In the wake of numerous corruption scandals in different countries of the Americas, efforts of the first Summit of the Americas Process and the Organization of American States (OAS) led to the creation of the first international convention aimed at combating corruption. The Inter-American Convention against Corruption (IACAC) was adopted on March 29, 1996 in the city of Caracas, Venezuela.

Through the framework of the OAS, the nations of the Americas lobbied for the convention which was initially signed by 22 countries. The Convention became active on June 3, 1997 and, as of the year 2005, has been signed and ratified by 33 of the 34 Member States of the OAS.

The Inter-American Anti-Corruption Convention obliges the State Parties to implement a series of measures regarding their judicial systems and public policies. These measures aim to promote the development of the necessary mechanisms to prevent, detect, prosecute, and eradicate corruption as well as to promote, facilitate, and regulate cooperation between States Parties on these matters.

While access to information is not explicitly covered in the text OAS Convention, it refers to measures that have an impact on transparency and accessibility of information. In its follow-up mechanism, it requires State Parties to describe mechanisms for access to information.

Read the full text of the convention here.

Read more about Transparency International's work on the IACAC on its TILAC. section.