In its eight Chapters and 71 Articles, the UNCAC obliges the States Parties to implement a wide and detailed range of anti-corruption measures affecting their laws, institutions and practices. These measures aim to promote the prevention, detection and sanctioning of corruption, as well as the cooperation between State Parties on these matters. The UNCAC is unique as compared to other conventions, not only in its global coverage but also in the extensiveness and detail of its provisions.

The UNCAC was negotiated over a two-year period at the United Nations office in Vienna by representatives of more than a hundred countries from all regions. The secretariat for the negotiations was the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Representatives of civil society organisations, including Transparency International, also participated in this process. Following the conclusion of the negotiations in October 2003, the text of the Convention was presented for approval by the General Assembly on 31 October 2003. Once approved, it was opened for the states to sign, starting with a signing conference in Merida, Mexico on 9-10 December 2003. (International Anti-Corruption Day on 9 December marks the anniversary of this signing conference.)

The UNCAC was initially signed by 111 countries and, by October 2005, the number had risen to 133. The 30 ratifications required for entry into force of the Convention were reached on 15 September 2005 and the entry into force date is 14 December 2005.