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Anti-Corruption Conventions

International anti-corruption conventions are increasingly important in today's globalising environment in which states and private actors are increasingly interconnected through travel, communications, trade and investments. Anti-corruption conventions and instruments are especially important for providing a framework to address cross-border issues.

The conventions are written international agreements between groups of countries that recognise corruption as a worldwide and cross-border problem, and express a shared political commitment to addressing the problem. Conventions are binding instruments - once signed and ratified, they become compulsory to uphold for the participating governments.

African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption

Adopted in 2003, the AU Convention covers both the public and the private sector. Offences covered are bribery (domestic or foreign), diversion of property by public officials, trading in influence, illicit enrichment, money laundering and concealment of property. All provisions are mandatory, including those on private-to-private corruption. The convention provides for prevention, criminalisation, regional cooperation and mutual legal assistance, as well as the recovery of assets.

Access BIAC's Anti-Corruption Resource Guide for a short description of the AU Convention
Access Transparency International's introduction to the AU Convention and the Transparency International Regional Programme in Africa to promote the AU Convention

Council of Europe Conventions on Corruption

The Council of Europe has two binding policies against corruption. First, the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption was adopted in 1998 and represents a regional consensus on what states should do in the areas of criminalisation and international cooperation with respect to corruption. The convention covers the public sector and private sector corruption and a broad range of offences including bribery (domestic and foreign), trading in influence, money laundering and accounting offences. Moreover, it also requires signatory countries to establish the liability of corporate entities for acts of corruption committed by their employees or agents. Second, the Civil Law Convention on Corruption was adopted in 1998 and came into force in 2003. It provides for compensation for damages resulting from corruption, invalidity of corrupt contracts and whistleblower protection.

Access a list of signatories and ratifications of the Criminal Law Convention
Access a list of signatories and ratifications of the Civil Law Convention
Access BIAC's Anti-Corruption Resource Guide for a short description of both conventions
Access Transparency International's introductions to the Criminal Law Convention and the Civil Law Convention

Inter-American Convention Against Corruption

Adopted in 1996, the Organisation of American States' Convention represents the regional consensus about what states should do in the areas of prevention, criminalisation, international cooperation and asset recovery in relation to corruption. It covers corruption in the public sector, both on the demand and supply-side. It provides for a broad and inclusive interpretation of what constitutes "corruption offences", including domestic and foreign bribery, illicit enrichment, money laundering and concealment of property.

Access a list of signatories and ratifications to the OAS Convention
Access BIAC's Anti-Corruption Resource Guide for a short description of the OAS Convention
Access Transparency International's introduction to the OAS Convention and the Transparency International Regional Programme in the Americas to promote the OAS Convention

OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions

Bribing a foreign public official is a crime in the countries that have ratified the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention. The convention also requires signatory countries to establish the liability of corporate entities for acts of corruption committed by their employees or agents. The convention is the first legally binding international instrument that aims at combating bribery and through this, protecting fair competitiveness in international transactions.

Access the list of signatories and ratifications to the OECD Convention
Access BIAC's Anti-Corruption Resource Guide for a short description of the OECD Convention
Access the Business Anti-Corruption Portal for a short assessment of the scope and content of the OECD Convention
Access Transparency International's introduction to the OECD Convention, as well as progress reports on the enforcement of the convention

United Nations Convention against Corruption

The UNCAC covers a wide range of offences, including domestic and foreign bribery, embezzlement, trading in influence, as well as the concealment and laundering of the proceeds of corruption. It also provides a framework for criminalising bribery in the private sector and calls for measures to improve business integrity. It further seeks to cover detection and sanctioning and to promote transparency and technical assistance.

Access the list of signatories and ratifications to the UNCAC
Access BIAC's Anti-Corruption Resource Guide for a short description of the UNCAC
Access the Business Anti-Corruption Portal for a short assessment of the scope and content of the UNCAC
Access Transparency International's introduction to the UNCAC , summary of the UNCAC , including strengths and weaknesses, as well as Transparency International's recommendations for Conference of State Parties to the UNCAC