US Ratifies Inter-American Convention Against Corruption

 
The United States recently became the twentieth of the 34 members of the Organization of American States to ratify the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption. The US ambassador to the OAS, Luis Lauredo, described the occasion as "part of global effort to combat corruption." Although the majority of countries in this hemisphere are committed to democracy and are working to improve economic and political stability, he noted, the success of their efforts depends on such factors as "impartial judicial systems, free and fair elections, and citizens who pay attention to government decision making."

The convention acknowledges that corruption has assailed democratic institutions, creating inefficient economies and weakening civil society, Lauredo continued. "Citizens' trust will only be regained once government functions are carried out by honest officials and transparent institutions," he said.

OAS Secretary General César Gaviria joined Lauredo in calling corruption one of the most serious threats to the consolidation of democracy and socioeconomic development. Ratification of the convention, he said, "confirms once again the United States' commitment to one of the Americas' most important collective goals."

Indeed, the 1996 convention implies a serious government commitment on the part of member states that ratify it. The burden is now on the United States to assume this obligation and help define the mechanisms necessary to make possible the convention's implementation.

Lauredo argues that the US has already played an active role against corruption at the global level. As proof, he cited its 1998 ratification of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's Convention Against Bribery, its expected adherence to items targeting corruption in the European Convention on Criminal Law, and its membership in the Anti-Corruption Monitoring Group Council.

The OAS itself has been working to achieve concrete results in the fight against corruption. Recently, it held a series of meetings in Panama, Nicaragua and Peru to follow up on studies of legislation in those countries and speed the adoption of reforms. The meetings were part of a broader initiative that includes 12 countries.

Much remains to be done before corruption can no longer be considered a cause of democratic deterioration in the hemisphere. Yet, positive gestures and actions should be acknowledged. The United States has taken an important step in ratifying the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption. Supporters of this measure hope that the US influence will bring positive results and that the rest of the region will hold true to course in combating this problem.