United Nations Convention Against Corruption

Switzerland is actively involved in worldwide efforts to fight corrupt practices. On 24 September 2009, it ratified the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). With 191 states parties, UNCAC is the only international agreement on combating corruption.

Federal legislation, classified compilation: United Nations Convention Against Corruption (de/fr/it)

UNCAC contains implementation obligations for the states parties in the following areas:

• preventive measures
• criminalisation and law enforcement
• international cooperation
• asset recovery
• technical assistance and information exchange
  

In 2009, a peer review mechanism was established, allowing the implementation of obligations by each member state to be assessed. States are reviewed in five-year cycles covering two chapters and subject areas of UNCAC. Two states parties are randomly selected to assess another state party. 

The review process is mainly based on a self-assessment checklist. The state under review may engage in direct dialogue with the reviewing states and amend, adjust, correct and add information to the self-assessment. The state under review is responsible for finalising the draft country report produced through this process. An executive summary of each final report is published, while other documents may be published on a voluntary basis.

UNODC Country Profiles

An Implementation Review Group (IRG) was established to improve and assist with the review process. It serves as a forum where states parties can share experiences and evaluate country reports.

Implementation Review Group of the United Nations Convention against Corruption

In the first review cycle, Finland and Algeria reviewed Switzerland's compliance with Chapter III 'Criminalisation and law enforcement' and Chapter IV 'International cooperation'. 

In the second cycle, Bangladesh and Sweden reviewed Switzerland's compliance with Chapter II 'Preventive measures' and Chapter V 'Asset recovery'. This review was completed in early 2025.

The FDFA's Prosperity and Sustainability Division is responsible for coordinating the UNCAC review process on behalf of Switzerland. Switzerland's focal point for this process is Urs A. Tschanz, secretary of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Combating Corruption (urs-andreas.tschanz@eda.admin.ch).

Switzerland is committed to ensuring transparency by making all UNCAC documents public. It is also one of the few countries to fully comply with the UNCAC Coalition's Transparency Pledge. Switzerland's UNCAC country profile includes the self-assessment questionnaires, country reports and executive summaries for the first two review cycles.

UNCAC country profile

In addition, the Interdepartmental Working Group on Combating Corruption (IDWG on Combating Corruption) held a workshop on 10 September 2025 to discuss in depth the recommendations made to Switzerland in the second UNCAC review cycle, in line with the Transparency Pledge. Civil society representatives in particular were actively involved in the event, including the Basel Institute on Governance, Public Eye and Transparency International Switzerland.

The IRG is preparing the next review cycle based on a resolution adopted by consensus at the 10th session of the Conference of the States Parties to UNCAC in Atlanta. This forthcoming review will focus more strongly on implementation and follow-up on recommendations made under the country reports. The redesigned mechanism put forward will be adopted by resolution at the 11th session of the Conference of the States Parties in Doha, Qatar.