A/RES/52/87
Page 2
Recalling that by its resolution 51/191 of 16 December 1996 it adopted the United Nations Declaration
against Corruption and Bribery in International Commercial Transactions,
Recalling also that in its resolution 51/191 it requested the Economic and Social Council and its
subsidiary bodies, in particular the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, to examine ways
to further the implementation of that resolution and the United Nations Declaration against Corruption and
Bribery in International Commercial Transactions, to keep the issue of corruption and bribery in international
commercial transactions under regular review and to promote the effective implementation of that resolution,
Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on action against corruption and bribery1 and of the
report of the Expert Group Meeting on Corruption, held at Buenos Aires from 17 to 21 March 1997,2
Welcoming developments that have advanced international understanding and cooperation regarding
bribery in transnational business, such as the Inter-American Convention against Corruption adopted by the
Organization of American States on 29 March 1996,3 which includes an article on the prohibition of foreign
commercial bribery; the ongoing work of the Council of Europe against corruption, including the elaboration
of several international conventions containing provisions on bribery in international commercial transactions;
the ongoing work of the World Trade Organization to improve transparency, openness and due process in
government procurement procedures; and the ongoing work of the States members of the Organisation for
Economic Cooperation and Development, including, as elements, the agreement to prohibit the tax
deductibility of bribes paid to foreign public officials in international commercial transactions, and the
commitment to criminalize the bribing of foreign public officials in international business transactions,
1. Agrees that all States should take all possible measures to further the implementation of the United
Nations Declaration against Corruption and Bribery in International Commercial Transactions4 and of the
International Code of Conduct for Public Officials;5
2. Urges Member States that have not yet done so to implement relevant international declarations and
to ratify, where appropriate, international instruments against corruption;
3. Also urges Member States to criminalize, in an effective and coordinated manner, the bribery of
public office holders of other States in international commercial transactions, and encourages them to engage,
as appropriate, in programmatic activities to deter, prevent and combat bribery and corruption, for example,
by diminishing institutional barriers through the development of integrated management systems and the
promotion of legal reform, in accordance with their fundamental legal principles in both the public and
private sectors, by encouraging a greater role for citizens in the development of transparent and accountable
government, by supporting the active participation of non-governmental organizations in the identification,
planning and implementation of initiatives that raise ethical standards and practices in both government and
business transactions and by providing training and technical assistance to other States, as appropriate, and
to develop and implement standards of good governance, in particular, accountability and transparency,
legitimate commercial and financial conduct and other anti-corruption measures;
4. Requests the Secretary-General to invite each Member State to provide a report on steps taken to
implement the provisions of the Declaration, including those dealing with criminalization, effective sanctions,
1
E/CN.15/1997/3.
2
E/CN.15/1997/3/Add.1, annex.
3
See E/1996/99.
4
Resolution 51/191, annex.
5
Resolution 51/59, annex.
/...