AG/RES. 2222 (XXXVI-O/06) 

COOPERATION AMONG THE MEMBER STATES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION AND IMPUNITY 

(Adopted by the Plenary at its fourth session, held on June 6, 2006)  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 

REAFFIRMING that one of the purposes of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption is to promote, facilitate, and regulate cooperation among the states parties to ensure the effectiveness of measures and actions to prevent, detect, punish, and eradicate corruption in the performance of public functions and acts of corruption specifically related to such performance; 

BEARING IN MIND that, since its inception, the Summits of the Americas process has been concerned with the fight against corruption, and that this topic has merited the attention of our Heads of State and Government; 

            REAFFIRMING THAT transparency in government activities, probity, responsible public administration on the part of governments, respect for social rights, and freedom of expression and of the press are essential components of the exercise of democracy; 

CONVINCED that fighting corruption strengthens democratic institutions and prevents economic distortions, dishonesty in public administration, and the erosion of moral standards in society; 

RECALLING that, in the framework of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption, the member states acknowledged that corruption may have international repercussions that require action by states to combat it effectively and to eradicate impunity; 

REAFFIRMING the need to facilitate international cooperation in fighting corruption and, especially, in taking appropriate measures against persons who commit acts of corruption in the performance of their public duties; 

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT resolution AG/RES. 2022 (XXXIV-O/04), “Joint Efforts of the Americas in the Struggle against Corruption and Impunity,” adopted at the thirty-fourth regular session, held in Quito, Ecuador, from June 6 to 8, 2004; and 

NOTING resolution CJI/RES. 84 (LXVI-O/05), in which the Inter-American Juridical Committee respectively welcomed and adopted the study “Joint Efforts of the Americas in the Struggle against Corruption and Impunity” (CJI/doc. 177/05) and the opinion attached thereto (CJI/doc.181/05 rev. 4),

RESOLVES: 

1.         To reaffirm that fighting corruption and impunity is an essential commitment and a shared duty of the states of the Americas, as a guarantee of the exercise of democracy and the consolidation of its institutions, good governance, and the strengthening of the rule of law, because corruption, whether passive or active, poses a threat to the security of states, undermines public and private institutions, and hinders the development of peoples. 

2.         To call upon member states, in accordance with their domestic laws and applicable treaties, including relevant provisions related to the extradition or nonextradition of nationals, to seek to surrender and extradite accused persons to the requesting state, making it possible to prosecute and, if they are found guilty, to punish those persons for acts of corruption, including those committed in the exercise of public office. 

3.         To call upon member states to effectively enforce the rules of international judicial cooperation, so that extradition and mutual legal assistance will be efficient, expeditious, and effective, through compliance with multilateral and bilateral treaties on extradition and mutual legal assistance.