Senate Foreign Relations Committee Passes UN Convention against Corruption

On August 1st, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously passed the UN Convention against Corruption without amendment. The Convention will now move to the Senate floor for final consideration, where two-thirds of the Senate must approve the treaty for ratification.

The Convention’s main goals are to prevent and combat corruption, encourage international cooperation on investigation and prosecution of corruption, and promote accountability and proper management of public affairs and property. The United States is among 85 countries that have signed, but not yet ratified it. The Convention was signed by the United States in December 2003 and sent to the Senate for ratification in October 2005.

Citizens for Global Solutions believes the UN Convention against Corruption will encourage greater cooperation on an issue, which has plagued countries at all levels of development. We commend the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on passing the Convention and hope the full Senate will follow their example and approve the Convention. Ratifying the Convention will help send the message that the U.S. does not tolerate corruption and will engage with others to end its practice.

For more on the UN Convention against Corruption visit our Treaty Resource Center.