• TI National Chapters
• TI Regional Initiatives
• TI Global Initiatives

Many TI National Chapters have been actively promoting UNCAC ratification and implementation. The following provides some examples:

TI Algeria Workshop to Promote AU Convention and UNCAC ratification
In November 2003, TI Algeria organised a workshop to promote the Algerian government’s ratification of the African Union Convention and the UNCAC. Speakers at the well-attended workshop included a representative of the President’s office and TI specialists on the two conventions.

TI Guatemala Advocacy Guide (in Spanish) to Promote UNCAC ratification and implementation
In order to explain and generate support for ratification of the UNCAC in Guatemala and other countries in Central Americas, the TI National Chapter prepared a small booklet summarising and explaining the Convention.

TI Morocco Advocacy Guide (in French) to Promote UNCAC ratification and implementation
In order to explain and generate support for ratification of the UNCAC in Morocco, the TI National Chapter prepared a booklet targeted at NGO activists, the media and members of the public. Copies of the 30-page booklet were produced in French and distributed to a wide range of organisations.

TI Nigeria activities in promoting the Convention
The TI National Chapter in Nigeria has been involved in the preparation of a summary of the UNCAC’s requirements and in publicising the need for ratification and implementation.

TI Sri Lanka Workshop to Promote UNCAC implementation
The Sri Lankan government was among the first to ratify the UNCAC. On 9 December 2004, the first international anti-corruption day, TI Sri Lanka organised a public discussion of the UNCAC and of the steps required for implementation of the Convention.

TI National Chapter Activities on UN Anti-corruption Day
On 9 December 2004 the first ever United Nations Anti-Corruption Day took place. The date is significant because the UN Convention against Corruption was opened for signing in Merida, Mexico on 9 December 2003. National Chapters in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecuador, Italy, Morocco, Palestine, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Zambia if they have a web site please link were especially active on the day in advocating that their governments ratify or implement the Convention with workshops, issuing press releases and carrying out other awareness-raising activities. The TI Secretariat supported these activities by producing a range of materials including a flyer on the UNCAC, a TV spot and a web page devoted to UN Anti-Corruption day. LINKS Other National Chapters engaged with their governments on the issue and participated in seminars and other less high profile activities.
For further information please click here.

TI National Chapters in Australia, Canada, France, Norway, United Kingdom, Vanuatu and many others have had exchanges with their governments. National Chapter efforts have included sending letters and other submissions advocating progress towards ratification, conducting analysis of the legislative changes required to implement the Convention and testifying to parliamentary committees reviewing draft legislation.

Africa

TI Regional Programme in Africa to Promote AU Convention and UNCAC
The two main anti-corruption Conventions for the Africa region are the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (hereafter AU Convention) and UNCAC. In order to make the two Conventions more accessible tools for both African governments and civil society and to promote their ratification and implementation, TI has partnered with the Institute for Strategic Studies (ISS) in South Africa and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in a Joint Conventions Programme with four main component parts.

Advocacy Guides on the African Union and United Nations Anti-Corruption Conventions
The Programme is producing two guides that can be used throughout Africa. The UNCAC and AU Convention Advocacy Guide for Civil Society promotes understanding and use of the Conventions by a wide range of civil society organisations, including TI National Chapters, working on a range of topics covered by the Conventions.

The second guide is a Comparative Guide on UNCAC and the AU Convention for Legislators. It provides members of national legislatures with comparative information needed to ensure understanding of the respective requirements and effective implementation of the two Conventions. The Guide will also assist lawyers, legal drafters, and policy makers who have an interest in the two Conventions and those who bear the responsibility in their government departments to deal with the implementation of anti-corruption legislation.

Country-Specific Material on Implementation Focusing on West Africa
In addition to the two guides, as part of the Joint Conventions Programme, TI is preparing country specific analysis of how to promote ratification and implementation of the two Conventions in West Africa, where there is less awareness of the Conventions than in Southern and East Africa. Two in-depth national studies on Nigeria and Cameroon will examine the changes in law and practice needed for national implementation of the Conventions and identify technical assistance and financing needs in that connection. They will also identify practical obstacles to ratification and implementation in the specific country context. The studies aim to assist parliamentarians and civil society organisations in the two countries in promoting ratification and implementation.

West Africa Regional Workshop on Ratification and Implementation of the Conventions
In order to promote the guides and the country-specific materials and more generally to provide impetus to ratification and implementation of the two Conventions in West Africa, Transparency International and its partners are planning hold a 2-day West Africa regional workshop in the third quarter of 2005 to promote ratification and implementation of UNCAC and the AU Convention.

Americas

TI Regional Programme in the Americas to Promote OAS Convention and UNCAC
The TI Regional Programme in the Americas to Promote the OAS Convention and UNCAC aims to create a dynamic impetus for implementation and enforcement of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption in the Americas by stimulating, strengthening and expanding broad civil society campaigns at national and regional levels to use the Convention as critical vehicles for change. While the Programme primarily concentrates on the Inter-American Convention as the principal and most advanced framework for anti-corruption reform in the Americas, it will also draw on important elements in the UN Convention against Corruption, which powerfully reinforces and complements the OAS Convention.

The Programme aims to develop advocacy tools for civil society organisations and other stakeholders, to stimulate and strengthen civil society campaigning on the Conventions at country level and to strengthen regional networks and collaboration on convention implementation and enforcement. The following three areas of activity will promote the ratification and implementation of UNCAC:

Americas Guide to the OAS and UN Anti-Corruption Conventions

The Programme is preparing an advocacy guide for civil society on the OAS and UN Conventions published in English, Spanish and possibly Portuguese. The guide describes the content of the different anti-corruption conventions applying in the region. It explains the usefulness of the conventions, what civil society organisations can do to promote them and how they can carry out independent monitoring.

TILAC Conventions Website
On 27 April 2005, TI launched a new website in English and Spanish about anti-corruption conventions in the Americas, including the Inter-American Convention against Corruption of the OAS, the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention. The new website aims to gather, exchange and disseminate systematically and regularly updated information, existing tools and resources, activities and news related to the anti-corruption Conventions which will be available in Spanish, English and possibly Portuguese. The website summarizes the content of the different conventions, their associated monitoring mechanisms as well as civil society’s role in the drafting, ratification, follow-up and promotion of the conventions. Visitors to the site can also find regularly updated news articles related to the conventions. It also serves as an online community, bringing together individuals and organisations dedicated to maximising the potential of these Conventions in fighting corruption.

OAS/UN Convention Report Card
TI is developing an Americas Conventions Report Card to monitor regional progress in the implementation of OAS and UNCAC provisions in four priority areas; namely public contracting, public integrity, private sector and civil society participation. This Report Card will be produced on a regular basis in order to provide a clear and media-friendly assessment of Convention implementation by a range of countries in the areas selected. Thus, it will serve as a powerful advocacy tool for national civil society campaigns on the chosen topic areas and, more generally, for civil society efforts to bring pressure to bear in favour of convention implementation.

TI-Secretariat Activities on International Anti-Corruption Day
The TI Secretariat supported National Chapter activities around the world by producing a range of explanatory materials including a flyer on the UNCAC, a TV spot and a web page devoted to UN Anti-Corruption day.
For further information please click here.

TI Study Group to Developing an UNCAC Monitoring Proposal
Transparency International considers that the success of the watershed UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) is dependent on an effective follow-up monitoring process. At present, the Convention lacks the necessary monitoring mechanism. However, Chapter VII “Mechanisms for implementation” of UNCAC, particularly Article 63, gives the Conference of States Parties responsibility for considering “any appropriate mechanism or body to assist in the effective implementation of the Convention.”

Considering that development of an acceptable process for UNCAC monitoring presents special challenges, TI has taken the initiative to conduct a Study of a Follow-up Monitoring Process for the Convention and to convene an expert Study Group to assist in that process. The purpose of the TI Study is to produce a report containing recommendations and supporting analysis for presentation to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the office responsible for UNCAC follow-up, prior to the first Conference of States Parties which is expected to take place in 2006.

In preparing its recommendations, the TI Study Group will draw on the experience developed with other conventions monitoring programs, will consider the specificities of the UN system and its challenges, and take account of the existence of monitoring systems under other anti-corruption conventions. The TI Study Group will also consider the funding requirements for effective monitoring, as well as how technical assistance can be built into the follow-up process in order to help governments meet UNCAC requirements.

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