The UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) is the most comprehensive international anti-corruption agreement in existence. The Convention considers a great variety of matters related to combating corruption and is destined to be applied globally.

The specific objectives of the Convention are: to promote and strengthen measures to prevent and combat corruption more efficiently and more effectively; to facilitate international cooperation and technical assistance; and to promote integrity, accountability, and proper management of public affairs and public property. These elements make the Convention unique.

The Convention is comprised of eight chapters which outline the State Parties' commitments:

Chapter I of the agreement outlines the purposes, definitions, and scope of application of the Convention.

Chapter II discusses preventive measures against corruption which involve public policies and state practices, preventive bodies, public sector measures, codes of conduct, public procurement, proper management of public finances, transparency and public information, measures regarding judicial power and prosecution, private sector measures for preventing corruption, civil society participation, and measures to prevent money-laundering.

Chapter III, concerns criminalization and law enforcement. This chapter criminalizes bribery of national public officials, foreign public officials, or officials of public international organizations, as well as bribery and embezzlement in the private sector, the misappropriation or embezzlement of public funds, trading in influence, abuse of functions, illicit enrichment, laundering of proceeds of crime, participation in criminal activity, and liability of legal persons. This chapter also considers measures regarding property and the protection of witnesses, experts, victims, and whistleblowers, as well as banking secrecy.

Chapter IV regulates international cooperation, specifically with regard to extradition, mutual legal assistance, joint investigations, and special investigative techniques.

Chapters V and VI deal respectively with asset recovery and information exchange, in addition to international technical assistance in combating corruption.

Chapter VII discusses mechanisms for implementation which should be established in the future to assure compliance with the commitments made by signatories, exchange of information, and cooperation.

Lastly, Chapter VIII is dedicated to matters of implementation, entry into force, and amending the Convention.

1. See the complete text of the Convention
2. See which countries have signed and ratified the Convention
3. Role of civil society in the UN Convention
4. Read related documents