Switzerland signs convention on corruption
The government has signed a Council of Europe convention on fighting corruption. The Swiss chargé d'affaires, Alain-Denis Henchoz, put his signature to the document in Strasbourg less than two weeks after Switzerland formally approved the text.
The new treaty goes further than existing European agreements on fighting corruption, targeting domestic as well as cross-border corruption.
It requires signatories to take legal action against officials – including foreign officials – members of international organisations and judges who offer or accept bribes.
The terms of the convention also apply to private individuals who offer or accept bribes, or who are involved in money laundering.
The criminal law convention aims to improve international cooperation in the fight against corruption and harmonise legislation in signatory states.
So far it has been signed by 32 states and ratified by nine. Fourteen of the 43 Council of Europe members have to ratify for the convention to come into force. Switzerland is expected to ratify it shortly.
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