The Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, also known as the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, was adopted on 21 November 1997. The text of the Convention and the Commentaries were signed by ministers and high level representatives of negotiating countries on 17 December 1997.

The international celebration of the tenth anniversary of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, hosted and organised by the Government of Italy and the OECD Working Group on Bribery, provided an important and timely opportunity to foster broader public understanding and support of the Convention.  It also raised awareness about the important progress and changes over the last decade and countries’ commitment to continued joint action. This celebration was a unique occasion to show that State Parties have strengthened their anti-bribery legislation and systems to level the playing field for international business, and how recent increases in foreign bribery investigations and prosecutions testify to a new business environment where unfair, unethical and unlawful behaviour is no longer tolerated.

The tenth anniversary event was divided into three meetings:

• The High Level Conference on “The Tenth Anniversary of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention – Its Impact and Its Achievements” [ English / français ] allowed ministers and other high level officials of State Parties to (re)affirm their commitment to enforcing the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and to continued concerted action against bribery of foreign public officials.
  
  
• The Expert meeting on “The OECD Anti-Bribery Convention: the Road Ahead” [ English / français ] discussed the effectiveness of means adopted to date to ensure detection, investigation and prosecution of foreign bribery offences.
  
  
• The Prosecutors’ meeting on “Detection, investigation and prosecution of foreign bribery” [ English / français ] allowed prosecutors from State Parties to the OECD Convention to discuss ways to overcome difficulties in detecting, investigating and prosecuting foreign bribery.

‌Anti-Bribery Convention Signing Ceremony

17 December 1997

Soon after the Anti-Bribery Convention was adopted on the 21 November 1997, the ministers of the then 29 OECD member and five non-member signatory countries gathered in Paris for the signing ceremony. A diaporama of the signing ceremony is available in PowerPoint or PDF.

‌