The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 31 October 2003 and entered into force in 2005. It is the only legally binding universal anti-corruption instrument. The date of its adoption is marked by International Anti-Corruption Day on 9 December, the day the Convention was opened for signature in Mérida, Mexico.
Four Pillars
Prevention (Chapter II): states must establish anti-corruption bodies, merit-based public service, transparent public procurement and public finance management, codes of conduct for public officials, judicial integrity, private sector standards, and measures to prevent money laundering, while promoting the participation of civil society.
Criminalisation and law enforcement (Chapter III): states must criminalise the bribery of national and foreign public officials, embezzlement, misappropriation and diversion of property by public officials, and the laundering of proceeds of crime, and are encouraged to criminalise trading in influence, abuse of functions, illicit enrichment and bribery in the private sector. They must also protect witnesses and reporting persons.
International cooperation (Chapter IV): extradition, mutual legal assistance and joint investigations.
Asset recovery (Chapter V), declared a fundamental principle of the Convention, requires states to cooperate in tracing, freezing, confiscating and returning stolen assets.
Review Mechanism
Implementation is reviewed through a peer review mechanism in which each state is examined by two other states.
In Indonesia
Indonesia ratified UNCAC by Law No. 7 of 2006. The Convention informs the work of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the anti-corruption courts, the gratification reporting system and asset recovery efforts. For citizens, it is reflected in transparent procurement, the public disclosure of officials' wealth reports (LHKPN), and channels for reporting corruption safely.