View this list as a starting point for information on important treaties. Keep in mind that there are treaties which address the procedural aspects of the prosecution of corruption. For example, Mutual Legal Assistance Agreements are used in order to extradite or give notice of service. Those types of treaties are not listed here, however below are some of the major treaties used to address corruption.
- African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption
This convention was adopted in Algiers, Algeria, 14th of July 1999, and entered into force on 6th of December 2002. The African Union's web site has ratification status information.
- Civil Law Convention on Corruption
This convention was adopted in Strasbourg, France, 4th of November 1999, and entered into force 1st of November 2003. According to the Council of Europe's Treaty Office web site the convention is open to "non-member states which took part in drawing it up; other non-member states by invitation; and the European Community." The Council of Europe's Treaty Office web site has more detailed information on thisconvention and ratification status.
- Criminal Law Convention on Corruption
This convention was adopted in Strasbourg, France on 27th of January 1999, and entered into force 1st of July 2002. According to the Council of Europe's Treaty Office web site the conventions is open to "non-member states which took part in drawing it up; other non-member states by invitation; and the European Community". The Council of Europe's Treaty Office web site has more detailed information on thisconvention and ratification status. The Additional Protocol to the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption adds, to the above convention, the requirement under national law the criminalization of active and passive bribery in both the public and private sectors. The Protocol specifically mentions bribery of members of foreign and domestic parliamentary assemblies and of officials of international organizations. This protocol was adopted in Strasbourg, France on the 15th of May 2003, and entered into force on 1st of February 2005. The Council of Europe's Treaty Office web site has more detailed information on thisprotocol and ratification status.
- Inter-American Convention Against Corruption
This convention was adopted in Caracas, Venezuela, in March 1996. According to the Organization of American State's web site the convention enters into force, "in accordance with Article XXV of the treaty, the thirtieth day following the date of deposit of the second instrument of ratification" of the member state. The web site has further information on this convention and ratification status. The Mechanism for Follow-Up on the Implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption(MESICIC) is an intergovernmental organization set up to support the enforcement of the convention.
- OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions
This convention was signed on the 17th of December 1997 and entered into force on the 15th of February 1999. It is open to all OECD countries and 6 non-member countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Bulgaria, Estonia and Slovenia). The OECD's web site has more detailed information on this convention andratification status.
- United Nations Convention against Corruption
This convention entered into force on the 14th of December 2005 by resolution 58/4. The U.N. web site has an overview and history of this convention and ratification status.
- United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols
This convention entered into force on the 29th of September 2003, by resolution 55/25. The U.N.'s web site has detailed information on this convention and ratification status. The Legislative Guide for the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols theretohas links to interpretative notes, a glossary, conference papers, and a review of the implementation of the convention and its protocols.
- The United Nations Declaration Against Corruption and Bribery in International Commercial Transactions
This does not have the force of law but is a political commitment, and was adopted by U.N. in December 1996. The United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI) in its Annual Report For 2004 and Resource Material Series No. 66 in the chapter The United Nations Convention Against Corruption Origins And Negotiation Process has a concise review of how this declaration fits into the broader context of the fight against corruption.
