The Civil Society Organisations (CSO) can participate in the Follow-up Mechanism by providing an independent perspective on the status of the implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (IACAC) in their countries. Compliance with the IACAC should translate into improved conditions for the use of public resources, the development of healthy private economic activity, civic involvement and the protection of common interests.

To submit their reports to the Follow-up Mechanism, the CSOs must complete the same questionnaire as the governments and forward it to the Secretariat of the Follow-up Mechanism within the same timeframes as each State Party (the second round calendar is available here).

Transparency International recommends all organizations that would like to promote reform in their countries within the framework of the IACAC to engage in the following:

1. Obtain background information on the IACAC and the Mechanism
2. Submit an independent report and stand before the Committee of Experts and the OAS

It is important to know the details of the Mechanism. This is the only way to be able to decide whether or not to participate and in which way. Several sources that provide such information include:

• OAS website (www.oas.org)
• To obtain information about the steps being taken by TI in the Americas and about opportunities for technical assistance, interested organizations can contact the coordinating body of the Anticorruption Conventions Programme at merquicia@transparency.org
• TI has valuable experience in monitoring compliance with various anticorruption conventions, which is demonstrated on its website.
• The Guide is a useful tool intended for CSO that are interested in promoting the conventions in the Americas. It can be accessed here.
• Last, access the websites of institutions, international organisations, and CSO involved in the issue listed in our link section.

To submit an independent report on the implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (IACAC), CSO must meet the requirements set forth in the Buenos Aires Report and the Follow-up Mechanism Procedural Rules.

Such requirements include:

1. The organization must qualify as a civil society organization as defined by the OAS and the provisions of national legal framework.
2. Act in accordance with the guidelines for civil society involvement in OAS activities – this includes being registered with the OAS as a CSO.

Registering with the OAS as a CSO will enable the organization to submit independent reports to the Committee of Experts and attend informal meetings held by the Experts with civil society representatives prior to the formal meetings that are only open to the Committee. This will also allow the organization to participate at all attendant meetings organized within the framework of the OAS and the Summit Process.

Steps for submitting the report:

• Submit a completed questionnaire.
• Meet the deadline. See the calendar.
• Present the results personally before the Committee during an informal meeting held prior to each meeting of the Committee of Experts.
• The civil society documents, as well as those submitted by the governments, will be subsequently posted on the Mechanism’s webpage online.