Mexico and the UN Convention against Corruption

Guillermo Hernández Salmerón defines corruption as an illicit activity that affects all sectors of a country, both directly and indirectly, casting doubt on its credibility on an international level. In this respect, corruption represents a tangible obstacle to the development and productivity policies implemented by nations that seek the equality and well being of their citizens. The author believes that these are the reasons the Mexican government has stated that one of its top priorities is to implement a series of strategies and adopt new, more effective instruments to combat corruption on both a national and international level. He explains the role Mexico has played within the framework of the UN Convention against Corruption (Mérida Convention), a project in which the country has assumed a position of leadership, both in the wording of the text and in its promotion. At the High Level Political Conference for the signing of the Convention, held in Mexico on December 2003, in Mérida, Yucatán, comprehensive solutions to the diverse manifestations of corruption experienced by countries around the world were put forward. A year after the Convention came into force, the First Conference of the states party took place in Amman, Jordan, during which Mexico reiterated its commitment and reported on the main actions it has taken to comply. Nonetheless, Hernández Salmerón acknowledges that no matter how great an effort nations make to adapt their legislation, corruption cannot be combated unless the international community fully commits itself to following up on the Convention and enforcing its provisions.