Er. Sanjay Sharma in Tech Hunt 2011 at G B pant Polytechnic

--
उर्वशी शर्मा
"सूचना का अधिकार " हेल्पलाइन: 8081898081
yaishwaryaj@gmail.com

Er. Sanjay Sharma in Tech Hunt 2011 at G B pant Polytechnic

--
उर्वशी शर्मा
"सूचना का अधिकार " हेल्पलाइन: 8081898081
yaishwaryaj@gmail.com

Combating Systemic Corruption in Education

http://blogs.worldbank.org/publicsphere/combating-systemic-corruption-education

Combating Systemic Corruption in Education
Submitted by Sabina Panth on Tue, 03/29/2011 - 12:09
Studies have revealed a strong correlation between quality of
education and increased corruption in a country. According to a
Transparency International report, data collected to track progress in
education in 42 countries showed that the practice of paying bribes is
associated with a lower literacy rate among adolescents. Corruption is
also linked with increased inequality in the quality of education
between the rich and the poor. When resources allocated for public
education is inadequate or do not reach the schools, it is the poor
who bear the brunt. Unlike the rich, who can afford private tuition
for their children, the poor have to depend on the government.

The issues that have been identified include, forgery in procurement
practices; hiring and promotion of unqualified teachers; bribery in
admission and exam administration; and fabrication of documents and
false reporting (e.g., number of students enrolled or resources needed
or used). Poor governance practices, including lack of transparency
in budget formulation and resource allocation, non-existent or
deficient book keeping, weak capacity of local governance structures,
weak monitoring, and enforcement procedures are identified as
loopholes that encourage corrupt practices in the education sector.
Additionally, social norms, public apathy and a lack of political will
to address corrupt practices in education services are said to
exacerbate the problem further.

These issues were discussed at the 14th International Anti-Corruption
Conference held recently in Bangkok. During a workshop dedicated to
this topic, experiences from Ghana, Mongolia, the Philippines, Romania
and Vietnam were shared, all reporting similar issues and making
similar recommendations in combating corruption to enhance the quality
of education. Prevention education was seen as key, but the consensus
was that the answer lay primarily in promoting enforcement strategies.
Strengthening administrative and criminal sanction mechanisms,
including review of the existing legal framework, strengthening
inspection and monitoring mechanisms, legal enforcement, financial
management and systematic book-keeping, and building capacity in
supervision and management were recommended as effective measures in
controlling corruption in the education sector.

In addition to taking institutional measures, public awareness and
empowerment of citizens were seen as essential in pressuring the state
authorities to be responsive and accountable for quality delivery of
education services. Social accountability tools such as community
score cards and community monitoring have involved citizens in rating
the quality of services and tracking proper use of allocated resources
in the education sector. In Uganda, communities were mobilized to
monitor budget allocated for public schools, which uncovered cases of
corruption, resulting in the dismissal of the guilty officials.
Similarly, the community awareness and advocacy campaigns exposed the
district education officials, head teachers and building contractors
for misappropriating public funds in the country. In the Philippines,
boys-scouts, community members and CSOs were mobilized to monitor text
book service delivery in different parts of the country, which
resulted in improved service delivery and accountability in the
education sector. In Romania, the increased level of public awareness
and participation in the monitoring and ranking of universities is
said to not only have increased the quality and quantity of public
information, but also revealed a number of serious fraud cases that
were ultimately sent to court.

Education is the cornerstone of a vibrant and involved populace. For
this reason alone corruption within the education sector cannot be
allowed to flourish. The difficulty, as always, lies in the solution.
Experiences such as those above suggest that citizen empowerment and
institutional strengthening must go hand in hand to promote
accountability, transparency, and integrity within the educational
system.

http://blogs.worldbank.org/publicsphere/combating-systemic-corruption-education

--
उर्वशी शर्मा
"सूचना का अधिकार " हेल्पलाइन: 8081898081
yaishwaryaj@gmail.com

Fw: India fourth-most corrupt nation in Asia-Pacific: Survey

-- On Tue, 29/3/11, urvashi sharma <rtimahilamanchup@gmail.com> wrote: From: urvashi sharma <rtimahilamanchup@gmail.com> Subject: India fourth-most corrupt nation in Asia-Pacific: Survey To: "yaishwaryaj" <yaishwaryaj@gmail.com> Date: Tuesday, 29 March, 2011, 8:48 PM India fourth-most corrupt nation in Asia-Pacific: Survey http://www.indianexpress.com/news/india-fourthmost-corrupt-nation-in-asiapacific-survey/768751/0 Posted: Tue Mar 29 2011, 14:21 hrs Singapore:   India finds itself bracketed with countries like Philippines and Cambodia, rated as the fourth most corrupt nation among 16 countries of the Asia Pacific region surveyed by leading Hong Kong-based business consultancy firm PERC. The Political & Economic Risk Consultancy Ltd (PERC) rated India at 8.67 on a scale of zero to 10 with the high end being the worst case of corruption scenario and ahead of the Philippines (8.9 points), Indonesia (9.25 points) and Cambodia (9.27 points). Among the 16 countries reviewed in its latest report, Thailand was rated at 11 with a scale of 7.55, followed by China (7.93) and Vietnam (8.3). Comparatively, Singapore was given a clean sheet with a score of 0.37, followed by Hong Kong (1.10), Australia (1.39), Japan (1.90) and USA (2.39), putting them in the top five. In India, according to the report, civil and other local-level political leaders were found more corrupt than the national-level political leaders, with the former given a score of 9.25 and the latter slightly better at 8.97. Indian civil servants at the city level too were rated at 8.18, worst than the civil servants at the national level (7.76). "The issue of corruption has grown and overshadowed the second term in office of the Congress-led coalition headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh," said PERC in its Asian Intelligence report on Asian business and politics. The government has been wracked by a series of scandals involving the sale of telecom licenses, preparations for the Commonwealth Games, a land scam involving high level military officers, and improper property loans made by state-owned financial institutions, it pointed out. Though investigations were underway to be followed by court trials, Indians were still questioning whether or not the prime minister has the political muscle to fight graft and whether the actions now being taken were more for show than proof that the government was really cracking down on business practices that were common but corrupt, it said. Prime Minister Singh has been put in such a defensive position that most of his recent statements have been to stress how he has not personally been involved with corruption, even though it appears that almost everyone around him was, observed PERC. "This point is underscored by a recent WikiLeaks report that the ruling Congress Party paid off parliamentarians back in 2008 to pass the US-India civil nuclear deal," it said. The report also noted that the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry was worried that the problem of corruption and the way it was being treated in the media could seriously hurt India's international image and scare away potential investors. It takes two to tango and the level of corruption in the public sector would not be possible if there were not plenty of private businessmen willing to pay bribes and work the political system, said PERC. -- उर्वशी शर्मा "सूचना का अधिकार " हेल्पलाइन: 8081898081 yaishwaryaj@gmail.com

India fourth-most corrupt nation in Asia-Pacific: Survey

India fourth-most corrupt nation in Asia-Pacific: Survey

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/india-fourthmost-corrupt-nation-in-asiapacific-survey/768751/0

Posted: Tue Mar 29 2011, 14:21 hrs
Singapore:

India finds itself bracketed with countries like Philippines and
Cambodia, rated as the fourth most corrupt nation among 16 countries
of the Asia Pacific region surveyed by leading Hong Kong-based
business consultancy firm PERC.

The Political & Economic Risk Consultancy Ltd (PERC) rated India at
8.67 on a scale of zero to 10 with the high end being the worst case
of corruption scenario and ahead of the Philippines (8.9 points),
Indonesia (9.25 points) and Cambodia (9.27 points).

Among the 16 countries reviewed in its latest report, Thailand was
rated at 11 with a scale of 7.55, followed by China (7.93) and Vietnam
(8.3).

Comparatively, Singapore was given a clean sheet with a score of 0.37,
followed by Hong Kong (1.10), Australia (1.39), Japan (1.90) and USA
(2.39), putting them in the top five.

In India, according to the report, civil and other local-level
political leaders were found more corrupt than the national-level
political leaders, with the former given a score of 9.25 and the
latter slightly better at 8.97.

Indian civil servants at the city level too were rated at 8.18, worst
than the civil servants at the national level (7.76).

"The issue of corruption has grown and overshadowed the second term in
office of the Congress-led coalition headed by Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh," said PERC in its Asian Intelligence report on Asian business
and politics.

The government has been wracked by a series of scandals involving the
sale of telecom licenses, preparations for the Commonwealth Games, a
land scam involving high level military officers, and improper
property loans made by state-owned financial institutions, it pointed
out.

Though investigations were underway to be followed by court trials,
Indians were still questioning whether or not the prime minister has
the political muscle to fight graft and whether the actions now being
taken were more for show than proof that the government was really
cracking down on business practices that were common but corrupt, it
said.

Prime Minister Singh has been put in such a defensive position that
most of his recent statements have been to stress how he has not
personally been involved with corruption, even though it appears that
almost everyone around him was, observed PERC.

"This point is underscored by a recent WikiLeaks report that the
ruling Congress Party paid off parliamentarians back in 2008 to pass
the US-India civil nuclear deal," it said.

The report also noted that the Federation of Indian Chambers of
Commerce and Industry was worried that the problem of corruption and
the way it was being treated in the media could seriously hurt India's
international image and scare away potential investors.

It takes two to tango and the level of corruption in the public sector
would not be possible if there were not plenty of private businessmen
willing to pay bribes and work the political system, said PERC.

--
उर्वशी शर्मा
"सूचना का अधिकार " हेल्पलाइन: 8081898081
yaishwaryaj@gmail.com

Indian anti-corruption movement finds inspiration in California

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17703622?nclick_check=1     Indian anti-corruption movement finds inspiration in California march By Matt O'Brien Contra Costa Times Posted: 03/27/2011 12:00:00 AM PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- A movement to curtail political corruption in India is finding inspiration in California, where six men on Saturday completed a 240-mile protest march across the state. The anti-corruption protesters strolled through the Bay Area suburbs this week amid heavy downpours and cold weather. They attracted local curiosity but are making bigger waves abroad. "I firmly believe that all these things, which seem so small in their initial stage, can become a big movement," said 70-year-old marcher Kewal Parnami, of Tucson, Ariz. "If they can keep the fire ablaze, something will come of it." Parnami was following in the symbolic footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi, whose 1930 Dandi March against a colonial salt tax was a turning point in the movement for India's independence. The California journey, called Dandi March II, was for a different cause: ending the systemic corruption that has stunted India's otherwise remarkable economic growth. "There is so much corruption going on," Parnami said. "It's like cancer, eating the vitals of the economy." The retiree moved to the United States from India in 1979, and remained mostly apolitical until just over two weeks ago, when he heard about the planned march from San Diego to San Francisco and packed his bags. "Mahatma Gandhi is my idol," Parnami said. "I just wanted to become like him, a guy who has such a great discipline, such a deep faith." The march, and the hundreds of Indian-Americans who have come to watch and cheer it, reflects a growing frustration with the status quo of Indian politics. It also reflects a growing awareness that the hundreds of thousands of Indians abroad can have a role in doing something about it. "The diaspora is more conscious because they've seen something different, they've lived something different," said Ujjal Dosanjh, a member of Canada's Parliament and the former premier of British Columbia. "They have something to contribute. They have perspective. They can say how things should be." Dosanjh was scheduled to greet the marchers when they reached San Francisco on Saturday, but the Vancouver politician dropped out after Canada's ruling government was toppled by a parliamentary vote Friday. Like many immigrants who were born in India, Dosanjh said he is deeply attached to his native land and wants to see it prosper. But it is going to take tremendous change from the Indian people and their leadership, he said. "When more than half your economy is underground and not accounted for, when everything from buying railway tickets to seats in college to government jobs and grants -- when everything you have to do involves bribery and corruption -- it can't be a nice place to live," Dosanjh said. "I believe you can make all the laws, you can create institutions but ultimately you actually need to change the human beings. You need to change the values." Though corruption is a longtime problem in India, a flurry of high-profile scandals has infuriated the Indian public in the past year. Last week, U.S. diplomatic cables leaked by the WikiLeaks group revealed another involving an alleged cash-for-votes scheme. "The corruption, both in India and across the world, has risen to such an extent that it's started affecting the common man's life," said Cupertino resident Sreekanth Godey, a march organizer and Microsoft engineer. "This is a walk to let the government know enough is enough." The marchers are pushing for legislation that would bring more transparency to government and protect whistle-blowers. Their march has already inspired dozens of other protests planned this weekend in 75 cities worldwide, the organizers said. Unlike Gandhi's legendary 240-mile march from the city of Ahmedabad to the seaside town of Dandi, the California route was not contiguous. The crowd was also a lot smaller: six full-time walkers as opposed to the tens of thousands who joined in Gandhi's civil disobedience. Dandi II began March 12 in San Diego, where the marchers met two days of polite resistance from a counter-protesting group called Organization for Minorities of India. The counter-protesters believe Gandhi, who came from an upper-caste heritage, did little to improve the lot of those at the lowest rung of India's caste system. After reaching Los Angeles County, the Gandhi-inspired marchers skipped the 400-mile stretch between Southern California and the Bay Area, renting a van to get from Artesia to Berkeley. Then, they walked south through the East Bay, stopping at the Indian Community Center in Milpitas, where they delivered a message to a prominent visitor: Meera Shankar, India's ambassador to the United States, who was there to give a talk. "She said, 'We're going to look at it.' That's the standard government answer," said march supporter Kal Raman, of Foster City. "At least she was civil. She was noble about it." The marchers continued north through the Peninsula, singing a Hindi phrase -- hum honge kamyab, which means, "We will succeed" -- as they were drenched by a rainstorm. "Blisters are there, but the body got used to it," said Orange County marcher Srihari Atluri, 33, speaking after he reached downtown Burlingame. "It bothered us more in the first five days, but now it doesn't bother us anymore." The march ended with a rally Saturday afternoon at the Gandhi statue outside San Francisco's Ferry Building. -- Urvashi Sharma RTI Helpmail( Web Based ) aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com Mobile Rti Helpline 8081898081 ( 8 A.M. to 10 P.M. )

Indian anti-corruption movement finds inspiration in California march

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17703622?nclick_check=1

Indian anti-corruption movement finds inspiration in California march
By Matt O'Brien
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 03/27/2011 12:00:00 AM PDT

A movement to curtail political corruption in India is finding
inspiration in California, where six men on Saturday completed a
240-mile protest march across the state.

The anti-corruption protesters strolled through the Bay Area suburbs
this week amid heavy downpours and cold weather. They attracted local
curiosity but are making bigger waves abroad.

"I firmly believe that all these things, which seem so small in their
initial stage, can become a big movement," said 70-year-old marcher
Kewal Parnami, of Tucson, Ariz. "If they can keep the fire ablaze,
something will come of it."

Parnami was following in the symbolic footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi,
whose 1930 Dandi March against a colonial salt tax was a turning point
in the movement for India's independence. The California journey,
called Dandi March II, was for a different cause: ending the systemic
corruption that has stunted India's otherwise remarkable economic
growth.

"There is so much corruption going on," Parnami said. "It's like
cancer, eating the vitals of the economy."

The retiree moved to the United States from India in 1979, and
remained mostly apolitical until just over two weeks ago, when he
heard about the planned march from San Diego to San Francisco and
packed his bags.

"Mahatma Gandhi is my idol," Parnami said. "I just wanted to become
like him, a guy who has such a great discipline, such a deep faith."

The march, and the hundreds of Indian-Americans who have come to watch
and cheer it, reflects a growing frustration with the status quo of
Indian politics. It also reflects a growing awareness that the
hundreds of thousands of Indians abroad can have a role in doing
something about it.

"The diaspora is more conscious because they've seen something
different, they've lived something different," said Ujjal Dosanjh, a
member of Canada's Parliament and the former premier of British
Columbia. "They have something to contribute. They have perspective.
They can say how things should be."

Dosanjh was scheduled to greet the marchers when they reached San
Francisco on Saturday, but the Vancouver politician dropped out after
Canada's ruling government was toppled by a parliamentary vote Friday.

Like many immigrants who were born in India, Dosanjh said he is deeply
attached to his native land and wants to see it prosper. But it is
going to take tremendous change from the Indian people and their
leadership, he said.

"When more than half your economy is underground and not accounted
for, when everything from buying railway tickets to seats in college
to government jobs and grants -- when everything you have to do
involves bribery and corruption -- it can't be a nice place to live,"
Dosanjh said. "I believe you can make all the laws, you can create
institutions but ultimately you actually need to change the human
beings. You need to change the values."

Though corruption is a longtime problem in India, a flurry of
high-profile scandals has infuriated the Indian public in the past
year. Last week, U.S. diplomatic cables leaked by the WikiLeaks group
revealed another involving an alleged cash-for-votes scheme.

"The corruption, both in India and across the world, has risen to such
an extent that it's started affecting the common man's life," said
Cupertino resident Sreekanth Godey, a march organizer and Microsoft
engineer. "This is a walk to let the government know enough is
enough."

The marchers are pushing for legislation that would bring more
transparency to government and protect whistle-blowers. Their march
has already inspired dozens of other protests planned this weekend in
75 cities worldwide, the organizers said.

Unlike Gandhi's legendary 240-mile march from the city of Ahmedabad to
the seaside town of Dandi, the California route was not contiguous.
The crowd was also a lot smaller: six full-time walkers as opposed to
the tens of thousands who joined in Gandhi's civil disobedience.

Dandi II began March 12 in San Diego, where the marchers met two days
of polite resistance from a counter-protesting group called
Organization for Minorities of India. The counter-protesters believe
Gandhi, who came from an upper-caste heritage, did little to improve
the lot of those at the lowest rung of India's caste system.

After reaching Los Angeles County, the Gandhi-inspired marchers
skipped the 400-mile stretch between Southern California and the Bay
Area, renting a van to get from Artesia to Berkeley.

Then, they walked south through the East Bay, stopping at the Indian
Community Center in Milpitas, where they delivered a message to a
prominent visitor: Meera Shankar, India's ambassador to the United
States, who was there to give a talk.

"She said, 'We're going to look at it.' That's the standard government
answer," said march supporter Kal Raman, of Foster City. "At least she
was civil. She was noble about it."

The marchers continued north through the Peninsula, singing a Hindi
phrase -- hum honge kamyab, which means, "We will succeed" -- as they
were drenched by a rainstorm.

"Blisters are there, but the body got used to it," said Orange County
marcher Srihari Atluri, 33, speaking after he reached downtown
Burlingame. "It bothered us more in the first five days, but now it
doesn't bother us anymore."

The march ended with a rally Saturday afternoon at the Gandhi statue
outside San Francisco's Ferry Building.

--
उर्वशी शर्मा
"सूचना का अधिकार " हेल्पलाइन: 8081898081
yaishwaryaj@gmail.com

" corporate and government corruption scandals " Bulls turn bears on India as doubts grow

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Money/Story/STIStory_649926.html

Mar 27, 2011
Bulls turn bears on India as doubts grow

NEW DELHI - INVESTORS have turned bearish on India despite government
forecasts of nine per cent economic growth, as concerns over
widespread corruption and high inflation knock confidence, analysts
say.

Only a few months ago investors were pouring into Indian equities,
seeing the country as a promising high-growth market and talking about
the 'India story'. But now the mood looks to be on the turn.

The government's lack of progress on economic reform, massive
corruption scandals including the cut-price sale of telecoms licences,
and eight interest rate hikes to try to tame high inflation have all
had an impact.

Citigroup economist Rohini Malkani said she had met some 50 investors
in Singapore and Hong Kong this month and about 70 per cent were
'bearish on India'. Fears about reduced investment in infrastructure,
high inflation and the fallout from political scandals topped the list
of investor worries, she said.

The Bombay Stock Exchange Sensitive Index or Sensex has dropped more
than eight percent this year, making it Asia's worst large market
performer - after it climbed 17 percent last year on the back of US$29
billion (S$36.6 billion) poured in by foreign investors.

Foreign institutional investors sold US$2 billion worth of shares in
January and February. 'Concerns about stubbornly high inflation
pushing up interest rates, a high current deficit fuelled by higher
oil prices, and corporate and government corruption scandals have all
contributed to the selling,' said Deepak Lalwani, head of
London-based, India-focused investment consultancy Lalcap. -- AFP

--
उर्वशी शर्मा
"सूचना का अधिकार " हेल्पलाइन: 8081898081
yaishwaryaj@gmail.com

COR RUPTION paradox

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Companies-can-benefit-from-corrupt-countries-research/Article1-676414.aspx#   Companies can benefit from corrupt countries: research Charu Sudan Kasturi, Hindustan Times New Delhi, March 22, 2011   Global companies in India that are watching with concern as multiple scams rock the country, may finally have a reason to smile. Corruption sometimes has a silver lining, new research suggests. Companies that succeed in a country with rampant corruption are more likely to also succeed in other corrupt markets against competitors wary of entering such markets, according to research published in the latest edition of the Journal of Management Studies. The research – the most detailed review of findings on government-business interactions – by Roberto Martin M Galang from the Philippines, asserts that corruption is a major problem for the market at a macroscopic level. But individual companies can benefit from the effects of corruption, Galang's research concludes. Operating in a corrupt country can help a company develop organisational capabilities that allow it to work successfully in such an environment without crossing the boundaries of the law. These capabilities can help the company when it invests in other highly corrupt countries, the research argues. Though distasteful, corruption can be managed as a part of a company's international investment environment, the research argues. "The heterogeneous impact of government corruption on firm outcomes, is dependent not only on the power wielded by dishonest officials, but also influenced by firm characteristics, industry regulations, political structures, social norms and organizational culture," it argues. Both Houses of Parliament are tomorrow scheduled to debate cables between American diplomats – disclosed by Wikileaks – in which US officials here told Washington that the UPA tried to buy votes for the 2008 trust vote over the Indo-US nuclear deal. The revelations are only the latest in a series of controversies that have rocked the government in recent months. India was ranked 87 in Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index last year among 178 countries. -- Urvashi Sharma RTI Helpmail( Web Based ) aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com Mobile Rti Helpline 8081898081 ( 8 A.M. to 10 P.M. )

PERC report " suffocating levels of bureaucracy " in INDIA

http://www.asiarisk.com/exsum.pdf

Executive Summary of Major Risks in 2010
 Australia is the best graded country in our report, followed by
Singapore, Hong Kong and
Japan. Australia scores well in virtually all major categories of
risk. Its government system is
stable and it has very well developed national institutions that are
staffed by professionals
and operate largely free from political interference. Social
instability risks are lower only in
Japan and Singapore. It faces fewer external threats than any other
country covered by this
report.

 India is the worst-graded country in our report. Although India is
trying to position itself as
another emerging market success story to rival China, it faces
external security risks and
internal divisions in the form of terrorist threats, insurrection
movements, and state-level
disputes that are largely absent from China. These risks, combined
with the policy
implementation weaknesses associated with a very fragmented
multi-party coalition
government, the poor quality of physical infrastructure, and
suffocating levels of bureaucracy,
mean that most comparisons between China and India will show China in
a more favorable
light.

 The biggest socio-political risk in a single country in Asia in 2010
is that Thailand's revered
king will die, further destabilizing the political environment and
causing such a high level of
uncertainty that investors delay implementing new plans until they see
how the country
handles the transition.
Overall Country Risk Ranking
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
2009
2010
Grades are scaled from zero to 10, with zero representing the best
situation possible and 10 the worst.
Grade
PERC
POLITICAL & ECONOMIC RISK CONSULTANCY LTD.
Asian Risk Prospects – 2010
2 Political & Economic Risk Consultancy, Ltd.
 The biggest regional risk is arising from the rapid growth of
capital outflow from China, some of which reflects the proceeds from
corruption. Although the outflow amounts are hidden behind even bigger
capital inflow amounts, they are large and growing. Many other Asian
countries are depending on this capital to fuel industries like
gaming, hotel, retail business and real estate. In other words, many
Asian governments are trying to push their own economies by tapping
into China's underground economy. Sooner or later Beijing might try to
crack down on these outflows, shocking other economies in the region
and perhaps resulting in diplomatic strains and high-profile scandals.
 Malaysia's immediate political outlook entails two distinct downside
risks. One is if the existing ruling coalition resorts to more
authoritarian tactics to hold onto political power in the face of a
major challenge by the Opposition. The other is if the Opposition
succeeds in gaining political power but then performs very badly as a
government, due either to poor policies or to internal disagreements
that leave it fractured. Currently, the only thing really uniting
different Opposition groups is their desire to overthrow the dominant
ruling coalition. On the other hand, if the ruling coalition is able
to reform itself or if the Opposition gains political power and is
able to be an effective government, Malaysia's outlook would be much
improved.
 There will not be much headway in reducing systemic problems like
corruption and bureaucratic inefficiency, especially in countries like
India, the Philippines and Indonesia. In most cases, what you see is
what you will get. Where there will be changes for the better are in
cross-Strait's commercial relations between China and Taiwan and an
emphasis on cooperation between the major powers of Northeast Asia
(China, Korea and Japan),
 The biggest security risks in Asia, namely, an outbreak of violence
on the Korean Peninsular or between Pakistan and India on the
Subcontinent, are likely to stay under control in 2010. These are
long-standing risks that investors need to consider, but it would
probably be a mistake to put too much weight on them as immediate
risks. The longer-term likelihood is that the worst-case scenarios
will not happen – if only because their regional and global fallout
would be so serious that all parties with an ability to influence the
relationships involved will work hard to prevent an outbreak of
military conflicts. Moreover, if there were military conflicts, the
South would be heavily favored to emerge victorious in the Korean
conflict and India would be favored to defeat Pakistan.
 In general, socio-political risks in 2010 are lower for Asia than in
2009. Most countries showed that their governments can manage through
very difficult economic times without experiencing a serious increase
in social unrest or political turmoil. Since economic conditions in
2010 are likely to be better than in 2009, pressure on governments
should be reduced.

--
उर्वशी शर्मा
"सूचना का अधिकार " हेल्पलाइन: 8081898081
yaishwaryaj@gmail.com

Civil Societies should build pressure to get UNCAC's anti-corruption measures implemented in INDIA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Convention_against_Corruption United Nations Convention against Corruption The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) is the first legally binding international anti-corruption instrument. In its 8 Chapters and 71 Articles, the UNCAC obliges its States Parties to implement a wide and detailed range of anti-corruption measures affecting their laws, institutions and practices. These measures aim to promote the prevention, criminalization and law enforcement, international cooperation, asset recovery, technical assistance and information exchange, and mechanisms for implementation. Signatures, Ratifications and Entry into Force The UNCAC was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, on 31 October 2003 by Resolution 58/4. The convention was signed by 140 countries. Ecuador became the thirtieth country to ratify the Convention on 15 September 2005, and in accordance with Article 68 (1) of Resolution 58/4, it entered into force on 14 December 2005. As of 5 November 2010, the convention had been ratified, accepted, approved or acceded by 144 countries (which became thus States Parties to the convention). Background The UNCAC is the most recent of a long series of developments in which experts and politicians have recognized the far-reaching impact of corruption and the need to develop effective measures against it at both the domestic and international levels. International action against corruption has progressed from general consideration and declarative statements to legally binding agreements. While at the beginning of the discussion, measures were focused relatively narrowly on specific crimes, above all bribery, the definitions and understanding of corruption have become broader and so have the measures against it. The Conventions' (not only the UNCAC, but the Inter-American Convention against Corruption, the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption) comprehensive approach and the mandatory character of many of its provisions give proof of this development. The UNCAC deals with forms of corruption that had not been covered by many of the earlier international instruments, such as trading in official influence, general abuses of power, and various acts of corruption in the private sector. A further significant development was the inclusion of a specific chapter of the Convention dealing with the recovery of assets, a major concern for countries that pursue the assets of former leaders and other officials accused or found to have engaged in corruption. Conference of the States Parties A Conference of the States Parties (CoSP) to the UNCAC was established to improve the capacity of and cooperation between States Parties to achieve the objectives set forth in the Convention, and to promote and review its implementation. The first session of the CoSP took place on 10–14 December 2006 at the Dead Sea, Jordan. At this meeting, government representatives discussed how to follow-up on the UNCAC and they committed themselves to establishing a formal monitoring system. An inter-governmental working group was established to start working on the design of such a review of implementation mechanism. Two other working groups were set up to promote coordination of activities related to technical assistance and asset recovery, respectively, The second CoSP was held in Bali, Indonesia, on 28 January to 1 February 2008. As for the mechanism for review of implementation, the States Parties decided, inter alia, to take into account a balanced geographical approach, to avoid any adversarial or punitive elements, to establish clear guidelines for every aspect of the mechanism and to promote universal adherence to the Convention and the constructive collaboration in preventive measures, asset recovery, international cooperation and other areas. The CoSP also reiterated its support for the Working Group on Asset Recovery, requested donors and receiving countries to strengthen coordination and enhance technical assistance for the implementation of the UNCAC, and dealt with the issue of bribery of officials of public international organizations. The next session of the CoSP took place in Doha, Qatar, from 9–13 November 2009. Pursuant to the resolutions and decisions taken by the CoSP at its second session, the CoSP was expected to concentrate on key issues regarding review of the implementation of the Convention, asset recovery and technical assistance. The CoSP also offers an opportunity to anti-corruption policymakers and practitioners to exchange views on practical matters. Furthermore, it will be preceded and accompanied by numerous side events, such as the last Global Forum (in cooperation with businesses) and a Youth Forum Measures and Provisions The UNCAC covers five main areas: prevention, criminalization and law enforcement measures, international cooperation, asset recovery, and technical assistance and information exchange. It includes both mandatory and non-mandatory provisions. General Provisions (Chapter I, Articles 1-4) United Nations Convention against Corruption, 2003 The opening Articles of the UNCAC include a statement of purpose (Article1), which covers both the promotion of integrity and accountability within each country and the support of international cooperation and technical assistance between States Parties. They also include definitions of critical terms used in the instrument. Some of these are similar to those used in other instruments, and in particular the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, but those defining "public official", "foreign public official", and " official of a public international organization" are new and are important for determining the scope of application of the UNCAC in these areas. The UNCAC does not provide for a definition of corruption. In accordance with Article 2 of the UN Charter, Article 4 of the UNCAC provides for the protection of national sovereignty of the States Parties., Preventive Measures (Chapter II, Articles 5-14) The First Conference of the States Parties recognized the importance of prevention to fight corruption by going far beyond the measures of previous instruments in both scope and detail. The preventive measures cover both the public and private sectors. The chapter includes model preventive policies, such as the establishment of anti-corruption bodies and enhanced transparency in the financing of election campaigns and political parties. Anti-corruption bodies should implement the anti-corruption policies, disseminate knowledge and must be independent, adequately resourced and have properly trained staff. States are also obliged to ensure that their public services are subject to safeguards that promote efficiency, transparency and recruitment based on merit. Once recruited, public servants should be bound by codes of conduct, requirements for financial and other disclosures, and appropriate disciplinary measures. Transparency and accountability in matters of public finance must also be promoted, and specific requirements are established for the prevention of corruption, in the particularly critical areas of the public sector, such as the judiciary and public procurement. Since the combating of corruption also depends on cooperation between the State and society, the UNCAC places particular emphasis on the involvement of civil society and on the general reporting process through which the public administration reports to the people. The requirements made for the public sector also apply to the private sector – it too is expected to adopt transparent procedures and codes of conduct Criminalization and Law Enforcement (Chapter III, Articles 15-44) Chapter III calls on States Parties to establish or maintain a series of specific criminal offences including not only long-established crimes such as various forms of bribery and embezzlement, but also conduct not already criminalized in many States, such as trading in official influence and other abuses of official functions. The broad range of ways in which corruption has manifested itself in different countries and the novelty of some of the offences pose serious legislative and constitutional challenges, a fact reflected in the decision of the Ad Hoc Committee to make some of the requirements either optional on the part of States Parties ("…shall consider adopting…") or subject to domestic constitutional or other fundamental requirements ("…subject to its constitution and the fundamental principles of its legal system…").Specific acts that States Parties must criminalize include active bribery (the offer or giving of an undue advantage) of a national, international or foreign public official, and passive bribery of a national public official and embezzlement of public funds. Other mandatory crimes include obstruction of justice, and the concealment, conversion or transfer of criminal proceeds (money laundering). Sanctions extend to those who participate in or attempt to commit corruption offences. The Convention goes thus beyond previous instruments of this kind that criminalize only basic forms of corruption. States are encouraged – but not required – to criminalize, inter alia, passive bribery of foreign and international public officials, trading in influence, abuse of function, illicit enrichment, private sector bribery and embezzlement, money laundering, and the concealment of illicit assets. Furthermore, States Parties are required to simplify the provision of evidence of corrupt behaviour by, inter alia, ensuring that obstacles that may arise from the application of bank secrecy laws shall be overcome. This is especially important as corrupt acts are very difficult to prove before a court. Particularly important is also the introduction of the liability of legal persons. In the area of law enforcement, the UNCAC calls for better cooperation between national and international bodies and with civil society. There is a provision for the protection of witnesses, victims, expert witnesses and whistle blowers to ensure that law enforcement is truly effective. International Cooperation (Chapter IV, Articles 43-49) Under Chapter IV of the UNCAC, States Parties are obliged to assist one another in every aspect of the fight against corruption, including prevention, investigation, and the prosecution of offenders. Particular emphasis is laid on mutual legal assistance, in gathering and transferring evidence for use in court, and extradition of offenders. A key issue in developing the international cooperation requirements arose with respect to the scope or range of offences to which they would apply. The broad range of corruption problems faced by many countries resulted in proposals to criminalize a wide range of conduct. This, in turn, confronted many countries with conduct they could not criminalize (as with the illicit enrichment offence discussed in the previous segment) and that were made optional as a result. Many delegations were willing to accept that others could not criminalize specific acts of corruption for constitutional or other fundamental reasons, but still wanted to ensure that countries that did not criminalize such conduct would be obliged to cooperate with other States that had done so. The result of this process was a compromise, in which dual criminality requirements were narrowed as much as possible within the fundamental legal requirements of the States that cannot criminalize some of the offences established by the Convention. According to the Convention, the principle of dual criminality can only be insisted on where the assistance would require coercive action such as arrest or search and seizure, and States Parties are encouraged to allow a wider scope of assistance without dual criminality where possible. Also, where dual criminality is required, it is sufficient that the conduct at issue constitutes a crime in both jurisdictions; the language of the laws need not coincide exactly. Cooperation in criminal matters is mandatory. In civil and administrative matters, States Parties are encouraged to do so. Asset Recovery (Chapter V, Articles 51-59)Main article: International asset recovery The agreement on asset recovery is considered a major breakthrough and many observers claim that it is also the reason for why so many developing countries have signed the UNCAC.Asset recovery is indeed a very important issue for many developing countries where high-level corruption has plundered the national wealth. Reaching an agreement on this Chapter involved intensive negotiations, as the needs of countries seeking the illicit assets had to be reconciled with the legal and procedural safeguards of the countries whose assistance was sought. Generally, countries seeking assets sought to establish presumptions that would make clear their ownership of the assets and give priority for return over other means of disposal. Countries from which return was likely to be sought, on the other hand, had concerns about the language that might have compromised basic human rights and procedural protections associated with criminal liability and the freezing, seizure, forfeiture and return of such assets. Chapter V of the UNCAC establishes asset recovery as a "fundamental principle" of the Convention. The provisions on asset recovery lay a framework, in both civil and criminal law, for tracing, freezing, forfeiting and returning funds obtained through corrupt activities. The requesting state will in most cases receive the recovered funds as long as it can prove ownership. In some cases, the funds may be returned directly to individual victims. If no other arrangement is in place, UNCAC signatories may use the Convention itself as a legal basis for enforcing confiscation orders obtained in a foreign criminal court. Specifically, Article 54(1)(a) of the UNCAC provides that: "Each State Party (shall)... take such measures as may be necessary to permit its competent authorities to give effect to an order of confiscation issued by a court of another state party" United Nations Convention against Corruption Article 54 Section 1A,2A. Indeed, Article 54(2)(a) of the UNCAC also provides for the provisional freezing or seizing of property where there are sufficient grounds for taking such actions in advance of a formal request being received. Recognizing that recovering assets once transferred and concealed is an exceedingly costly, complex and all-too-often unsuccessful process, this Chapter also incorporates elements intended to prevent illicit transfers and generate records that can be used where illicit transfers eventually have to be traced, frozen, seized and confiscated (Article 52). The identification of experts who can assist developing countries in this process is also included as a form of technical assistance (Article 60(5)). Technical Assistance and Information Exchange (Chapter VI, Articles 60-62) Chapter VI of the UNCAC is dedicated to technical assistance, meaning support offered to developing and transition countries in implementing the Convention. The provisions cover training, material and human resources, research, and information sharing. The Convention also calls for cooperation through international and regional organizations (many of who already have established anti-corruption programmes), research efforts, and the contribution of financial resources both directly to developing countries and countries with economies in transition, and to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,(UNODC), which is the Secretariat to the Conference of the States Parties. Mechanisms for Implementation (Chapter VII, Articles 63-64)Chapter VII deals with international implementation through the CoSP and the UN Secretariat. Final Provisions (Chapter VIII, Articles 65 – 71)The final provisions are similar to those found in other UN treaties. Key provisions ensure that: the UNCAC requirements are to be interpreted as minimum standards, which States Parties are free to exceed with measures "more strict or severe" than those set out in the specific provisions; and the two Articles governing signature, ratification and the coming into force of the Convention. Implementation of the UNCAC and Monitoring MechanismArticle 63 of the UNCAC establishes a CoSP with a mandate to, inter alia, promote and review the implementation of the Convention. In accordance with Article 63(7), "the Conference shall establish, if it deems necessary, any appropriate mechanism or body to assist in the effective implementation of the Convention". At its first session, held in Jordan in December 2006, the CoSP agreed that it was necessary to establish an appropriate and effective mechanism to assist in the review of the implementation of the Convention (Resolution 1/1). The Conference established an open-ended intergovernmental expert group to make recommendations to the Conference on the appropriate mechanism, which should allow the Conference to discharge fully and efficiently its mandates, in particular with respect to taking stock of States' efforts to implement the Convention. The Conference also requested the Secretariat to assist States in their efforts to collect and provide information on their self-assessment and their analysis of implementation efforts and to report on those efforts to the Conference. In addition, several countries, already during this session of the CoSP, expressed their readiness to support, on an interim basis, a review mechanism that would combine the self-assessment component with a review process supported by the Secretariat. The "Pilot Review Programme" was established to offer adequate opportunity to test possible means for the implementation review of the UNCAC, with the overall objective to evaluate efficiency and effectiveness of the tested mechanism(s) and to provide to the CoSP information on lessons learnt and experience acquired, thus enabling the CoSP to make informed decisions on the establishment of the appropriate mechanism for reviewing the implementation of the UNCAC. The Pilot Programme is an interim measure to help fine-tune the course of action. It is strictly voluntary and limited in scope and time. The methodology used under the Pilot Review Programme was to conduct a limited review of the implementation of UNCAC in the participating countries using a combined self-assessment / group / expert review method as possible mechanism(s) for reviewing the implementation of the Convention. Throughout the review process, members of the Group engage with the individual country under review in an active dialogue, discussing preliminary findings and requesting additional information. Where requested, country visits are conducted to assist in undertaking the self-assessments and/or preparing the recommendations. The teams conducting the country visits will be composed of experts from two prior agreed upon countries from the Group and two members of the Secretariat. The scope of review under the Pilot Review Programme includes Articles: 5 (preventive anti-corruption policies and practices); 15 (bribery of national public officials); 16 (bribery of foreign public officials and officials of public international organizations); 17 (embezzlement, misappropriation or other diversion of property by a public official); 25 (obstruction of justice); 46 (mutual legal assistance), particularly paragraphs 13 and 9; 52 (prevention and detection of transfers of proceeds of crime); and 53 (measures for direct recovery of property). UNCAC Coalition of Civil Society Organisations The "UNCAC Coalition", established in 2006, is a network of more than 200 civil society organisations (CSOs) that is committed to promoting the ratification, implementation and monitoring of the UNCAC. It aims to mobilise broad civil society support for the UNCAC and to facilitate strong civil society action at national, regional and international levels in support of the Convention. The Coalition is open to all organisations and individuals committed to these goals. The breadth of UNCAC means that its framework is relevant for a wide range of CSOs, including groups working in the areas of human rights, labour rights, governance, economic development, environment and private sector accountability. In addition, the main function of the International Anti-Corruption Academy, located in Laxenburg, Austria, is to, inter alia, facilitate more effective implementation of the UNCAC. ChallengesIn general, the adoption of an effective follow-up monitoring mechanism is often considered to be one of the biggest challenges that still lies ahead. Many developing countries also face the challenge of implementing the demanding provisions of the UNCAC into national law, and above all into the reality of daily life. Effective technical assistance, as foreseen in the UNCAC, is therefore crucial for the successful implementation of the Convention. -- उर्वशी शर्मा "सूचना का अधिकार " हेल्पलाइन: 8081898081 yaishwaryaj@gmail.com http://www.unodc.org/pdf/crime/convention_corruption/signing/Convention-e.pdf 1 United Nations Convention against Corruption Preamble The States Parties to this Convention, Concerned about the seriousness of problems and threats posed by corruption to the stability and security of societies, undermining the institutions and values of democracy, ethical values and justice and jeopardizing sustainable development and the rule of law, Concerned also about the links between corruption and other forms of crime, in particular organized crime and economic crime, including money-laundering, Concerned further about cases of corruption that involve vast quantities of assets, which may constitute a substantial proportion of the resources of States, and that threaten the political stability and sustainable development of those States, Convinced that corruption is no longer a local matter but a transnational phenomenon that affects all societies and economies, making international cooperation to prevent and control it essential, Convinced also that a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach is required to prevent and combat corruption effectively, Convinced further that the availability of technical assistance can play an important role in enhancing the ability of States, including by strengthening capacity and by institution-building, to prevent and combat corruption effectively, Convinced that the illicit acquisition of personal wealth can be particularly damaging to democratic institutions, national economies and the rule of law, Determined to prevent, detect and deter in a more effective manner international transfers of illicitly acquired assets and to strengthen international cooperation in asset recovery, Acknowledging the fundamental principles of due process of law in criminal proceedings and in civil or administrative proceedings to adjudicate property rights, Bearing in mind that the prevention and eradication of corruption is a responsibility of all States and that they must cooperate with one another, with the support and involvement of individuals and groups outside the public sector, such as civil society, non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations, if their efforts in this area are to be effective, Bearing also in mind the principles of proper management of public affairs and public property, fairness, responsibility and equality before the law and the need to safeguard integrity and to foster a culture of rejection of corruption, Commending the work of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in preventing and combating corruption, 2 Recalling the work carried out by other international and regional organizations in this field, including the activities of the African Union, the Council of Europe, the Customs Cooperation Council (also known as the World Customs Organization), the European Union, the League of Arab States, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Organization of American States, Taking note with appreciation of multilateral instruments to prevent and combat corruption, including, inter alia, the Inter-American Convention against Corruption, adopted by the Organization of American States on 29 March 1996,1 the Convention on the Fight against Corruption involving Officials of the European Communities or Officials of Member States of the European Union, adopted by the Council of the European Union on 26 May 1997,2 the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, adopted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development on 21 November 1997,3 the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption, adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 27 January 1999,4 the Civil Law Convention on Corruption, adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 4 November 1999,5 and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, adopted by the Heads of State and Government of the African Union on 12 July 2003, Welcoming the entry into force on 29 September 2003 of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime,6 Have agreed as follows: Chapter I General provisions Article 1 Statement of purpose The purposes of this Convention are: (a) To promote and strengthen measures to prevent and combat corruption more efficiently and effectively; (b) To promote, facilitate and support international cooperation and technical assistance in the prevention of and fight against corruption, including in asset recovery; (c) To promote integrity, accountability and proper management of public affairs and public property. __________________ 1 See E/1996/99. 2 Official Journal of the European Communities, C 195, 25 June 1997. 3 See Corruption and Integrity Improvement Initiatives in Developing Countries (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.III.B.18). 4 Council of Europe, European Treaty Series, No. 173. 5 Ibid., No. 174. 6 General Assembly resolution 55/25, annex I. 3 Article 2 Use of terms For the purposes of this Convention: (a) "Public official" shall mean: (i) any person holding a legislative, executive, administrative or judicial office of a State Party, whether appointed or elected, whether permanent or temporary, whether paid or unpaid, irrespective of that person's seniority; (ii) any other person who performs a public function, including for a public agency or public enterprise, or provides a public service, as defined in the domestic law of the State Party and as applied in the pertinent area of law of that State Party; (iii) any other person defined as a "public official" in the domestic law of a State Party. However, for the purpose of some specific measures contained in chapter II of this Convention, "public official" may mean any person who performs a public function or provides a public service as defined in the domestic law of the State Party and as applied in the pertinent area of law of that State Party; (b) "Foreign public official" shall mean any person holding a legislative, executive, administrative or judicial office of a foreign country, whether appointed or elected; and any person exercising a public function for a foreign country, including for a public agency or public enterprise; (c) "Official of a public international organization" shall mean an international civil servant or any person who is authorized by such an organization to act on behalf of that organization; (d) "Property" shall mean assets of every kind, whether corporeal or incorporeal, movable or immovable, tangible or intangible, and legal documents or instruments evidencing title to or interest in such assets; (e) "Proceeds of crime" shall mean any property derived from or obtained, directly or indirectly, through the commission of an offence; (f) "Freezing" or "seizure" shall mean temporarily prohibiting the transfer, conversion, disposition or movement of property or temporarily assuming custody or control of property on the basis of an order issued by a court or other competent authority; (g) "Confiscation", which includes forfeiture where applicable, shall mean the permanent deprivation of property by order of a court or other competent authority; (h) "Predicate offence" shall mean any offence as a result of which proceeds have been generated that may become the subject of an offence as defined in article 23 of this Convention; (i) "Controlled delivery" shall mean the technique of allowing illicit or suspect consignments to pass out of, through or into the territory of one or more States, with the knowledge and under the supervision of their competent authorities, with a view to the investigation of an offence and the identification of persons involved in the commission of the offence. 4 Article 3 Scope of application 1. This Convention shall apply, in accordance with its terms, to the prevention, investigation and prosecution of corruption and to the freezing, seizure, confiscation and return of the proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention. 2. For the purposes of implementing this Convention, it shall not be necessary, except as otherwise stated herein, for the offences set forth in it to result in damage or harm to state property. Article 4 Protection of sovereignty 1. States Parties shall carry out their obligations under this Convention in a manner consistent with the principles of sovereign equality and territorial integrity of States and that of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of other States. 2. Nothing in this Convention shall entitle a State Party to undertake in the territory of another State the exercise of jurisdiction and performance of functions that are reserved exclusively for the authorities of that other State by its domestic law. Chapter II Preventive measures Article 5 Preventive anti-corruption policies and practices 1. Each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, develop and implement or maintain effective, coordinated anticorruption policies that promote the participation of society and reflect the principles of the rule of law, proper management of public affairs and public property, integrity, transparency and accountability. 2. Each State Party shall endeavour to establish and promote effective practices aimed at the prevention of corruption. 3. Each State Party shall endeavour to periodically evaluate relevant legal instruments and administrative measures with a view to determining their adequacy to prevent and fight corruption. 4. States Parties shall, as appropriate and in accordance with the fundamental principles of their legal system, collaborate with each other and with relevant international and regional organizations in promoting and developing the measures referred to in this article. That collaboration may include participation in international programmes and projects aimed at the prevention of corruption. 5 Article 6 Preventive anti-corruption body or bodies 1. Each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, ensure the existence of a body or bodies, as appropriate, that prevent corruption by such means as: (a) Implementing the policies referred to in article 5 of this Convention and, where appropriate, overseeing and coordinating the implementation of those policies; (b) Increasing and disseminating knowledge about the prevention of corruption. 2. Each State Party shall grant the body or bodies referred to in paragraph 1 of this article the necessary independence, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, to enable the body or bodies to carry out its or their functions effectively and free from any undue influence. The necessary material resources and specialized staff, as well as the training that such staff may require to carry out their functions, should be provided. 3. Each State Party shall inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the name and address of the authority or authorities that may assist other States Parties in developing and implementing specific measures for the prevention of corruption. Article 7 Public sector 1. Each State Party shall, where appropriate and in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, endeavour to adopt, maintain and strengthen systems for the recruitment, hiring, retention, promotion and retirement of civil servants and, where appropriate, other non-elected public officials: (a) That are based on principles of efficiency, transparency and objective criteria such as merit, equity and aptitude; (b) That include adequate procedures for the selection and training of individuals for public positions considered especially vulnerable to corruption and the rotation, where appropriate, of such individuals to other positions; (c) That promote adequate remuneration and equitable pay scales, taking into account the level of economic development of the State Party; (d) That promote education and training programmes to enable them to meet the requirements for the correct, honourable and proper performance of public functions and that provide them with specialized and appropriate training to enhance their awareness of the risks of corruption inherent in the performance of their functions. Such programmes may make reference to codes or standards of conduct in applicable areas. 2. Each State Party shall also consider adopting appropriate legislative and administrative measures, consistent with the objectives of this Convention and in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, to prescribe criteria concerning candidature for and election to public office. 6 3. Each State Party shall also consider taking appropriate legislative and administrative measures, consistent with the objectives of this Convention and in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, to enhance transparency in the funding of candidatures for elected public office and, where applicable, the funding of political parties. 4. Each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, endeavour to adopt, maintain and strengthen systems that promote transparency and prevent conflicts of interest. Article 8 Codes of conduct for public officials 1. In order to fight corruption, each State Party shall promote, inter alia, integrity, honesty and responsibility among its public officials, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system. 2. In particular, each State Party shall endeavour to apply, within its own institutional and legal systems, codes or standards of conduct for the correct, honourable and proper performance of public functions. 3. For the purposes of implementing the provisions of this article, each State Party shall, where appropriate and in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, take note of the relevant initiatives of regional, interregional and multilateral organizations, such as the International Code of Conduct for Public Officials contained in the annex to General Assembly resolution 51/59 of 12 December 1996. 4. Each State Party shall also consider, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, establishing measures and systems to facilitate the reporting by public officials of acts of corruption to appropriate authorities, when such acts come to their notice in the performance of their functions. 5. Each State Party shall endeavour, where appropriate and in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, to establish measures and systems requiring public officials to make declarations to appropriate authorities regarding, inter alia, their outside activities, employment, investments, assets and substantial gifts or benefits from which a conflict of interest may result with respect to their functions as public officials. 6. Each State Party shall consider taking, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, disciplinary or other measures against public officials who violate the codes or standards established in accordance with this article. Article 9 Public procurement and management of public finances 1. Each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, take the necessary steps to establish appropriate systems of procurement, based on transparency, competition and objective criteria in decision-making, that are effective, inter alia, in preventing corruption. Such systems, which may take into account appropriate threshold values in their application, shall address, inter alia: 7 (a) The public distribution of information relating to procurement procedures and contracts, including information on invitations to tender and relevant or pertinent information on the award of contracts, allowing potential tenderers sufficient time to prepare and submit their tenders; (b) The establishment, in advance, of conditions for participation, including selection and award criteria and tendering rules, and their publication; (c) The use of objective and predetermined criteria for public procurement decisions, in order to facilitate the subsequent verification of the correct application of the rules or procedures; (d) An effective system of domestic review, including an effective system of appeal, to ensure legal recourse and remedies in the event that the rules or procedures established pursuant to this paragraph are not followed; (e) Where appropriate, measures to regulate matters regarding personnel responsible for procurement, such as declaration of interest in particular public procurements, screening procedures and training requirements. 2. Each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, take appropriate measures to promote transparency and accountability in the management of public finances. Such measures shall encompass, inter alia: (a) Procedures for the adoption of the national budget; (b) Timely reporting on revenue and expenditure; (c) A system of accounting and auditing standards and related oversight; (d) Effective and efficient systems of risk management and internal control; and (e) Where appropriate, corrective action in the case of failure to comply with the requirements established in this paragraph. 3. Each State Party shall take such civil and administrative measures as may be necessary, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, to preserve the integrity of accounting books, records, financial statements or other documents related to public expenditure and revenue and to prevent the falsification of such documents. Article 10 Public reporting Taking into account the need to combat corruption, each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, take such measures as may be necessary to enhance transparency in its public administration, including with regard to its organization, functioning and decision-making processes, where appropriate. Such measures may include, inter alia: (a) Adopting procedures or regulations allowing members of the general public to obtain, where appropriate, information on the organization, functioning and decision-making processes of its public administration and, with due regard for the protection of privacy and personal data, on decisions and legal acts that concern members of the public; 8 (b) Simplifying administrative procedures, where appropriate, in order to facilitate public access to the competent decision-making authorities; and (c) Publishing information, which may include periodic reports on the risks of corruption in its public administration. Article 11 Measures relating to the judiciary and prosecution services 1. Bearing in mind the independence of the judiciary and its crucial role in combating corruption, each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system and without prejudice to judicial independence, take measures to strengthen integrity and to prevent opportunities for corruption among members of the judiciary. Such measures may include rules with respect to the conduct of members of the judiciary. 2. Measures to the same effect as those taken pursuant to paragraph 1 of this article may be introduced and applied within the prosecution service in those States Parties where it does not form part of the judiciary but enjoys independence similar to that of the judicial service. Article 12 Private sector 1. Each State Party shall take measures, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, to prevent corruption involving the private sector, enhance accounting and auditing standards in the private sector and, where appropriate, provide effective, proportionate and dissuasive civil, administrative or criminal penalties for failure to comply with such measures. 2. Measures to achieve these ends may include, inter alia: (a) Promoting cooperation between law enforcement agencies and relevant private entities; (b) Promoting the development of standards and procedures designed to safeguard the integrity of relevant private entities, including codes of conduct for the correct, honourable and proper performance of the activities of business and all relevant professions and the prevention of conflicts of interest, and for the promotion of the use of good commercial practices among businesses and in the contractual relations of businesses with the State; (c) Promoting transparency among private entities, including, where appropriate, measures regarding the identity of legal and natural persons involved in the establishment and management of corporate entities; (d) Preventing the misuse of procedures regulating private entities, including procedures regarding subsidies and licences granted by public authorities for commercial activities; (e) Preventing conflicts of interest by imposing restrictions, as appropriate and for a reasonable period of time, on the professional activities of former public officials or on the employment of public officials by the private sector after their resignation or retirement, where such activities or employment relate directly to the functions held or supervised by those public officials during their tenure; 9 (f) Ensuring that private enterprises, taking into account their structure and size, have sufficient internal auditing controls to assist in preventing and detecting acts of corruption and that the accounts and required financial statements of such private enterprises are subject to appropriate auditing and certification procedures. 3. In order to prevent corruption, each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary, in accordance with its domestic laws and regulations regarding the maintenance of books and records, financial statement disclosures and accounting and auditing standards, to prohibit the following acts carried out for the purpose of committing any of the offences established in accordance with this Convention: (a) The establishment of off-the-books accounts; (b) The making of off-the-books or inadequately identified transactions; (c) The recording of non-existent expenditure; (d) The entry of liabilities with incorrect identification of their objects; (e) The use of false documents; and (f) The intentional destruction of bookkeeping documents earlier than foreseen by the law. 4. Each State Party shall disallow the tax deductibility of expenses that constitute bribes, the latter being one of the constituent elements of the offences established in accordance with articles 15 and 16 of this Convention and, where appropriate, other expenses incurred in furtherance of corrupt conduct. Article 13 Participation of society 1. Each State Party shall take appropriate measures, within its means and in accordance with fundamental principles of its domestic law, to promote the active participation of individuals and groups outside the public sector, such as civil society, non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations, in the prevention of and the fight against corruption and to raise public awareness regarding the existence, causes and gravity of and the threat posed by corruption. This participation should be strengthened by such measures as: (a) Enhancing the transparency of and promoting the contribution of the public to decision-making processes; (b) Ensuring that the public has effective access to information; (c) Undertaking public information activities that contribute to non-tolerance of corruption, as well as public education programmes, including school and university curricula; (d) Respecting, promoting and protecting the freedom to seek, receive, publish and disseminate information concerning corruption. That freedom may be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided for by law and are necessary: (i) For respect of the rights or reputations of others; 10 (ii) For the protection of national security or ordre public or of public health or morals. 2. Each State Party shall take appropriate measures to ensure that the relevant anti-corruption bodies referred to in this Convention are known to the public and shall provide access to such bodies, where appropriate, for the reporting, including anonymously, of any incidents that may be considered to constitute an offence established in accordance with this Convention. Article 14 Measures to prevent money-laundering 1. Each State Party shall: (a) Institute a comprehensive domestic regulatory and supervisory regime for banks and non-bank financial institutions, including natural or legal persons that provide formal or informal services for the transmission of money or value and, where appropriate, other bodies particularly susceptible to money-laundering, within its competence, in order to deter and detect all forms of money-laundering, which regime shall emphasize requirements for customer and, where appropriate, beneficial owner identification, record-keeping and the reporting of suspicious transactions; (b) Without prejudice to article 46 of this Convention, ensure that administrative, regulatory, law enforcement and other authorities dedicated to combating money-laundering (including, where appropriate under domestic law, judicial authorities) have the ability to cooperate and exchange information at the national and international levels within the conditions prescribed by its domestic law and, to that end, shall consider the establishment of a financial intelligence unit to serve as a national centre for the collection, analysis and dissemination of information regarding potential money-laundering. 2. States Parties shall consider implementing feasible measures to detect and monitor the movement of cash and appropriate negotiable instruments across their borders, subject to safeguards to ensure proper use of information and without impeding in any way the movement of legitimate capital. Such measures may include a requirement that individuals and businesses report the cross-border transfer of substantial quantities of cash and appropriate negotiable instruments. 3. States Parties shall consider implementing appropriate and feasible measures to require financial institutions, including money remitters: (a) To include on forms for the electronic transfer of funds and related messages accurate and meaningful information on the originator; (b) To maintain such information throughout the payment chain; and (c) To apply enhanced scrutiny to transfers of funds that do not contain complete information on the originator. 4. In establishing a domestic regulatory and supervisory regime under the terms of this article, and without prejudice to any other article of this Convention, States Parties are called upon to use as a guideline the relevant initiatives of regional, interregional and multilateral organizations against money-laundering. 11 5. States Parties shall endeavour to develop and promote global, regional, subregional and bilateral cooperation among judicial, law enforcement and financial regulatory authorities in order to combat money-laundering. Chapter III Criminalization and law enforcement Article 15 Bribery of national public officials Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally: (a) The promise, offering or giving, to a public official, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage, for the official himself or herself or another person or entity, in order that the official act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties; (b) The solicitation or acceptance by a public official, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage, for the official himself or herself or another person or entity, in order that the official act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties. Article 16 Bribery of foreign public officials and officials of public international organizations 1. Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, when committed intentionally, the promise, offering or giving to a foreign public official or an official of a public international organization, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage, for the official himself or herself or another person or entity, in order that the official act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties, in order to obtain or retain business or other undue advantage in relation to the conduct of international business. 2. Each State Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, when committed intentionally, the solicitation or acceptance by a foreign public official or an official of a public international organization, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage, for the official himself or herself or another person or entity, in order that the official act or refrain from acting in the exercise of his or her official duties. Article 17 Embezzlement, misappropriation or other diversion of property by a public official Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally, the embezzlement, misappropriation or other diversion by a public official for his or her benefit or for the benefit of another person or entity, of any property, public or 12 private funds or securities or any other thing of value entrusted to the public official by virtue of his or her position. Article 18 Trading in influence Each State Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally: (a) The promise, offering or giving to a public official or any other person, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage in order that the public official or the person abuse his or her real or supposed influence with a view to obtaining from an administration or public authority of the State Party an undue advantage for the original instigator of the act or for any other person; (b) The solicitation or acceptance by a public official or any other person, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage for himself or herself or for another person in order that the public official or the person abuse his or her real or supposed influence with a view to obtaining from an administration or public authority of the State Party an undue advantage. Article 19 Abuse of functions Each State Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, when committed intentionally, the abuse of functions or position, that is, the performance of or failure to perform an act, in violation of laws, by a public official in the discharge of his or her functions, for the purpose of obtaining an undue advantage for himself or herself or for another person or entity. Article 20 Illicit enrichment Subject to its constitution and the fundamental principles of its legal system, each State Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, when committed intentionally, illicit enrichment, that is, a significant increase in the assets of a public official that he or she cannot reasonably explain in relation to his or her lawful income. Article 21 Bribery in the private sector Each State Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally in the course of economic, financial or commercial activities: (a) The promise, offering or giving, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage to any person who directs or works, in any capacity, for a private sector entity, for the person himself or herself or for another person, in order that he or she, in breach of his or her duties, act or refrain from acting; (b) The solicitation or acceptance, directly or indirectly, of an undue advantage by any person who directs or works, in any capacity, for a private sector 13 entity, for the person himself or herself or for another person, in order that he or she, in breach of his or her duties, act or refrain from acting. Article 22 Embezzlement of property in the private sector Each State Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, when committed intentionally in the course of economic, financial or commercial activities, embezzlement by a person who directs or works, in any capacity, in a private sector entity of any property, private funds or securities or any other thing of value entrusted to him or her by virtue of his or her position. Article 23 Laundering of proceeds of crime 1. Each State Party shall adopt, in accordance with fundamental principles of its domestic law, such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally: (a) (i) The conversion or transfer of property, knowing that such property is the proceeds of crime, for the purpose of concealing or disguising the illicit origin of the property or of helping any person who is involved in the commission of the predicate offence to evade the legal consequences of his or her action; (ii) The concealment or disguise of the true nature, source, location, disposition, movement or ownership of or rights with respect to property, knowing that such property is the proceeds of crime; (b) Subject to the basic concepts of its legal system: (i) The acquisition, possession or use of property, knowing, at the time of receipt, that such property is the proceeds of crime; (ii) Participation in, association with or conspiracy to commit, attempts to commit and aiding, abetting, facilitating and counselling the commission of any of the offences established in accordance with this article. 2. For purposes of implementing or applying paragraph 1 of this article: (a) Each State Party shall seek to apply paragraph 1 of this article to the widest range of predicate offences; (b) Each State Party shall include as predicate offences at a minimum a comprehensive range of criminal offences established in accordance with this Convention; (c) For the purposes of subparagraph (b) above, predicate offences shall include offences committed both within and outside the jurisdiction of the State Party in question. However, offences committed outside the jurisdiction of a State Party shall constitute predicate offences only when the relevant conduct is a criminal offence under the domestic law of the State where it is committed and would be a criminal offence under the domestic law of the State Party implementing or applying this article had it been committed there; 14 (d) Each State Party shall furnish copies of its laws that give effect to this article and of any subsequent changes to such laws or a description thereof to the Secretary-General of the United Nations; (e) If required by fundamental principles of the domestic law of a State Party, it may be provided that the offences set forth in paragraph 1 of this article do not apply to the persons who committed the predicate offence. Article 24 Concealment Without prejudice to the provisions of article 23 of this Convention, each State Party shall consider adopting such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, when committed intentionally after the commission of any of the offences established in accordance with this Convention without having participated in such offences, the concealment or continued retention of property when the person involved knows that such property is the result of any of the offences established in accordance with this Convention. Article 25 Obstruction of justice Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as criminal offences, when committed intentionally: (a) The use of physical force, threats or intimidation or the promise, offering or giving of an undue advantage to induce false testimony or to interfere in the giving of testimony or the production of evidence in a proceeding in relation to the commission of offences established in accordance with this Convention; (b) The use of physical force, threats or intimidation to interfere with the exercise of official duties by a justice or law enforcement official in relation to the commission of offences established in accordance with this Convention. Nothing in this subparagraph shall prejudice the right of States Parties to have legislation that protects other categories of public official. Article 26 Liability of legal persons 1. Each State Party shall adopt such measures as may be necessary, consistent with its legal principles, to establish the liability of legal persons for participation in the offences established in accordance with this Convention. 2. Subject to the legal principles of the State Party, the liability of legal persons may be criminal, civil or administrative. 3. Such liability shall be without prejudice to the criminal liability of the natural persons who have committed the offences. 4. Each State Party shall, in particular, ensure that legal persons held liable in accordance with this article are subject to effective, proportionate and dissuasive criminal or non-criminal sanctions, including monetary sanctions. 15 Article 27 Participation and attempt 1. Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, in accordance with its domestic law, participation in any capacity such as an accomplice, assistant or instigator in an offence established in accordance with this Convention. 2. Each State Party may adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, in accordance with its domestic law, any attempt to commit an offence established in accordance with this Convention. 3. Each State Party may adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish as a criminal offence, in accordance with its domestic law, the preparation for an offence established in accordance with this Convention. Article 28 Knowledge, intent and purpose as elements of an offence Knowledge, intent or purpose required as an element of an offence established in accordance with this Convention may be inferred from objective factual circumstances. Article 29 Statute of limitations Each State Party shall, where appropriate, establish under its domestic law a long statute of limitations period in which to commence proceedings for any offence established in accordance with this Convention and establish a longer statute of limitations period or provide for the suspension of the statute of limitations where the alleged offender has evaded the administration of justice. Article 30 Prosecution, adjudication and sanctions 1. Each State Party shall make the commission of an offence established in accordance with this Convention liable to sanctions that take into account the gravity of that offence. 2. Each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary to establish or maintain, in accordance with its legal system and constitutional principles, an appropriate balance between any immunities or jurisdictional privileges accorded to its public officials for the performance of their functions and the possibility, when necessary, of effectively investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating offences established in accordance with this Convention. 3. Each State Party shall endeavour to ensure that any discretionary legal powers under its domestic law relating to the prosecution of persons for offences established in accordance with this Convention are exercised to maximize the effectiveness of law enforcement measures in respect of those offences and with due regard to the need to deter the commission of such offences. 4. In the case of offences established in accordance with this Convention, each State Party shall take appropriate measures, in accordance with its domestic 16 law and with due regard to the rights of the defence, to seek to ensure that conditions imposed in connection with decisions on release pending trial or appeal take into consideration the need to ensure the presence of the defendant at subsequent criminal proceedings. 5. Each State Party shall take into account the gravity of the offences concerned when considering the eventuality of early release or parole of persons convicted of such offences. 6. Each State Party, to the extent consistent with the fundamental principles of its legal system, shall consider establishing procedures through which a public official accused of an offence established in accordance with this Convention may, where appropriate, be removed, suspended or reassigned by the appropriate authority, bearing in mind respect for the principle of the presumption of innocence. 7. Where warranted by the gravity of the offence, each State Party, to the extent consistent with the fundamental principles of its legal system, shall consider establishing procedures for the disqualification, by court order or any other appropriate means, for a period of time determined by its domestic law, of persons convicted of offences established in accordance with this Convention from: (a) Holding public office; and (b) Holding office in an enterprise owned in whole or in part by the State. 8. Paragraph 1 of this article shall be without prejudice to the exercise of disciplinary powers by the competent authorities against civil servants. 9. Nothing contained in this Convention shall affect the principle that the description of the offences established in accordance with this Convention and of the applicable legal defences or other legal principles controlling the lawfulness of conduct is reserved to the domestic law of a State Party and that such offences shall be prosecuted and punished in accordance with that law. 10. States Parties shall endeavour to promote the reintegration into society of persons convicted of offences established in accordance with this Convention. Article 31 Freezing, seizure and confiscation 1. Each State Party shall take, to the greatest extent possible within its domestic legal system, such measures as may be necessary to enable confiscation of: (a) Proceeds of crime derived from offences established in accordance with this Convention or property the value of which corresponds to that of such proceeds; (b) Property, equipment or other instrumentalities used in or destined for use in offences established in accordance with this Convention. 2. Each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary to enable the identification, tracing, freezing or seizure of any item referred to in paragraph 1 of this article for the purpose of eventual confiscation. 3. Each State Party shall adopt, in accordance with its domestic law, such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to regulate the administration by 17 the competent authorities of frozen, seized or confiscated property covered in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article. 4. If such proceeds of crime have been transformed or converted, in part or in full, into other property, such property shall be liable to the measures referred to in this article instead of the proceeds. 5. If such proceeds of crime have been intermingled with property acquired from legitimate sources, such property shall, without prejudice to any powers relating to freezing or seizure, be liable to confiscation up to the assessed value of the intermingled proceeds. 6. Income or other benefits derived from such proceeds of crime, from property into which such proceeds of crime have been transformed or converted or from property with which such proceeds of crime have been intermingled shall also be liable to the measures referred to in this article, in the same manner and to the same extent as proceeds of crime. 7. For the purpose of this article and article 55 of this Convention, each State Party shall empower its courts or other competent authorities to order that bank, financial or commercial records be made available or seized. A State Party shall not decline to act under the provisions of this paragraph on the ground of bank secrecy. 8. States Parties may consider the possibility of requiring that an offender demonstrate the lawful origin of such alleged proceeds of crime or other property liable to confiscation, to the extent that such a requirement is consistent with the fundamental principles of their domestic law and with the nature of judicial and other proceedings. 9. The provisions of this article shall not be so construed as to prejudice the rights of bona fide third parties. 10. Nothing contained in this article shall affect the principle that the measures to which it refers shall be defined and implemented in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the domestic law of a State Party. Article 32 Protection of witnesses, experts and victims 1. Each State Party shall take appropriate measures in accordance with its domestic legal system and within its means to provide effective protection from potential retaliation or intimidation for witnesses and experts who give testimony concerning offences established in accordance with this Convention and, as appropriate, for their relatives and other persons close to them. 2. The measures envisaged in paragraph 1 of this article may include, inter alia, without prejudice to the rights of the defendant, including the right to due process: (a) Establishing procedures for the physical protection of such persons, such as, to the extent necessary and feasible, relocating them and permitting, where appropriate, non-disclosure or limitations on the disclosure of information concerning the identity and whereabouts of such persons; 18 (b) Providing evidentiary rules to permit witnesses and experts to give testimony in a manner that ensures the safety of such persons, such as permitting testimony to be given through the use of communications technology such as video or other adequate means. 3. States Parties shall consider entering into agreements or arrangements with other States for the relocation of persons referred to in paragraph 1 of this article. 4. The provisions of this article shall also apply to victims insofar as they are witnesses. 5. Each State Party shall, subject to its domestic law, enable the views and concerns of victims to be presented and considered at appropriate stages of criminal proceedings against offenders in a manner not prejudicial to the rights of the defence. Article 33 Protection of reporting persons Each State Party shall consider incorporating into its domestic legal system appropriate measures to provide protection against any unjustified treatment for any person who reports in good faith and on reasonable grounds to the competent authorities any facts concerning offences established in accordance with this Convention. Article 34 Consequences of acts of corruption With due regard to the rights of third parties acquired in good faith, each State Party shall take measures, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, to address consequences of corruption. In this context, States Parties may consider corruption a relevant factor in legal proceedings to annul or rescind a contract, withdraw a concession or other similar instrument or take any other remedial action. Article 35 Compensation for damage Each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary, in accordance with principles of its domestic law, to ensure that entities or persons who have suffered damage as a result of an act of corruption have the right to initiate legal proceedings against those responsible for that damage in order to obtain compensation. Article 36 Specialized authorities Each State Party shall, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its legal system, ensure the existence of a body or bodies or persons specialized in combating corruption through law enforcement. Such body or bodies or persons shall be granted the necessary independence, in accordance with the fundamental principles of the legal system of the State Party, to be able to carry out their 19 functions effectively and without any undue influence. Such persons or staff of such body or bodies should have the appropriate training and resources to carry out their tasks. Article 37 Cooperation with law enforcement authorities 1. Each State Party shall take appropriate measures to encourage persons who participate or who have participated in the commission of an offence established in accordance with this Convention to supply information useful to competent authorities for investigative and evidentiary purposes and to provide factual, specific help to competent authorities that may contribute to depriving offenders of the proceeds of crime and to recovering such proceeds. 2. Each State Party shall consider providing for the possibility, in appropriate cases, of mitigating punishment of an accused person who provides substantial cooperation in the investigation or prosecution of an offence established in accordance with this Convention. 3. Each State Party shall consider providing for the possibility, in accordance with fundamental principles of its domestic law, of granting immunity from prosecution to a person who provides substantial cooperation in the investigation or prosecution of an offence established in accordance with this Convention. 4. Protection of such persons shall be, mutatis mutandis, as provided for in article 32 of this Convention. 5. Where a person referred to in paragraph 1 of this article located in one State Party can provide substantial cooperation to the competent authorities of another State Party, the States Parties concerned may consider entering into agreements or arrangements, in accordance with their domestic law, concerning the potential provision by the other State Party of the treatment set forth in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this article. Article 38 Cooperation between national authorities Each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary to encourage, in accordance with its domestic law, cooperation between, on the one hand, its public authorities, as well as its public officials, and, on the other hand, its authorities responsible for investigating and prosecuting criminal offences. Such cooperation may include: (a) Informing the latter authorities, on their own initiative, where there are reasonable grounds to believe that any of the offences established in accordance with articles 15, 21 and 23 of this Convention has been committed; or (b) Providing, upon request, to the latter authorities all necessary information. 20 Article 39 Cooperation between national authorities and the private sector 1. Each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary to encourage, in accordance with its domestic law, cooperation between national investigating and prosecuting authorities and entities of the private sector, in particular financial institutions, relating to matters involving the commission of offences established in accordance with this Convention. 2. Each State Party shall consider encouraging its nationals and other persons with a habitual residence in its territory to report to the national investigating and prosecuting authorities the commission of an offence established in accordance with this Convention. Article 40 Bank secrecy Each State Party shall ensure that, in the case of domestic criminal investigations of offences established in accordance with this Convention, there are appropriate mechanisms available within its domestic legal system to overcome obstacles that may arise out of the application of bank secrecy laws. Article 41 Criminal record Each State Party may adopt such legislative or other measures as may be necessary to take into consideration, under such terms as and for the purpose that it deems appropriate, any previous conviction in another State of an alleged offender for the purpose of using such information in criminal proceedings relating to an offence established in accordance with this Convention. Article 42 Jurisdiction 1. Each State Party shall adopt such measures as may be necessary to establish its jurisdiction over the offences established in accordance with this Convention when: (a) The offence is committed in the territory of that State Party; or (b) The offence is committed on board a vessel that is flying the flag of that State Party or an aircraft that is registered under the laws of that State Party at the time that the offence is committed. 2. Subject to article 4 of this Convention, a State Party may also establish its jurisdiction over any such offence when: (a) The offence is committed against a national of that State Party; or (b) The offence is committed by a national of that State Party or a stateless person who has his or her habitual residence in its territory; or (c) The offence is one of those established in accordance with article 23, paragraph 1 (b) (ii), of this Convention and is committed outside its territory with a 21 view to the commission of an offence established in accordance with article 23, paragraph 1 (a) (i) or (ii) or (b) (i), of this Convention within its territory; or (d) The offence is committed against the State Party. 3. For the purposes of article 44 of this Convention, each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary to establish its jurisdiction over the offences established in accordance with this Convention when the alleged offender is present in its territory and it does not extradite such person solely on the ground that he or she is one of its nationals. 4. Each State Party may also take such measures as may be necessary to establish its jurisdiction over the offences established in accordance with this Convention when the alleged offender is present in its territory and it does not extradite him or her. 5. If a State Party exercising its jurisdiction under paragraph 1 or 2 of this article has been notified, or has otherwise learned, that any other States Parties are conducting an investigation, prosecution or judicial proceeding in respect of the same conduct, the competent authorities of those States Parties shall, as appropriate, consult one another with a view to coordinating their actions. 6. Without prejudice to norms of general international law, this Convention shall not exclude the exercise of any criminal jurisdiction established by a State Party in accordance with its domestic law. Chapter IV International cooperation Article 43 International cooperation 1. States Parties shall cooperate in criminal matters in accordance with articles 44 to 50 of this Convention. Where appropriate and consistent with their domestic legal system, States Parties shall consider assisting each other in investigations of and proceedings in civil and administrative matters relating to corruption. 2. In matters of international cooperation, whenever dual criminality is considered a requirement, it shall be deemed fulfilled irrespective of whether the laws of the requested State Party place the offence within the same category of offence or denominate the offence by the same terminology as the requesting State Party, if the conduct underlying the offence for which assistance is sought is a criminal offence under the laws of both States Parties. Article 44 Extradition 1. This article shall apply to the offences established in accordance with this Convention where the person who is the subject of the request for extradition is present in the territory of the requested State Party, provided that the offence for which extradition is sought is punishable under the domestic law of both the requesting State Party and the requested State Party. 22 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 of this article, a State Party whose law so permits may grant the extradition of a person for any of the offences covered by this Convention that are not punishable under its own domestic law. 3. If the request for extradition includes several separate offences, at least one of which is extraditable under this article and some of which are not extraditable by reason of their period of imprisonment but are related to offences established in accordance with this Convention, the requested State Party may apply this article also in respect of those offences. 4. Each of the offences to which this article applies shall be deemed to be included as an extraditable offence in any extradition treaty existing between States Parties. States Parties undertake to include such offences as extraditable offences in every extradition treaty to be concluded between them. A State Party whose law so permits, in case it uses this Convention as the basis for extradition, shall not consider any of the offences established in accordance with this Convention to be a political offence. 5. If a State Party that makes extradition conditional on the existence of a treaty receives a request for extradition from another State Party with which it has no extradition treaty, it may consider this Convention the legal basis for extradition in respect of any offence to which this article applies. 6. A State Party that makes extradition conditional on the existence of a treaty shall: (a) At the time of deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of or accession to this Convention, inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations whether it will take this Convention as the legal basis for cooperation on extradition with other States Parties to this Convention; and (b) If it does not take this Convention as the legal basis for cooperation on extradition, seek, where appropriate, to conclude treaties on extradition with other States Parties to this Convention in order to implement this article. 7. States Parties that do not make extradition conditional on the existence of a treaty shall recognize offences to which this article applies as extraditable offences between themselves. 8. Extradition shall be subject to the conditions provided for by the domestic law of the requested State Party or by applicable extradition treaties, including, inter alia, conditions in relation to the minimum penalty requirement for extradition and the grounds upon which the requested State Party may refuse extradition. 9. States Parties shall, subject to their domestic law, endeavour to expedite extradition procedures and to simplify evidentiary requirements relating thereto in respect of any offence to which this article applies. 10. Subject to the provisions of its domestic law and its extradition treaties, the requested State Party may, upon being satisfied that the circumstances so warrant and are urgent and at the request of the requesting State Party, take a person whose extradition is sought and who is present in its territory into custody or take other appropriate measures to ensure his or her presence at extradition proceedings. 23 11. A State Party in whose territory an alleged offender is found, if it does not extradite such person in respect of an offence to which this article applies solely on the ground that he or she is one of its nationals, shall, at the request of the State Party seeking extradition, be obliged to submit the case without undue delay to its competent authorities for the purpose of prosecution. Those authorities shall take their decision and conduct their proceedings in the same manner as in the case of any other offence of a grave nature under the domestic law of that State Party. The States Parties concerned shall cooperate with each other, in particular on procedural and evidentiary aspects, to ensure the efficiency of such prosecution. 12. Whenever a State Party is permitted under its domestic law to extradite or otherwise surrender one of its nationals only upon the condition that the person will be returned to that State Party to serve the sentence imposed as a result of the trial or proceedings for which the extradition or surrender of the person was sought and that State Party and the State Party seeking the extradition of the person agree with this option and other terms that they may deem appropriate, such conditional extradition or surrender shall be sufficient to discharge the obligation set forth in paragraph 11 of this article. 13. If extradition, sought for purposes of enforcing a sentence, is refused because the person sought is a national of the requested State Party, the requested State Party shall, if its domestic law so permits and in conformity with the requirements of such law, upon application of the requesting State Party, consider the enforcement of the sentence imposed under the domestic law of the requesting State Party or the remainder thereof. 14. Any person regarding whom proceedings are being carried out in connection with any of the offences to which this article applies shall be guaranteed fair treatment at all stages of the proceedings, including enjoyment of all the rights and guarantees provided by the domestic law of the State Party in the territory of which that person is present. 15. Nothing in this Convention shall be interpreted as imposing an obligation to extradite if the requested State Party has substantial grounds for believing that the request has been made for the purpose of prosecuting or punishing a person on account of that person's sex, race, religion, nationality, ethnic origin or political opinions or that compliance with the request would cause prejudice to that person's position for any one of these reasons. 16. States Parties may not refuse a request for extradition on the sole ground that the offence is also considered to involve fiscal matters. 17. Before refusing extradition, the requested State Party shall, where appropriate, consult with the requesting State Party to provide it with ample opportunity to present its opinions and to provide information relevant to its allegation. 18. States Parties shall seek to conclude bilateral and multilateral agreements or arrangements to carry out or to enhance the effectiveness of extradition. 24 Article 45 Transfer of sentenced persons States Parties may consider entering into bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements on the transfer to their territory of persons sentenced to imprisonment or other forms of deprivation of liberty for offences established in accordance with this Convention in order that they may complete their sentences there. Article 46 Mutual legal assistance 1. States Parties shall afford one another the widest measure of mutual legal assistance in investigations, prosecutions and judicial proceedings in relation to the offences covered by this Convention. 2. Mutual legal assistance shall be afforded to the fullest extent possible under relevant laws, treaties, agreements and arrangements of the requested State Party with respect to investigations, prosecutions and judicial proceedings in relation to the offences for which a legal person may be held liable in accordance with article 26 of this Convention in the requesting State Party. 3. Mutual legal assistance to be afforded in accordance with this article may be requested for any of the following purposes: (a) Taking evidence or statements from persons; (b) Effecting service of judicial documents; (c) Executing searches and seizures, and freezing; (d) Examining objects and sites; (e) Providing information, evidentiary items and expert evaluations; (f) Providing originals or certified copies of relevant documents and records, including government, bank, financial, corporate or business records; (g) Identifying or tracing proceeds of crime, property, instrumentalities or other things for evidentiary purposes; (h) Facilitating the voluntary appearance of persons in the requesting State Party; (i) Any other type of assistance that is not contrary to the domestic law of the requested State Party; (j) Identifying, freezing and tracing proceeds of crime in accordance with the provisions of chapter V of this Convention; (k) The recovery of assets, in accordance with the provisions of chapter V of this Convention. 4. Without prejudice to domestic law, the competent authorities of a State Party may, without prior request, transmit information relating to criminal matters to a competent authority in another State Party where they believe that such information could assist the authority in undertaking or successfully concluding 25 inquiries and criminal proceedings or could result in a request formulated by the latter State Party pursuant to this Convention. 5. The transmission of information pursuant to paragraph 4 of this article shall be without prejudice to inquiries and criminal proceedings in the State of the competent authorities providing the information. The competent authorities receiving the information shall comply with a request that said information remain confidential, even temporarily, or with restrictions on its use. However, this shall not prevent the receiving State Party from disclosing in its proceedings information that is exculpatory to an accused person. In such a case, the receiving State Party shall notify the transmitting State Party prior to the disclosure and, if so requested, consult with the transmitting State Party. If, in an exceptional case, advance notice is not possible, the receiving State Party shall inform the transmitting State Party of the disclosure without delay. 6. The provisions of this article shall not affect the obligations under any other treaty, bilateral or multilateral, that governs or will govern, in whole or in part, mutual legal assistance. 7. Paragraphs 9 to 29 of this article shall apply to requests made pursuant to this article if the States Parties in question are not bound by a treaty of mutual legal assistance. If those States Parties are bound by such a treaty, the corresponding provisions of that treaty shall apply unless the States Parties agree to apply paragraphs 9 to 29 of this article in lieu thereof. States Parties are strongly encouraged to apply those paragraphs if they facilitate cooperation. 8. States Parties shall not decline to render mutual legal assistance pursuant to this article on the ground of bank secrecy. 9. (a) A requested State Party, in responding to a request for assistance pursuant to this article in the absence of dual criminality, shall take into account the purposes of this Convention, as set forth in article 1; (b) States Parties may decline to render assistance pursuant to this article on the ground of absence of dual criminality. However, a requested State Party shall, where consistent with the basic concepts of its legal system, render assistance that does not involve coercive action. Such assistance may be refused when requests involve matters of a de minimis nature or matters for which the cooperation or assistance sought is available under other provisions of this Convention; (c) Each State Party may consider adopting such measures as may be necessary to enable it to provide a wider scope of assistance pursuant to this article in the absence of dual criminality. 10. A person who is being detained or is serving a sentence in the territory of one State Party whose presence in another State Party is requested for purposes of identification, testimony or otherwise providing assistance in obtaining evidence for investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings in relation to offences covered by this Convention may be transferred if the following conditions are met: (a) The person freely gives his or her informed consent; (b) The competent authorities of both States Parties agree, subject to such conditions as those States Parties may deem appropriate. 26 11. For the purposes of paragraph 10 of this article: (a) The State Party to which the person is transferred shall have the authority and obligation to keep the person transferred in custody, unless otherwise requested or authorized by the State Party from which the person was transferred; (b) The State Party to which the person is transferred shall without delay implement its obligation to return the person to the custody of the State Party from which the person was transferred as agreed beforehand, or as otherwise agreed, by the competent authorities of both States Parties; (c) The State Party to which the person is transferred shall not require the State Party from which the person was transferred to initiate extradition proceedings for the return of the person; (d) The person transferred shall receive credit for service of the sentence being served in the State from which he or she was transferred for time spent in the custody of the State Party to which he or she was transferred. 12. Unless the State Party from which a person is to be transferred in accordance with paragraphs 10 and 11 of this article so agrees, that person, whatever his or her nationality, shall not be prosecuted, detained, punished or subjected to any other restriction of his or her personal liberty in the territory of the State to which that person is transferred in respect of acts, omissions or convictions prior to his or her departure from the territory of the State from which he or she was transferred. 13. Each State Party shall designate a central authority that shall have the responsibility and power to receive requests for mutual legal assistance and either to execute them or to transmit them to the competent authorities for execution. Where a State Party has a special region or territory with a separate system of mutual legal assistance, it may designate a distinct central authority that shall have the same function for that region or territory. Central authorities shall ensure the speedy and proper execution or transmission of the requests received. Where the central authority transmits the request to a competent authority for execution, it shall encourage the speedy and proper execution of the request by the competent authority. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be notified of the central authority designated for this purpose at the time each State Party deposits its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of or accession to this Convention. Requests for mutual legal assistance and any communication related thereto shall be transmitted to the central authorities designated by the States Parties. This requirement shall be without prejudice to the right of a State Party to require that such requests and communications be addressed to it through diplomatic channels and, in urgent circumstances, where the States Parties agree, through the International Criminal Police Organization, if possible. 14. Requests shall be made in writing or, where possible, by any means capable of producing a written record, in a language acceptable to the requested State Party, under conditions allowing that State Party to establish authenticity. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be notified of the language or languages acceptable to each State Party at the time it deposits its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of or accession to this Convention. In urgent 27 circumstances and where agreed by the States Parties, requests may be made orally but shall be confirmed in writing forthwith. 15. A request for mutual legal assistance shall contain: (a) The identity of the authority making the request; (b) The subject matter and nature of the investigation, prosecution or judicial proceeding to which the request relates and the name and functions of the authority conducting the investigation, prosecution or judicial proceeding; (c) A summary of the relevant facts, except in relation to requests for the purpose of service of judicial documents; (d) A description of the assistance sought and details of any particular procedure that the requesting State Party wishes to be followed; (e) Where possible, the identity, location and nationality of any person concerned; and (f) The purpose for which the evidence, information or action is sought. 16. The requested State Party may request additional information when it appears necessary for the execution of the request in accordance with its domestic law or when it can facilitate such execution. 17. A request shall be executed in accordance with the domestic law of the requested State Party and, to the extent not contrary to the domestic law of the requested State Party and where possible, in accordance with the procedures specified in the request. 18. Wherever possible and consistent with fundamental principles of domestic law, when an individual is in the territory of a State Party and has to be heard as a witness or expert by the judicial authorities of another State Party, the first State Party may, at the request of the other, permit the hearing to take place by video conference if it is not possible or desirable for the individual in question to appear in person in the territory of the requesting State Party. States Parties may agree that the hearing shall be conducted by a judicial authority of the requesting State Party and attended by a judicial authority of the requested State Party. 19. The requesting State Party shall not transmit or use information or evidence furnished by the requested State Party for investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings other than those stated in the request without the prior consent of the requested State Party. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent the requesting State Party from disclosing in its proceedings information or evidence that is exculpatory to an accused person. In the latter case, the requesting State Party shall notify the requested State Party prior to the disclosure and, if so requested, consult with the requested State Party. If, in an exceptional case, advance notice is not possible, the requesting State Party shall inform the requested State Party of the disclosure without delay. 20. The requesting State Party may require that the requested State Party keep confidential the fact and substance of the request, except to the extent necessary to execute the request. If the requested State Party cannot comply with the requirement of confidentiality, it shall promptly inform the requesting State Party. 28 21. Mutual legal assistance may be refused: (a) If the request is not made in conformity with the provisions of this article; (b) If the requested State Party considers that execution of the request is likely to prejudice its sovereignty, security, ordre public or other essential interests; (c) If the authorities of the requested State Party would be prohibited by its domestic law from carrying out the action requested with regard to any similar offence, had it been subject to investigation, prosecution or judicial proceedings under their own jurisdiction; (d) If it would be contrary to the legal system of the requested State Party relating to mutual legal assistance for the request to be granted. 22. States Parties may not refuse a request for mutual legal assistance on the sole ground that the offence is also considered to involve fiscal matters. 23. Reasons shall be given for any refusal of mutual legal assistance. 24. The requested State Party shall execute the request for mutual legal assistance as soon as possible and shall take as full account as possible of any deadlines suggested by the requesting State Party and for which reasons are given, preferably in the request. The requesting State Party may make reasonable requests for information on the status and progress of measures taken by the requested State Party to satisfy its request. The requested State Party shall respond to reasonable requests by the requesting State Party on the status, and progress in its handling, of the request. The requesting State Party shall promptly inform the requested State Party when the assistance sought is no longer required. 25. Mutual legal assistance may be postponed by the requested State Party on the ground that it interferes with an ongoing investigation, prosecution or judicial proceeding. 26. Before refusing a request pursuant to paragraph 21 of this article or postponing its execution pursuant to paragraph 25 of this article, the requested State Party shall consult with the requesting State Party to consider whether assistance may be granted subject to such terms and conditions as it deems necessary. If the requesting State Party accepts assistance subject to those conditions, it shall comply with the conditions. 27. Without prejudice to the application of paragraph 12 of this article, a witness, expert or other person who, at the request of the requesting State Party, consents to give evidence in a proceeding or to assist in an investigation, prosecution or judicial proceeding in the territory of the requesting State Party shall not be prosecuted, detained, punished or subjected to any other restriction of his or her personal liberty in that territory in respect of acts, omissions or convictions prior to his or her departure from the territory of the requested State Party. Such safe conduct shall cease when the witness, expert or other person having had, for a period of fifteen consecutive days or for any period agreed upon by the States Parties from the date on which he or she has been officially informed that his or her presence is no longer required by the judicial authorities, an opportunity of leaving, has nevertheless remained voluntarily in the territory of the requesting State Party or, having left it, has returned of his or her own free will. 29 28. The ordinary costs of executing a request shall be borne by the requested State Party, unless otherwise agreed by the States Parties concerned. If expenses of a substantial or extraordinary nature are or will be required to fulfil the request, the States Parties shall consult to determine the terms and conditions under which the request will be executed, as well as the manner in which the costs shall be borne. 29. The requested State Party: (a) Shall provide to the requesting State Party copies of government records, documents or information in its possession that under its domestic law are available to the general public; (b) May, at its discretion, provide to the requesting State Party in whole, in part or subject to such conditions as it deems appropriate, copies of any government records, documents or information in its possession that under its domestic law are not available to the general public. 30. States Parties shall consider, as may be necessary, the possibility of concluding bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements that would serve the purposes of, give practical effect to or enhance the provisions of this article. Article 47 Transfer of criminal proceedings States Parties shall consider the possibility of transferring to one another proceedings for the prosecution of an offence established in accordance with this Convention in cases where such transfer is considered to be in the interests of the proper administration of justice, in particular in cases where several jurisdictions are involved, with a view to concentrating the prosecution. Article 48 Law enforcement cooperation 1. States Parties shall cooperate closely with one another, consistent with their respective domestic legal and administrative systems, to enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement action to combat the offences covered by this Convention. States Parties shall, in particular, take effective measures: (a) To enhance and, where necessary, to establish channels of communication between their competent authorities, agencies and services in order to facilitate the secure and rapid exchange of information concerning all aspects of the offences covered by this Convention, including, if the States Parties concerned deem it appropriate, links with other criminal activities; (b) To cooperate with other States Parties in conducting inquiries with respect to offences covered by this Convention concerning: (i) The identity, whereabouts and activities of persons suspected of involvement in such offences or the location of other persons concerned; (ii) The movement of proceeds of crime or property derived from the commission of such offences; (iii) The movement of property, equipment or other instrumentalities used or intended for use in the commission of such offences; 30 (c) To provide, where appropriate, necessary items or quantities of substances for analytical or investigative purposes; (d) To exchange, where appropriate, information with other States Parties concerning specific means and methods used to commit offences covered by this Convention, including the use of false identities, forged, altered or false documents and other means of concealing activities; (e) To facilitate effective coordination between their competent authorities, agencies and services and to promote the exchange of personnel and other experts, including, subject to bilateral agreements or arrangements between the States Parties concerned, the posting of liaison officers; (f) To exchange information and coordinate administrative and other measures taken as appropriate for the purpose of early identification of the offences covered by this Convention. 2. With a view to giving effect to this Convention, States Parties shall consider entering into bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements on direct cooperation between their law enforcement agencies and, where such agreements or arrangements already exist, amending them. In the absence of such agreements or arrangements between the States Parties concerned, the States Parties may consider this Convention to be the basis for mutual law enforcement cooperation in respect of the offences covered by this Convention. Whenever appropriate, States Parties shall make full use of agreements or arrangements, including international or regional organizations, to enhance the cooperation between their law enforcement agencies. 3. States Parties shall endeavour to cooperate within their means to respond to offences covered by this Convention committed through the use of modern technology. Article 49 Joint investigations States Parties shall consider concluding bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements whereby, in relation to matters that are the subject of investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings in one or more States, the competent authorities concerned may establish joint investigative bodies. In the absence of such agreements or arrangements, joint investigations may be undertaken by agreement on a case-by-case basis. The States Parties involved shall ensure that the sovereignty of the State Party in whose territory such investigation is to take place is fully respected. Article 50 Special investigative techniques 1. In order to combat corruption effectively, each State Party shall, to the extent permitted by the basic principles of its domestic legal system and in accordance with the conditions prescribed by its domestic law, take such measures as may be necessary, within its means, to allow for the appropriate use by its competent authorities of controlled delivery and, where it deems appropriate, other special investigative techniques, such as electronic or other forms of surveillance 31 and undercover operations, within its territory, and to allow for the admissibility in court of evidence derived therefrom. 2. For the purpose of investigating the offences covered by this Convention, States Parties are encouraged to conclude, when necessary, appropriate bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements for using such special investigative techniques in the context of cooperation at the international level. Such agreements or arrangements shall be concluded and implemented in full compliance with the principle of sovereign equality of States and shall be carried out strictly in accordance with the terms of those agreements or arrangements. 3. In the absence of an agreement or arrangement as set forth in paragraph 2 of this article, decisions to use such special investigative techniques at the international level shall be made on a case-by-case basis and may, when necessary, take into consideration financial arrangements and understandings with respect to the exercise of jurisdiction by the States Parties concerned. 4. Decisions to use controlled delivery at the international level may, with the consent of the States Parties concerned, include methods such as intercepting and allowing the goods or funds to continue intact or be removed or replaced in whole or in part. Chapter V Asset recovery Article 51 General provision The return of assets pursuant to this chapter is a fundamental principle of this Convention, and States Parties shall afford one another the widest measure of cooperation and assistance in this regard. Article 52 Prevention and detection of transfers of proceeds of crime 1. Without prejudice to article 14 of this Convention, each State Party shall take such measures as may be necessary, in accordance with its domestic law, to require financial institutions within its jurisdiction to verify the identity of customers, to take reasonable steps to determine the identity of beneficial owners of funds deposited into high-value accounts and to conduct enhanced scrutiny of accounts sought or maintained by or on behalf of individuals who are, or have been, entrusted with prominent public functions and their family members and close associates. Such enhanced scrutiny shall be reasonably designed to detect suspicious transactions for the purpose of reporting to competent authorities and should not be so construed as to discourage or prohibit financial institutions from doing business with any legitimate customer. 2. In order to facilitate implementation of the measures provided for in paragraph 1 of this article, each State Party, in accordance with its domestic law and inspired by relevant initiatives of regional, interregional and multilateral organizations against money-laundering, shall: 32 (a) Issue advisories regarding the types of natural or legal person to whose accounts financial institutions within its jurisdiction will be expected to apply enhanced scrutiny, the types of accounts and transactions to which to pay particular attention and appropriate account-opening, maintenance and record-keeping measures to take concerning such accounts; and (b) Where appropriate, notify financial institutions within its jurisdiction, at the request of another State Party or on its own initiative, of the identity of particular natural or legal persons to whose accounts such institutions will be expected to apply enhanced scrutiny, in addition to those whom the financial institutions may otherwise identify. 3. In the context of paragraph 2 (a) of this article, each State Party shall implement measures to ensure that its financial institutions maintain adequate records, over an appropriate period of time, of accounts and transactions involving the persons mentioned in paragraph 1 of this article, which should, as a minimum, contain information relating to the identity of the customer as well as, as far as possible, of the beneficial owner. 4. With the aim of preventing and detecting transfers of proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention, each State Party shall implement appropriate and effective measures to prevent, with the help of its regulatory and oversight bodies, the establishment of banks that have no physical presence and that are not affiliated with a regulated financial group. Moreover, States Parties may consider requiring their financial institutions to refuse to enter into or continue a correspondent banking relationship with such institutions and to guard against establishing relations with foreign financial institutions that permit their accounts to be used by banks that have no physical presence and that are not affiliated with a regulated financial group. 5. Each State Party shall consider establishing, in accordance with its domestic law, effective financial disclosure systems for appropriate public officials and shall provide for appropriate sanctions for non-compliance. Each State Party shall also consider taking such measures as may be necessary to permit its competent authorities to share that information with the competent authorities in other States Parties when necessary to investigate, claim and recover proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention. 6. Each State Party shall consider taking such measures as may be necessary, in accordance with its domestic law, to require appropriate public officials having an interest in or signature or other authority over a financial account in a foreign country to report that relationship to appropriate authorities and to maintain appropriate records related to such accounts. Such measures shall also provide for appropriate sanctions for non-compliance. Article 53 Measures for direct recovery of property Each State Party shall, in accordance with its domestic law: (a) Take such measures as may be necessary to permit another State Party to initiate civil action in its courts to establish title to or ownership of property 33 acquired through the commission of an offence established in accordance with this Convention; (b) Take such measures as may be necessary to permit its courts to order those who have committed offences established in accordance with this Convention to pay compensation or damages to another State Party that has been harmed by such offences; and (c) Take such measures as may be necessary to permit its courts or competent authorities, when having to decide on confiscation, to recognize another State Party's claim as a legitimate owner of property acquired through the commission of an offence established in accordance with this Convention. Article 54 Mechanisms for recovery of property through international cooperation in confiscation 1. Each State Party, in order to provide mutual legal assistance pursuant to article 55 of this Convention with respect to property acquired through or involved in the commission of an offence established in accordance with this Convention, shall, in accordance with its domestic law: (a) Take such measures as may be necessary to permit its competent authorities to give effect to an order of confiscation issued by a court of another State Party; (b) Take such measures as may be necessary to permit its competent authorities, where they have jurisdiction, to order the confiscation of such property of foreign origin by adjudication of an offence of money-laundering or such other offence as may be within its jurisdiction or by other procedures authorized under its domestic law; and (c) Consider taking such measures as may be necessary to allow confiscation of such property without a criminal conviction in cases in which the offender cannot be prosecuted by reason of death, flight or absence or in other appropriate cases. 2. Each State Party, in order to provide mutual legal assistance upon a request made pursuant to paragraph 2 of article 55 of this Convention, shall, in accordance with its domestic law: (a) Take such measures as may be necessary to permit its competent authorities to freeze or seize property upon a freezing or seizure order issued by a court or competent authority of a requesting State Party that provides a reasonable basis for the requested State Party to believe that there are sufficient grounds for taking such actions and that the property would eventually be subject to an order of confiscation for purposes of paragraph 1 (a) of this article; (b) Take such measures as may be necessary to permit its competent authorities to freeze or seize property upon a request that provides a reasonable basis for the requested State Party to believe that there are sufficient grounds for taking such actions and that the property would eventually be subject to an order of confiscation for purposes of paragraph 1 (a) of this article; and 34 (c) Consider taking additional measures to permit its competent authorities to preserve property for confiscation, such as on the basis of a foreign arrest or criminal charge related to the acquisition of such property. Article 55 International cooperation for purposes of confiscation 1. A State Party that has received a request from another State Party having jurisdiction over an offence established in accordance with this Convention for confiscation of proceeds of crime, property, equipment or other instrumentalities referred to in article 31, paragraph 1, of this Convention situated in its territory shall, to the greatest extent possible within its domestic legal system: (a) Submit the request to its competent authorities for the purpose of obtaining an order of confiscation and, if such an order is granted, give effect to it; or (b) Submit to its competent authorities, with a view to giving effect to it to the extent requested, an order of confiscation issued by a court in the territory of the requesting State Party in accordance with articles 31, paragraph 1, and 54, paragraph 1 (a), of this Convention insofar as it relates to proceeds of crime, property, equipment or other instrumentalities referred to in article 31, paragraph 1, situated in the territory of the requested State Party. 2. Following a request made by another State Party having jurisdiction over an offence established in accordance with this Convention, the requested State Party shall take measures to identify, trace and freeze or seize proceeds of crime, property, equipment or other instrumentalities referred to in article 31, paragraph 1, of this Convention for the purpose of eventual confiscation to be ordered either by the requesting State Party or, pursuant to a request under paragraph 1 of this article, by the requested State Party. 3. The provisions of article 46 of this Convention are applicable, mutatis mutandis, to this article. In addition to the information specified in article 46, paragraph 15, requests made pursuant to this article shall contain: (a) In the case of a request pertaining to paragraph 1 (a) of this article, a description of the property to be confiscated, including, to the extent possible, the location and, where relevant, the estimated value of the property and a statement of the facts relied upon by the requesting State Party sufficient to enable the requested State Party to seek the order under its domestic law; (b) In the case of a request pertaining to paragraph 1 (b) of this article, a legally admissible copy of an order of confiscation upon which the request is based issued by the requesting State Party, a statement of the facts and information as to the extent to which execution of the order is requested, a statement specifying the measures taken by the requesting State Party to provide adequate notification to bona fide third parties and to ensure due process and a statement that the confiscation order is final; (c) In the case of a request pertaining to paragraph 2 of this article, a statement of the facts relied upon by the requesting State Party and a description of 35 the actions requested and, where available, a legally admissible copy of an order on which the request is based. 4. The decisions or actions provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article shall be taken by the requested State Party in accordance with and subject to the provisions of its domestic law and its procedural rules or any bilateral or multilateral agreement or arrangement to which it may be bound in relation to the requesting State Party. 5. Each State Party shall furnish copies of its laws and regulations that give effect to this article and of any subsequent changes to such laws and regulations or a description thereof to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. 6. If a State Party elects to make the taking of the measures referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article conditional on the existence of a relevant treaty, that State Party shall consider this Convention the necessary and sufficient treaty basis. 7. Cooperation under this article may also be refused or provisional measures lifted if the requested State Party does not receive sufficient and timely evidence or if the property is of a de minimis value. 8. Before lifting any provisional measure taken pursuant to this article, the requested State Party shall, wherever possible, give the requesting State Party an opportunity to present its reasons in favour of continuing the measure. 9. The provisions of this article shall not be construed as prejudicing the rights of bona fide third parties. Article 56 Special cooperation Without prejudice to its domestic law, each State Party shall endeavour to take measures to permit it to forward, without prejudice to its own investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings, information on proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention to another State Party without prior request, when it considers that the disclosure of such information might assist the receiving State Party in initiating or carrying out investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings or might lead to a request by that State Party under this chapter of the Convention. Article 57 Return and disposal of assets 1. Property confiscated by a State Party pursuant to article 31 or 55 of this Convention shall be disposed of, including by return to its prior legitimate owners, pursuant to paragraph 3 of this article, by that State Party in accordance with the provisions of this Convention and its domestic law. 2. Each State Party shall adopt such legislative and other measures, in accordance with the fundamental principles of its domestic law, as may be necessary to enable its competent authorities to return confiscated property, when acting on the request made by another State Party, in accordance with this Convention, taking into account the rights of bona fide third parties. 36 3. In accordance with articles 46 and 55 of this Convention and paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article, the requested State Party shall: (a) In the case of embezzlement of public funds or of laundering of embezzled public funds as referred to in articles 17 and 23 of this Convention, when confiscation was executed in accordance with article 55 and on the basis of a final judgement in the requesting State Party, a requirement that can be waived by the requested State Party, return the confiscated property to the requesting State Party; (b) In the case of proceeds of any other offence covered by this Convention, when the confiscation was executed in accordance with article 55 of this Convention and on the basis of a final judgement in the requesting State Party, a requirement that can be waived by the requested State Party, return the confiscated property to the requesting State Party, when the requesting State Party reasonably establishes its prior ownership of such confiscated property to the requested State Party or when the requested State Party recognizes damage to the requesting State Party as a basis for returning the confiscated property; (c) In all other cases, give priority consideration to returning confiscated property to the requesting State Party, returning such property to its prior legitimate owners or compensating the victims of the crime. 4. Where appropriate, unless States Parties decide otherwise, the requested State Party may deduct reasonable expenses incurred in investigations, prosecutions or judicial proceedings leading to the return or disposition of confiscated property pursuant to this article. 5. Where appropriate, States Parties may also give special consideration to concluding agreements or mutually acceptable arrangements, on a case-by-case basis, for the final disposal of confiscated property. Article 58 Financial intelligence unit States Parties shall cooperate with one another for the purpose of preventing and combating the transfer of proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention and of promoting ways and means of recovering such proceeds and, to that end, shall consider establishing a financial intelligence unit to be responsible for receiving, analysing and disseminating to the competent authorities reports of suspicious financial transactions. Article 59 Bilateral and multilateral agreements and arrangements States Parties shall consider concluding bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements to enhance the effectiveness of international cooperation undertaken pursuant to this chapter of the Convention. Chapter VI Technical assistance and information exchange 37 Article 60 Training and technical assistance 1. Each State Party shall, to the extent necessary, initiate, develop or improve specific training programmes for its personnel responsible for preventing and combating corruption. Such training programmes could deal, inter alia, with the following areas: (a) Effective measures to prevent, detect, investigate, punish and control corruption, including the use of evidence-gathering and investigative methods; (b) Building capacity in the development and planning of strategic anticorruption policy; (c) Training competent authorities in the preparation of requests for mutual legal assistance that meet the requirements of this Convention; (d) Evaluation and strengthening of institutions, public service management and the management of public finances, including public procurement, and the private sector; (e) Preventing and combating the transfer of proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention and recovering such proceeds; (f) Detecting and freezing of the transfer of proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention; (g) Surveillance of the movement of proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention and of the methods used to transfer, conceal or disguise such proceeds; (h) Appropriate and efficient legal and administrative mechanisms and methods for facilitating the return of proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention; (i) Methods used in protecting victims and witnesses who cooperate with judicial authorities; and (j) Training in national and international regulations and in languages. 2. States Parties shall, according to their capacity, consider affording one another the widest measure of technical assistance, especially for the benefit of developing countries, in their respective plans and programmes to combat corruption, including material support and training in the areas referred to in paragraph 1 of this article, and training and assistance and the mutual exchange of relevant experience and specialized knowledge, which will facilitate international cooperation between States Parties in the areas of extradition and mutual legal assistance. 3. States Parties shall strengthen, to the extent necessary, efforts to maximize operational and training activities in international and regional organizations and in the framework of relevant bilateral and multilateral agreements or arrangements. 4. States Parties shall consider assisting one another, upon request, in conducting evaluations, studies and research relating to the types, causes, effects 38 and costs of corruption in their respective countries, with a view to developing, with the participation of competent authorities and society, strategies and action plans to combat corruption. 5. In order to facilitate the recovery of proceeds of offences established in accordance with this Convention, States Parties may cooperate in providing each other with the names of experts who could assist in achieving that objective. 6. States Parties shall consider using subregional, regional and international conferences and seminars to promote cooperation and technical assistance and to stimulate discussion on problems of mutual concern, including the special problems and needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. 7. States Parties shall consider establishing voluntary mechanisms with a view to contributing financially to the efforts of developing countries and countries with economies in transition to apply this Convention through technical assistance programmes and projects. 8. Each State Party shall consider making voluntary contributions to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for the purpose of fostering, through the Office, programmes and projects in developing countries with a view to implementing this Convention. Article 61 Collection, exchange and analysis of information on corruption 1. Each State Party shall consider analysing, in consultation with experts, trends in corruption in its territory, as well as the circumstances in which corruption offences are committed. 2. States Parties shall consider developing and sharing with each other and through international and regional organizations statistics, analytical expertise concerning corruption and information with a view to developing, insofar as possible, common definitions, standards and methodologies, as well as information on best practices to prevent and combat corruption. 3. Each State Party shall consider monitoring its policies and actual measures to combat corruption and making assessments of their effectiveness and efficiency. Article 62 Other measures: implementation of the Convention through economic development and technical assistance 1. States Parties shall take measures conducive to the optimal implementation of this Convention to the extent possible, through international cooperation, taking into account the negative effects of corruption on society in general, in particular on sustainable development. 2. States Parties shall make concrete efforts to the extent possible and in coordination with each other, as well as with international and regional organizations: 39 (a) To enhance their cooperation at various levels with developing countries, with a view to strengthening the capacity of the latter to prevent and combat corruption; (b) To enhance financial and material assistance to support the efforts of developing countries to prevent and fight corruption effectively and to help them implement this Convention successfully; (c) To provide technical assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition to assist them in meeting their needs for the implementation of this Convention. To that end, States Parties shall endeavour to make adequate and regular voluntary contributions to an account specifically designated for that purpose in a United Nations funding mechanism. States Parties may also give special consideration, in accordance with their domestic law and the provisions of this Convention, to contributing to that account a percentage of the money or of the corresponding value of proceeds of crime or property confiscated in accordance with the provisions of this Convention; (d) To encourage and persuade other States and financial institutions as appropriate to join them in efforts in accordance with this article, in particular by providing more training programmes and modern equipment to developing countries in order to assist them in achieving the objectives of this Convention. 3. To the extent possible, these measures shall be without prejudice to existing foreign assistance commitments or to other financial cooperation arrangements at the bilateral, regional or international level. 4. States Parties may conclude bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements on material and logistical assistance, taking into consideration the financial arrangements necessary for the means of international cooperation provided for by this Convention to be effective and for the prevention, detection and control of corruption. Chapter VII Mechanisms for implementation Article 63 Conference of the States Parties to the Convention 1. A Conference of the States Parties to the Convention is hereby established to improve the capacity of and cooperation between States Parties to achieve the objectives set forth in this Convention and to promote and review its implementation. 2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall convene the Conference of the States Parties not later than one year following the entry into force of this Convention. Thereafter, regular meetings of the Conference of the States Parties shall be held in accordance with the rules of procedure adopted by the Conference. 3. The Conference of the States Parties shall adopt rules of procedure and rules governing the functioning of the activities set forth in this article, including 40 rules concerning the admission and participation of observers, and the payment of expenses incurred in carrying out those activities. 4. The Conference of the States Parties shall agree upon activities, procedures and methods of work to achieve the objectives set forth in paragraph 1 of this article, including: (a) Facilitating activities by States Parties under articles 60 and 62 and chapters II to V of this Convention, including by encouraging the mobilization of voluntary contributions; (b) Facilitating the exchange of information among States Parties on patterns and trends in corruption and on successful practices for preventing and combating it and for the return of proceeds of crime, through, inter alia, the publication of relevant information as mentioned in this article; (c) Cooperating with relevant international and regional organizations and mechanisms and non-governmental organizations; (d) Making appropriate use of relevant information produced by other international and regional mechanisms for combating and preventing corruption in order to avoid unnecessary duplication of work; (e) Reviewing periodically the implementation of this Convention by its States Parties; (f) Making recommendations to improve this Convention and its implementation; (g) Taking note of the technical assistance requirements of States Parties with regard to the implementation of this Convention and recommending any action it may deem necessary in that respect. 5. For the purpose of paragraph 4 of this article, the Conference of the States Parties shall acquire the necessary knowledge of the measures taken by States Parties in implementing this Convention and the difficulties encountered by them in doing so through information provided by them and through such supplemental review mechanisms as may be established by the Conference of the States Parties. 6. Each State Party shall provide the Conference of the States Parties with information on its programmes, plans and practices, as well as on legislative and administrative measures to implement this Convention, as required by the Conference of the States Parties. The Conference of the States Parties shall examine the most effective way of receiving and acting upon information, including, inter alia, information received from States Parties and from competent international organizations. Inputs received from relevant non-governmental organizations duly accredited in accordance with procedures to be decided upon by the Conference of the States Parties may also be considered. 7. Pursuant to paragraphs 4 to 6 of this article, the Conference of the States Parties shall establish, if it deems it necessary, any appropriate mechanism or body to assist in the effective implementation of the Convention. Article 64 Secretariat 41 1. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide the necessary secretariat services to the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention. 2. The secretariat shall: (a) Assist the Conference of the States Parties in carrying out the activities set forth in article 63 of this Convention and make arrangements and provide the necessary services for the sessions of the Conference of the States Parties; (b) Upon request, assist States Parties in providing information to the Conference of the States Parties as envisaged in article 63, paragraphs 5 and 6, of this Convention; and (c) Ensure the necessary coordination with the secretariats of relevant international and regional organizations. Chapter VIII Final provisions Article 65 Implementation of the Convention 1. Each State Party shall take the necessary measures, including legislative and administrative measures, in accordance with fundamental principles of its domestic law, to ensure the implementation of its obligations under this Convention. 2. Each State Party may adopt more strict or severe measures than those provided for by this Convention for preventing and combating corruption. Article 66 Settlement of disputes l. States Parties shall endeavour to settle disputes concerning the interpretation or application of this Convention through negotiation. 2. Any dispute between two or more States Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Convention that cannot be settled through negotiation within a reasonable time shall, at the request of one of those States Parties, be submitted to arbitration. If, six months after the date of the request for arbitration, those States Parties are unable to agree on the organization of the arbitration, any one of those States Parties may refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice by request in accordance with the Statute of the Court. 3. Each State Party may, at the time of signature, ratification, acceptance or approval of or accession to this Convention, declare that it does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2 of this article. The other States Parties shall not be bound by paragraph 2 of this article with respect to any State Party that has made such a reservation. 4. Any State Party that has made a reservation in accordance with paragraph 3 of this article may at any time withdraw that reservation by notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. 42 Article 67 Signature, ratification, acceptance, approval and accession 1. This Convention shall be open to all States for signature from 9 to 11 December 2003 in Merida, Mexico, and thereafter at United Nations Headquarters in New York until 9 December 2005. 2. This Convention shall also be open for signature by regional economic integration organizations provided that at least one member State of such organization has signed this Convention in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article. 3. This Convention is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. A regional economic integration organization may deposit its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval if at least one of its member States has done likewise. In that instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, such organization shall declare the extent of its competence with respect to the matters governed by this Convention. Such organization shall also inform the depositary of any relevant modification in the extent of its competence. 4. This Convention is open for accession by any State or any regional economic integration organization of which at least one member State is a Party to this Convention. Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Secretary- General of the United Nations. At the time of its accession, a regional economic integration organization shall declare the extent of its competence with respect to matters governed by this Convention. Such organization shall also inform the depositary of any relevant modification in the extent of its competence. Article 68 Entry into force 1. This Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of the thirtieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. For the purpose of this paragraph, any instrument deposited by a regional economic integration organization shall not be counted as additional to those deposited by member States of such organization. 2. For each State or regional economic integration organization ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to this Convention after the deposit of the thirtieth instrument of such action, this Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of deposit by such State or organization of the relevant instrument or on the date this Convention enters into force pursuant to paragraph 1 of this article, whichever is later. Article 69 Amendment 1. After the expiry of five years from the entry into force of this Convention, a State Party may propose an amendment and transmit it to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall thereupon communicate the proposed amendment to the States Parties and to the Conference of the States 43 Parties to the Convention for the purpose of considering and deciding on the proposal. The Conference of the States Parties shall make every effort to achieve consensus on each amendment. If all efforts at consensus have been exhausted and no agreement has been reached, the amendment shall, as a last resort, require for its adoption a two-thirds majority vote of the States Parties present and voting at the meeting of the Conference of the States Parties. 2. Regional economic integration organizations, in matters within their competence, shall exercise their right to vote under this article with a number of votes equal to the number of their member States that are Parties to this Convention. Such organizations shall not exercise their right to vote if their member States exercise theirs and vice versa. 3. An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by States Parties. 4. An amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article shall enter into force in respect of a State Party ninety days after the date of the deposit with the Secretary-General of the United Nations of an instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of such amendment. 5. When an amendment enters into force, it shall be binding on those States Parties which have expressed their consent to be bound by it. Other States Parties shall still be bound by the provisions of this Convention and any earlier amendments that they have ratified, accepted or approved. Article 70 Denunciation 1. A State Party may denounce this Convention by written notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Such denunciation shall become effective one year after the date of receipt of the notification by the Secretary- General. 2. A regional economic integration organization shall cease to be a Party to this Convention when all of its member States have denounced it. Article 71 Depositary and languages 1. The Secretary-General of the United Nations is designated depositary of this Convention. 2. The original of this Convention, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Convention. -- Urvashi Sharma RTI Helpmail( Web Based ) aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com Mobile Rti Helpline 8081898081 ( 8 A.M. to 10 P.M. )