The Follow-up Mechanism for the Implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (MESICIC) is an instrument that allows the Member States of the OAS who have ratified the Convention to promote its implementation and follow up on the commitments agreed to in the Convention. It also facilitates technical cooperation activities; the exchange of information, experiences and best practices; and the harmonization of legislation. The Mechanism is guided by the purposes and principles established in the Charter of the Organization of American States. It thus takes into account the principles of sovereignty, nonintervention, and the juridical equality of the states, as well as the need to respect the Constitution and the fundamental principles of the legal system of each State Party. The MESICIC, headquartered at the Organization of American States, is an intergovernmental mechanism. It is impartial and objective in its operation and in the conclusions that it reaches; operates on the basis of consensus and cooperation; guarantees a fair application and equal treatment among States Parties; does not employ sanctions; and establishes an appropriate balance between the confidentiality and transparency of its activities. States Parties to the Convention that sign on to the Mechanism participate therein.

The MESICIC consists of two bodies: the Conference of States Parties and the Committee of Experts. The Conference of States Parties is the main body of the Mechanism, responsible for determining the general guidelines and directions of the Mechanism within the framework of the purposes and basic principles contained in paragraphs 1 and 2 the Document of Buenos Aires. The Conference of States Parties has the authority and overall responsibility of supervising implementation of the Mechanism and to adopt the decisions it deems appropriate to achieve its objectives, in accordance with Article 2 of its Rules of Procedure. The Committee of Experts is comprised of experts designated by each States Party. This Committee is responsible for technical analysis of the implementation of the Convention, as well as facilitating the activities of technical cooperation within the framework of the Mechanism. Secretariat services are carried out by the Secretariat General of the OAS through the Office of Legal Cooperation of the Department of International Legal Affairs.