NEWS RELEASES
CANADA RATIFIES INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION AGAINST CORRUPTION
June 6, 2000 (1:50 p.m. EDT) No. 138
CANADA RATIFIES INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION
AGAINST CORRUPTION
Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced that Canada has ratified the
Inter-American Convention Against Corruption. The announcement was made at the
Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly in Windsor, Ontario.
"Corruption is a major concern in the Western hemisphere, as it is throughout the world.
It distorts economies and undermines democracy by diverting resources away from
projects that would otherwise further human development," said Minister Axworthy.
"Canada has been a constant supporter of international anti-corruption efforts, and the
Inter-American Convention has been key to laying the foundation for future
developments in this area."
The Corruption Convention contains a list of "acts of corruption" that parties must
establish as criminal offences. These include: the solicitation or acceptance of a bribe
by a public official; the offering or granting of a bribe to a public official; an act or
omission by a public official for the purpose of obtaining benefits; the fraudulent use or
concealment of proceeds; and participation in a bribe as an accessory.
The adoption of the Corruption Convention in 1996 was a landmark achievement.
Canada signed the Convention at last year's OAS General Assembly in Guatemala City.
To date, it has been signed by 26 countries, and ratified by 19.
A resolution has been adopted at the General Assembly urging countries that haven't
yet signed or ratified the Convention to do so, and instructing the OAS Permanent
Council to consider specific measures for member states to implement the Convention
and strengthen co-operation.
Canada strongly supports the development of a flexible follow-up mechanism, based on
the general principles of international law, to monitor implementation of the Convention.
The resolution adopted asks the OAS to provide a recommendation on this issue before
the end of the year for consideration by states parties to the Convention.
The same resolution also puts corporate social responsibility on the OAS agenda for the
first time, to examine the issues in the inter-American context and to promote the
exchange of experiences among member states, international and civil society
organizations, and the private sector.
The OAS is the premier political forum for multilateral dialogue and decision making in
the Americas. Foreign ministers from 34 OAS member states are meeting in Windsor
from June 4 to 6 to discuss the progress of democracy, the observance of human rights
and other issues of importance to the hemisphere.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Debora Brown
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and international Trade
(613) 995-1874
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