1. Overview:
The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 31 October 2003 and entered into force on 14 December 2005. As of August 2021, the Convention has 188 States Parties.
Membership is open to all countries and regional economic organizations, with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) serving as its secretariat.
2. Structure of the Convention:
The UNCAC is composed of eight chapters and 71 articles, covering the following areas:
- Chapter I: General Provisions
- Chapter II: Preventive Measures
- Chapter III: Criminalization and Law Enforcement
- Chapter IV: International Cooperation
- Chapter V: Asset Recovery
- Chapter VI: Technical Assistance and Information Exchange
- Chapter VII: Mechanisms for Implementation
- Chapter VIII: Final Provisions
3. The UNCAC Coalition:
Established in 2006, the UNCAC Coalition is a global network of over 350 civil society organizations (CSOs) from more than 100 countries. The Coalition is dedicated to promoting the ratification, implementation, and monitoring of the UNCAC.
It facilitates collaboration and knowledge-sharing among its members, coordinates joint advocacy on key UNCAC-related issues, and supports national civil society efforts to strengthen anti-corruption measures. Members communicate through the Coalition’s website, mailing lists, and ad hoc working groups.
The Coalition also assists CSOs in engaging with the UNCAC Review Mechanism by providing technical support and strategic guidance.
4. Advocacy and Focus Areas:
The Coalition advocates for greater transparency, accountability, and civil society participation in all UNCAC processes, including the Conference of the States Parties (CoSP), the Implementation Review Group, and national-level reviews.
Key thematic priorities include:
- Access to Information
- Asset Recovery
- Beneficial Ownership Transparency
- Protection of Whistleblowers and Anti-Corruption Activists
5. Goals and Membership:
The Coalition seeks to mobilize broad-based civil society support for the implementation of UNCAC and to promote coordinated action at the national, regional, and international levels.
Membership is open to all organizations and individuals committed to advancing the principles and goals of the Convention. The Coalition’s broad mandate makes it relevant to diverse CSOs working in areas such as human rights, labor rights, governance, economic development, environmental protection, and private sector accountability.
6. More Information:
For more details, visit the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) website: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/
