 | Campaign Focal Point | Obert Chinhamo |
| director@anticorruptiontrust.org | ||
| Telephone contact | +263(0)783011963 | |
| +263(0)717152535 |
 | Description of the Issue There are several anti-corruption treaties/conventions that exist at regional, continental and international levels. The most common which ACT-SA has been encouraging SADC Member States to sign, ratify and domesticate include: the SADC Protocol against Corruption, the AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption as well as the United Nations Convention against Corruption. These instruments do not only set standards, and send clear messages that State Parties are determined to prevent and control corruption but they bind State Parties after a process of accession. ‘Accession’ is a demonstration shown by a State agreeing to be legally bound by the terms and conditions of a particular treaty. It binds the same way; ratification binds a State. The major difference with ratification is that it is not preceded by an act of signature. The formal procedure for accession differs according to the national legal and policy requirements of the State. To accede to a treaty, the appropriate national organ of a State follows its domestic approval procedures and makes a formal decision to be a party to the treaty. Then, the instrument of accession is prepared and deposited with the relevant authority. In addition, the treaties warn the corrupt that betrayal of the public trust will no longer be tolerated and they have nowhere to hide because of the unity and cooperation created by the treaties. In this context, ACT-SA advocates for the signing, ratification and domestication of these anti-corruption treaties. To domesticate a treaty, or a convention means to give it the force of law in a country which amends the domestic laws of that country or incorporates the treaty into the domestic laws of the country. |
| What is the proposed solution? |
ACT-SA tracks progress by SADC Member States towards the signing, ratification and domestication of the SADC Protocol against Corruption, the AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption as well as the United Nations Convention against Corruption. It produces reports showing the progress thereof, vis-a-vis the signing and ratification. This is followed by direct contact with SADC Member States to take action.
| What has ACT-SA Done? |
ACT-SA has been tracking progress by SADC Member States since 2007 to date. See Treaty Ratification Tracker for more information. The following are some of the publications produced by ACT-SA.
 | Progress on Signature and Ratification of Anti-Corruption Instruments by SADC Member States: Who is lagging Behind among SADC Member States? | Download |
 | Tracking Progress by SADC Member States in Signing and Ratifying Anti-Corruption Instruments/Treaties | Download |
 | 2020 STATUS OF SIGNATURE AND RATIFICATION OF ANTI-CORRUPTION INSTRUMENTS BY SADC MEMBER STATES: FOCUS ON THE SADC PROTOCOL AGAINST CORRUPTION (SPAC), AU CONVENTION ON PREVENTING AND COMBATING CORRUPTION (AUCPCC) AND THE UN CONVENTION AGAINST CORRUPTION (UNCAC) 14 February 2020 | Download |
 | Report on the Status of Signature and Ratification of Anti-Corruption Corruption Treaties by SADC Member States. | Download |