U.S. Contributes $500,000 to Support Implementation of the United Nation Convention Against CorruptionDecember 13, 2004Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Robert Charles today announced a $500,000 contribution by the U.S. Government to the United Nations to help promote the ratification and implementation of the new United Nations Convention Against Corruption. The contribution, which is being made on International Anticorruption Day, will go to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna, under whose auspices the Convention Against Corruption was negotiated. The UNODC, in turn, will develop a program, including regional workshops, to promote acceptance and implementation of the convention’s provisions. The Convention Against Corruption, which has been signed by 113 countries and ratified by 12 countries, is the most comprehensive of all existing international anticorruption instruments. It contains innovative provisions that would commit governments to take steps to prevent corruption as well as to promote international cooperation in efforts to recover assets derived from corruption. The Convention, which will go into effect when it is ratified by a total of 30 countries, has already become become a focal point for U.S. leadership in advancing multilateral and regional anticorruption action. It is part of the United States government’s international transparency and anticorruption agenda which includes:
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