October 2, 2007
No. 133
The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, deposited today on behalf
of the Government of Canada the instrument of ratification of the United Nations
Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). The event took place in New York shortly
after Minister Bernier delivered the Canadian address at the UN general debate.
“Corruption is a worldwide problem that undermines democracy, human rights and the
rule of law,” said Minister Bernier. “Canada plays an active role internationally in fighting
corruption, and strongly supports the UN Convention. Ratifying the Convention is the
international expression of the Government of Canada’s commitment to deliver greater
accountability in government and to fight the crime and costs of corruption.”
“The Convention is a global instrument that takes preventive measures against
corruption, which is a scourge for democratic societies the world over,” said the
Honourable Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
“Canada is proud to be joining 92 other nations as full participants in the Convention.”
“The ratification of UNCAC is another example of how we are delivering on the Federal
Accountability Action Plan,” said the Honourable Vic Toews, President of the Treasury
Board. “Canada has played an active role in developing the Convention, and is in an
excellent position to promote compliance with the accountability and transparency
measures it contains.”
Investing in the implementation of this Convention Against Corruption will ensure that
international corruption is more effectively deterred, detected, and prosecuted. It also
fulfills a government commitment made in the Federal Accountability Action Plan.
UNCAC is a comprehensive global treaty, and is expected to become the most
important and widely applied international instrument in the fight against corruption. It is
also the first global convention on corruption.
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A backgrounder is attached.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca
Mike Storeshaw
Director of Communications
Office of the President of the Treasury Board
613-957-2666
Robert Makichuk
Chief, Media Relations
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
613-957-2391
Backgrounder
United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC)
With the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), the UN has provided
a comprehensive approach to criminalizing and combatting corruption. The Convention
entered into force on December 14, 2005, the 90th day after the date of its ratification
by its 30th State Party. UNCAC is a comprehensive global treaty, and is expected to
become the most important and widely applied international instrument in the fight
against corruption. It is also the first comprehensive global convention on corruption.
UNCAC imposes an obligation on its States Parties to put effective anti-corruption
prevention and enforcement regimes in place, and to criminalize a range of corrupt
activities. The Convention also sets out a regime by which proceeds of corruption can
be returned to their rightful owners. It expands mechanisms for extradition and mutual
legal assistance in corruption cases, and provides a global framework for international
cooperation and technical assistance for anti-corruption work.
Canada and UNCAC
Canada played a dynamic role in negotiating UNCAC, helping create the world’s
widest-ranging global treaty dedicated to the fight against corruption. The UN General
Assembly adopted UNCAC unanimously on October 31, 2003, and Canada’s
Ambassador to the UN signed UNCAC for Canada at UN headquarters on May 21,
2004. Canada tabled the implementing legislation in March 2007. On May 31, 2007,
Parliament passed legislation that made Canadian law consistent with the provisions of
the Convention. On October 2, 2007, Minister Maxime Bernier, Canada’s Minister of
Foreign Affairs, deposited the UNCAC instrument of ratification on behalf of Canada at
United Nations headquarters in New York.
For more information:
Corruption (information from DFAIT website)
http://www.international.gc.ca/internationalcrime/corruption-en.asp
United Nations Convention against Corruption
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/crime_convention_corruption.html
United Nations Convention against Corruption / UN Convention Signatories
http://www.unodc.org/unodc/crime_signatures_corruption.html
Federal Accountability Act and Action Plan
http://www.accountability.gc.ca
