General Assembly sets guidelines for talks on new global anti-corruption treaty

In a key move forward in the global fight against corruption, the United Nations General Assembly today set the parameters for negotiations on a new international treaty to deal with the scourge.

In a resolution adopted this morning, the Assembly decided that the ad hoc committee set up to draft the text should use a comprehensive approach that would consider, among other things, sanctions and remedies, protection of witnesses and victims, protection of sovereignty, and preventing and combating the transfer of illegal funds derived from acts of corruption.

The Assembly also decided that the ad hoc committee would be convened this year and next for at least three times, for two weeks each session. Donors were invited to assist the UN in ensuring the full and effective participation of developing countries, particularly the least developed countries, in the work of the ad hoc committee, including by covering local expenses and travel.

In other action today, the Assembly adopted a resolution on implementing the action plan resulting from the 10th UN Congress on crime held in 2000 in Vienna, inviting governments to consider and use the national and international plans as guidance in their efforts to formulate legislation, policies and programmes in crime prevention and criminal justice.

The Assembly also decided to convene a meeting devoted to bridging the digital divide and promoting digital opportunities in the emerging information society. That meeting should be organized in a manner that would help governments and all relevant partners in their preparations for the two phases of the World Summit on the Information Society, to be held in December 2003 and December 2005.

The Assembly also set the times and dates for six plenary meetings and three roundtables for its special session on children, from 8 to 10 May.