Corruption is a serious impediment to the rule of law and sustainable development. In the Declaration of the High-level Meeting on the Rule of Law, Member States recognized the negative impact of corruption, which obstructs economic growth and development, erodes public confidence, legitimacy and transparency and hinders the making of fair and effective laws, as well as their administration, enforcement and adjudication
The UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) was adopted by the General Assembly through resolution 58/4 in 2003 and entered into force in December 2005. UNCAC is the first legally binding instrument against corruption. It presents a comprehensive set of standards, measures and rules that all state parties to the convention should apply to strengthen their legal and regulatory regimes to fight corruption. The United Nations provides assistance to Member States in implementing the UNCAC as well as in strengthening capacities to prevent, detect and investigate corruption, and to implement programmes to promote transparency, integrity and accountability in criminal justice and rule of law institutions.