The report examines threats to judicial independence, including corruption-related pressure, political interference, the influence of organized crime, and cybersecurity and digital threats.
The report draws on a survey of 90 judicial officials from countries in South and South-East Asia conducted in April 2026, as well as discussions from a regional workshop organized by UNODC and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in May 2026.
According to the survey findings, 42% of respondents had observed or personally experienced bribery or attempted bribery targeting judges. Another 37% reported intimidation or surveillance of judicial personnel, 34% – interference with court proceedings, and 28% – direct threats.
The report also examines threats posed by organized crime and corruption networks, which may seek to influence judicial proceedings through bribery, intimidation, and interference with judicial operations. However, only 35% of respondents confirmed that their institutions had formal protocols for responding to organized crime threats, while just 16% rated cooperation between the judiciary and law enforcement agencies in this area as very strong.
Political interference also remains a significant concern: 34% of respondents rated its impact on judicial independence as significant or severe. Among the most commonly reported forms of interference were political criticism or intimidation by officials (49%), influence over judicial appointments and promotions (39%), and direct pressure on case outcomes (29%).
The report also highlights shortcomings in institutional safeguards against external interference. In particular, 45.2% of respondents rated insufficient institutional safeguards as a high or critical threat. In addition, 28% reported that their institutions had experienced cyberattacks or significant digital security incidents over the previous two years, while 63% indicated that cyber incident response mechanisms were either absent or limited in scope.
The report presents examples of measures adopted by individual countries to strengthen judicial independence and security. In the Philippines, for example, legislative provisions aimed at safeguarding the judiciary's fiscal autonomy were adopted in 2025, along with a new Code of Conduct and Accountability for Court Officials and Personnel, which strengthened accountability measures and introduced stricter financial disclosure requirements.
Based on the findings, the report identifies several priority areas for strengthening judicial security and resilience, including strengthening threat assessment and risk management mechanisms, including those addressing corruption-related threats, increasing transparency in judicial appointments, developing specialized judicial protection services, strengthening cybersecurity, and establishing procedures for reporting and responding to attempts at undue interference. Particular emphasis is placed on enhancing cooperation between the judiciary and law enforcement agencies in addressing organized crime and corruption networks while preserving judicial independence.
The report was prepared as part of efforts to implement the Manila Statement on Judicial Integrity, adopted by judicial representatives from South and South-East Asian countries in November 2025. The Statement sets out commitments to strengthening judicial independence, impartiality, and integrity, including in accordance with Article 11 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption.