The United Nations Convention Against Corruption: A Commentary

The United Nations Convention against Corruption includes 71 articles, and takes a notably comprehensive approach to the problem of corruption, as it addresses prevention, criminalization, international cooperation, and asset recovery. Since it came into force more than a decade ago, the Convention has attracted nearly universal participation by states. As a global and comprehensive convention, which establishes new rules in several areas of anti-corruption law and helps shape domestic laws and policies around the world, this treaty calls for scholarly study. This volume helps to fill a gap in existing academic literature by providing an invaluable reference work on the Convention. It provides systematic coverage of the treaty, with each chapter discussing the relevant travaux preparatoires, the text of the final article, comparisons with other anti-corruption treaties, and available information about domestic implementing legislation and enforcement. This commentary is designed to serve as a reference work for academics, lawyers, and policy-makers working in the anti-corruption field, and in the fields of transnational criminal law and domestic criminal law. Contributors include anti-corruption experts, scholars, and legal practitioners from around the globe.

Cecily Rose, Michael Kubiciel, and Oliver Landwehr: Introduction Preamble CHAPTER I: GENERAL PROVISIONS Cecily Rose: Article 1. Statement of purpose Cornelia Spoerl: Article 2. Use of terms Christina Binder and Jane Hofbauer: Article 3. Scope of application Christian Pippan: Article 4. Protection of sovereignty CHAPTER II: PREVENTIVE MEASURES Indira Carr: Article 5. Preventive anti-corruption policies and practices Indira Carr: Article 6. Preventive anti-corruption body or bodies Julio Bacio-Terracino: Article 7. Public sector Julio Bacio-Terracino: Article 8. Codes of conduct for public officials Yseult Marique: Article 9. Public procurement and management of public finances Sope Williams-Elegbe: Article 10. Public reporting Willeke Slingerland: Article 11. Measures relating to the judiciary and prosecution services David Hess: Article 12. Private sector Merryl Lawry-White: Article 13. Participation of society Badr El Banna: Article 14. Measures to prevent money-laundering CHAPTER III: CRIMINALIZATION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT Michael Kubiciel: Article 15. Bribery of national public officials Michael Kubiciel: Article 16. Bribery of foreign public officials and officials of public international organizations Cecily Rose: Article 17. Embezzlement, misappropriation or other diversion of property by a public official Alloysius Llamzon: Article 18. Trading in influence Cecily Rose: Article 19. Abuse of functions Oliver Landwehr: Article 20. Illicit enrichment Michael Kubiciel: Article 21. Bribery in the private sector David Hess: Article 22. Embezzlement of property in the private sector Badr El Banna: Article 23. Laundering of proceeds of crime Philip Fitzgerald: Article 24. Concealment Philip Fitzgerald: Article 25. Obstruction of justice Leonardo Borlini: Article 26. Liability of legal persons Michael Kubiciel and Cornelia Spoerl: Article 27. Participation and attempt Michael Kubiciel and Cornelia Spoerl: Article 28. Knowledge, intent and purpose as elements of an offence Cecily Rose: Article 29. Statute of limitations Thea Coventry: Article 30. Prosecution, adjudication and sanctions Guillermo Jorge: Article 31. Freezing, seizure and confiscation Frank Zimmerman: Article 32. Protection of witnesses, experts and victims Alexander Baur: Article 33. Protection of reporting persons Olaf Meyer: Article 34. Consequences of acts of corruption Abiola Makinwa: Article 35. Compensation for damage Willeke Slingerland: Article 36. Specialized authorities Philip Nichols: Article 37. Cooperation with law enforcement authorities Philip Nichols: Article 38. Cooperation between national authorities Philip Nichols: Article 39. Cooperation between national authorities and the private sector Oliver Landwehr: Article 40. Bank secrecy Rob Currie: Article 41. Criminal record Cedric Ryngaert and Friederycke Haijer: Article 42. Jurisdiction CHAPTER IV: INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION Rob Currie: Article 43. International cooperation Neil Boister: Article 44. Extradition Neil Boister: Article 45. Transfer of sentenced persons Dimosthenis Chrysikos: Article 46. Mutual legal assistance Frank Zimmermann: Article 47. Transfer of criminal proceedings Saskia Hufnagel: Article 48. Law enforcement cooperation Frank Zimmermann: Article 49. Joint investigations Dimosthenis Chrysikos: Article 50. Special investigative techniques CHAPTER V: ASSET RECOVERY Jean Pierre Brun: Article 51. General provision Badr El Banna: Article 52. Prevention and detection of transfers of proceeds of crime Jean Pierre Brun: Article 53. Measures for direct recovery of property Radha Ivory: Article 54. Mechanisms for recovery of property through international cooperation in confiscation Radha Ivory: Article 55. International cooperation for purposes of confiscation Badr El Banna: Article 56. Special cooperation Pinar Olcer: Article 57. Return and disposal of assets Pinar Olcer: Article 58. Financial intelligence unit Badr El Banna: Article 59. Bilateral and multilateral agreements and arrangements CHAPTER VI: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE Leonardo Borlini: Article 60. Training and technical assistance Leonardo Borlini: Article 61. Collection, exchange and analysis of information on corruption Leonardo Borlini: Article 62. Other measures: implementation of the Convention through economic development and technical assistance CHAPTER VII: MECHANISMS FOR IMPLEMENTATION Philippa Webb and Oliver Landwehr: Article 63. Conference of the States Parties to the Convention Oliver Landwehr: Article 64. Secretariat CHAPTER VIII: FINAL PROVISIONS Oliver Landwehr: Article 65. Implementation of the Convention Christian Tams and Julian Scheu: Article 66. Settlement of disputes Christian Tams and Julian Scheu: Article 67. Signature, ratification, acceptance, approval and accession Christian Tams and Julian Scheu: Article 68. Entry into force Christian Tams and Julian Scheu: Article 69. Amendment Christian Tams and Julian Scheu: Article 70. Denunciation Christian Tams and Julian Scheu: Article 71. Depositary and languages