Law enforcement

Article 36 calls upon States parties to ensure the existence of a body or bodies or persons specialized in combating corruption through law enforcement. All but a few States parties have established one or more bodies or specialized departments for this purpose. The reasons for not having created such a body often appear to be related to the small size and population of the States in question (e.g., small island States). Although there is no question that those States are bound by the same legal obligations as all States parties to the Convention, despite generally having smaller administrative capacities and limited resources,78 reviewers tended to acknowledge these limitations and focus on the need to strengthen the independence and capacities of regular criminal justice institutions, in particular the police, judiciary, financial intelligence units and other agencies dedicated to financial investigations.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions