OECD Discusses Settlements In Foreign Bribery Cases: Best Practices Likely

The OECD hosted its first ministerial meeting on the Anti-Bribery Convention on 16 March 2016. Topics discussed included the role of negotiated settlements and self-disclosure in achieving justice, and deterrence in foreign bribery cases. Prior to the meeting, four anti-corruption groups recommended adopting various principles that could govern these settlements. In a ministerial declaration issued at the end of the meeting, ministers and representatives of OECD member states encouraged the OECD to study possible best practices for the use of negotiated settlements in foreign bribery cases.

The Convention's member state justice ministers and other representatives discussed the detection and enforcement of bribery and corruption, as well as corporate liability of legal entities for corrupt behaviour. Topics raised in these discussions were the protection of whistle-blowers, international cooperation, and anti-corruption compliance for businesses.