The dawn of the 21^st century coincided with a number of significant developments in the global fight against transnational crime. The adoption of the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime in 2000, which included an
article on corruption, prompted the development of another unique instrument dedicated to this particular issue. In its resolution no. 584/ adopted in October 2003, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention against Corruption (the UNCAC), as the result of arduous negotiations undertaken by an Ad Hoc Committee formed for this purpose in 2002 and 2003. One
year after the Convention adoption, the Secretary of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Negotiations of the Convention against Corruption explained the background of the Convention adoption in words that still resonate true.