The United Nations Convention against Corruption is the most comprehensive international anti-corruption agreement in existence.

The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) obliges the State Parties to implement a wide and detailed range of anti-corruption measures affecting laws, institutions and practices. These measures, like those of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption, aim to promote the prevention, detection and eradication of corruption, as well as to increase the cooperation between State Parties on these matters. The UNCAC is unique as compared with other conventions not only in its global coverage but also in the extent and detail of its provisions, including those on asset recovery.

The UNCAC was negotiated over a two-year period at the United Nations office in Vienna by representatives of more than a hundred countries from all regions, including numerous countries in the Americas. Transparency International and other civil society organisations also participated in the process.

The text of the Convention was presented for approval at the General Assembly on 31 October 2003. Once approved, it was opened for states to sign, starting with a signing conference in Merida, Mexico on 9-10 December 2003. The annual International Anti-Corruption Day on 9 December now marks the anniversary of this signing conference.

The UNCAC was initially signed by 111 countries and by October 2005 the number had risen to 133. The Convention was ratified on 16 September 2005 and entered into force 14 December 2005.

• Learn about the UN Convention against Corruption
• See the complete text of the Convention (pdf)
• See which countries have signed and ratified the Convention
• Role of civil society in the UN Convention
• See related news
• Read related documents