maintain the semblance of peace rather than address the violent abuse of basic human
rights. In other corrupt, crime-ridden states, rich natural resources and strategic locations
serve as a protection from scrutiny or action. Global cartels also support crime and
corruption--working to protect their own kind even when it is not in the best interests of the
broad population. One of the most striking examples of this is how the leaders of countries
bordering Zimbabwe protect President Robert Mugabe from the accusations of “colonial
powers”—feeding the cycle of crime and corruption.”
As quoted in “The Big Question: How Can Nations Break the Cycle of Crime and
Corruption?” in World Policy Journal (March 22, 2010).