On October 31, 2003, the UN General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against Corruption and designated December 9 as International Anti-Corruption Day, marking the date the Convention opened for signature in Mérida, Mexico, from December 9–11 that year. The Convention entered into force in 2005 and has since been joined by around 190 countries, making it one of the most widely embraced international treaties. The day raises awareness of corruption's damaging effects on societies and economies—from wasted public resources to eroded trust in institutions and deepened poverty and inequality. It highlights the Convention's role in criminalizing bribery, trading in influence, and abuse of power, and in strengthening international cooperation to recover stolen assets. Governments and civil society mark the day with awareness campaigns, discussions on transparency and good governance, educational programs for young people on integrity, and reports assessing countries' progress and commitment to the Convention's anti-corruption standards.