In the wake up numerous corruption scandals in different parts of the Americas, the First Summit of the Americas process and the Organization of American States (OAS) undertook the creation of the first international convention aimed at combating corruption. As a resulting of these efforts, the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (IACAC) was adopted on March 29, 1996 in Caracas, Venezuela.

Through the framework of the OAS, the nations of the Americas lobbied for the convention. The convention, initially signed by 22 countries, became active on June 3, 1997. As of 2005, it had been signed and ratified by 33 of the 34 Member States of the OAS.

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

• The Second Round of the IACAC started. Read more and learn how to participate.

• View a summary of the content of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption
• Examine the complete text of the Convention (pdf)
  oas_convention_tex_eng.pdf 53.17 kB
• View which countries have signed and ratified the Convention (pdf)
  oas_signatory.pdf 10.60 kB
• Learn detailed information about the Follow-up Mechanism to the IACAC
• Read about the role of civil society in assuring compliance with the IACAC
• Read related documents