U.S. Contributes $500,000 to Support Implementation of the United Nation Convention Against Corruption

Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
December 13, 2004

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:

• Denying safe haven to corrupt officials;
• Launching the Millennium Challenge Account to provide U.S. development assistance to countries that fight corruption, rule justly, invest in their people, and encourage economic freedom;
• Launching a G-8 (Sea Island) "Fighting Corruption and Improving Transparency" initiative to promote high standards of transparency in public financial management, procurement, the letting of public concessions, and the granting of licenses;
• Strengthening OECD monitoring of OECD Anti-Bribery Convention implementation;
• Promoting regional cooperation on fighting corruption in APEC, the OAS, the UNDP/OECD MENA "Governance for Development" initiative, and other regional fora; and
• Initiating and supporting the Global Forum on Fighting Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity process.