The International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities was founded at the conclusion of a special meeting held at the UN Office in Vienna on 19-20 April 2006, attended by 40 experts from over 20 countries.

The establishment of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities was initiated at the High-Level Political Conference for the Purpose of Signing the UN Convention against Corruption in Merida, Mexico in December 2003, and has since received enthusiastic support among the various anti-corruption authorities in many countries, such as Argentina, Azerbaijan, Australia, Botswana, Brunei, Fiji, France, India, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Malaysia, Namibia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, Uganda, United Kingdom, Uruguay, United States of America, and Venezuela, etc., as well as the assistance of the United Nations, UNODC at Vienna.

Among the objectives of the Association is the promotion of the effective implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption, adopted by the General Assembly on 30 December 2003 and entered into force on 14 December 2005, as well as the assistance of anti-corruption authorities internationally in the fight against corruption. The Association will seek consultative status with the United Nations.

During the meeting the Executive Director of UNODC, Mr. Antonio Maria Costa, declared the United Nations’ as well as his full support for the creation of such Association. Also all the participants, including the International Association of Prosecutors and the Asia Crime Prevention Foundation, declared their unanimous support to the establishment of the IAACA.

The daft constitution of the IAACA has been discussed and reviewed in the two-day meeting. The IAACA will be inaugurated at its first General Meeting at Beijing, 22-26 October 2006, hosted by the Prosecutor General’s Office – Supreme People’s Procuratorate of China.