Confronting corruption.

• Author: Conaway, Janelle
• Position: OAS

REPRESENTATIVES OF the thirty-one OAS member states that have ratified the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption met in Managua, Nicaragua, July 8-9 to examine concrete measures designed to enhance their anti-corruption efforts.

The countries agreed to strengthen cooperation among law enforcement authorities, deny safe haven to corrupt officials, strengthen domestic laws related to extradition and the seizure of assets, and promote legislation to allow repatriation of assets that have been illegally derived from public funds, among other measures. They also called on civil society to help promote ethical values and "a culture of transparency."

The Conference of States Parties to the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption, as it was called, responded to a growing recognition in the Hemisphere of the serious threat posed by corruption. This was the main topic for discussion during the annual session of the OAS General Assembly, which took place June 6-8 in Quito, Ecuador.

In their Final declaration, the...