Numerous anti-corruption conventions and instruments have been executed during the last 25 years at international and regional level. They play a major role in the fight against corruption, as they require signatory states to take effective action to prevent corruption, and to co-operate with each other in the investigation and prosecution of corruption. The most significant of these conventions are listed below:

Global and Inter-Regional Level

• UN Convention against Corruption
• UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
• OECD Convention on the Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions
• Revised Recommendations of the Council of the OECD on Combating Bribery in International Business Transactions

Africa

• AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption
• SADC Protocol against Corruption
• ECOWAS Protocol on the Fight Against Corruption

Americas

• The Inter-American Convention Against Corruption

Asia

• ADB-OECD Action Plan for Asia-Pacific

Europe

• Council of Europe Criminal Law Convention
• Council of Europe Civil Law Convention
• Resolution (99) 5 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe:Agreement Establishing the Group of States against Corruption
• Resolution (97) 24 of the Committee of Members of the Council of Europe:Twenty Guiding Principles for the Fight against Corruption
• European Union Convention on the Protection of the Communities’ Financial Interests and the Fight against Corruption and two Protocols
• European Union Convention on the Fight against Corruption involving officials of the European Communities or officials of Member States.