The decision was adopted by consensus on 6 November 2026 at a special session of the Conference of the States Parties to UNCAC, held in Vienna. The final versions of the documents had previously been agreed upon within the Implementation Review Group.
In particular, the following documents were adopted:
- revised self-assessment checklist – a questionnaire designed for States Parties to provide information on their implementation of the Convention's provisions;
- revised model schedule for country reviews – a document establishing the sequence and timelines for the different stages of the review process;
- simplified blueprint for country review reports – a template outlining the structure of reports presenting the findings of country reviews;
- simplified blueprint for executive summaries – a template outlining the structure of documents summarizing the main findings of country reviews.
The Implementation Review Mechanism has been operational since 2010 and provides for peer reviews of States Parties' implementation of the Convention. Its first phase comprised two review cycles covering criminalization and law enforcement, international cooperation, preventive measures, and asset recovery.
The next phase is expected to place greater emphasis on the practical implementation of anti-corruption commitments, rather than solely on the formal compliance of national legislation with the Convention's provisions.
In particular, the revised documents provide for:
- assessing measures taken in response to previous reviews and their implementation in practice;
- taking into account developments in national anti-corruption systems since previous reviews;
- the possibility of drawing on findings from other international and regional review mechanisms;
- reflecting information on engagement with civil society organizations and other stakeholders in country review documents.
Particular attention is also expected to be given to identifying remaining challenges, good practices, and the technical assistance needs of States Parties.
However, the participation of non-governmental stakeholders and the publication of full country review reports will continue to depend largely on decisions made by the States Parties under review.
Speaking at the session, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Monica Juma emphasized that the next phase should help determine how effectively the laws and institutions established by States Parties to implement the Convention function in practice. Her remarks, along with statements by representatives of States Parties, are available in the video recording of the session and its transcript.
The Global Civil Society Coalition for the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC Coalition) welcomed the adoption of the documents, noting that they provide a foundation for improving the effectiveness and transparency of the Implementation Review Mechanism.
The next phase of the Implementation Review Mechanism is scheduled to begin in May 2027. At the eighteenth session of the Implementation Review Group, the States Parties conducting peer reviews and the review schedule are expected to be determined.
