NCJ Number
213353
Date Published
September 2005
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This report outlines the provisions of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and discusses its future impact.
Abstract
The convention offers all countries a comprehensive set of standards, measures, and rules they can adapt to their legal and regulatory regimes to prevent and control corruption among public officials and institutions. The convention's chapter on preventive measures addresses the creation of preventive anticorruption bodies; suggests measures for the public sector, including the enhancement of means of making the operations of government officials more visible for public scrutiny; and suggests ways of dealing with the laundering of money obtained from corruption. Suggestions for international cooperation focus on the extradition of offenders, mutual legal assistance, and less formal ways of cooperating in investigations. One section of the convention addresses asset recovery as a means of regaining for public benefit some of the criminal proceeds obtained from corruption. Other topics discussed in the convention are technical assistance and information exchange, and mechanisms for implementing the convention's provisions in a country. The usefulness of any international convention, however, depends on its implementation in the legislation and administrative structures of each country. The first step is to secure the necessary ratifications from member states of the United Nations, so the convention may enter into force as quickly as possible. This will be followed by the provision of technical assistance to help countries who commit to the convention to implement its recommendations and standards within legislation and practice.