U.K.-based Ethical Corporation magazine’s 2008 anti-corruption special report (available for download here) includes a table we’ve found useful. It lists many currently active multilateral anti-corruption agreements and describes how they work. Some of the conventions and voluntary agreements will be familiar to most readers, while others will be new. Included are:
OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions
United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC)
Council of Europe Criminal Law Convention on Corruption
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)
Kimberley Process Certification Scheme
World Economic Forum Partnering Against Corruption Initiative (PACI)
United Nations Global Compact: Principle 10
International Chamber of Commerce Rules of Conduct to Combat Extortion and Bribery
As the commentary about the table says, “Most companies know that it is illegal to bribe public officials either at home or abroad, as international conventions from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Council of Europe, for example, make clear. But if there is one thing that these diverse antibribery mechanisms have in common, it is a shared weakness in policing. Beyond voicing their disapproval, there is little that international bodies such as the OECD or United Nations can do to make countries enforce bribery laws. . . But for companies seeking practical, hands-on advice about how to combat corruption, voluntary initiatives are good place to turn.”
Thanks to Ethical Corporation for making this resource available to all.
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