OECD.Newsroom. 29/11/2011. The OECD today invited Colombia to join its Working Group on
Bribery and to accede to the Anti-Bribery Convention. OECD Deputy
Secretary-General Richard Boucher signed an exchange of letters with Colombian
President Juan Manuel Santos at a ceremony in Bogotá, making Colombia the 40th
member of the Working Group on Bribery.
Mr Boucher also conveyed the OECD’s invitation to Colombia to become an
observer of the OECD’s Competition Committee, as well as to adhere to the
Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises and so
become a full participant in the OECD’s Investment Committee.
““As it steps up its investment abroad, it’s important that Colombia has clearly made anti-corruption a top priority,” Mr Boucher said at the signing ceremony. “We are confident that Colombia’s accession to the Anti-Bribery Convention will not only strengthen its ability to fight corruption but it will also strengthen OECD efforts to stamp out bribery and create a level-playing field.”
““As it steps up its investment abroad, it’s important that Colombia has clearly made anti-corruption a top priority,” Mr Boucher said at the signing ceremony. “We are confident that Colombia’s accession to the Anti-Bribery Convention will not only strengthen its ability to fight corruption but it will also strengthen OECD efforts to stamp out bribery and create a level-playing field.”
Colombia will now embark on the domestic legislative processes for
ratification of and accession to the OECD Convention. Like all members of the
Working Group on Bribery, and in accordance with its procedures, Colombia will
undergo detailed reviews of its anti-bribery laws to confirm that they meet the
Convention’s standards, and that they are effectively implemented.
The OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, which entered into force in 1999, outlaws the bribery of foreign public officials in international business transactions. Through country monitoring and extensive peer-led follow-up, the OECD Convention seeks to ensure that the fight against bribery is effective, thus creating a level playing field for fair competition. Since the Convention came into force, 199 individuals and 91 companies have been sanctioned for foreign bribery offenses.
The OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, which entered into force in 1999, outlaws the bribery of foreign public officials in international business transactions. Through country monitoring and extensive peer-led follow-up, the OECD Convention seeks to ensure that the fight against bribery is effective, thus creating a level playing field for fair competition. Since the Convention came into force, 199 individuals and 91 companies have been sanctioned for foreign bribery offenses.
The 34 OECD member countries plus Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria and South
Africa are Parties to the Convention. Russia is also a Member of the Working
Group on Bribery.
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