NCJ Number
237735
Date Published
September 2011
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This report on the fourth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption presents a background paper prepared by the Secretariat on "progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of the Open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on Asset Recovery."
Abstract
The report intends to assist the Conference in its deliberations and in determining the course of action for asset recovery. To date, the Conference and Working Group discussions have related to three main themes: developing cumulative knowledge; building confidence and trust between requesting and requested States; and technical assistance, training, and capacity-building. The Conference and the Working Group have consistently given high priority to the availability, creation, and management of knowledge that relates to asset recovery. The Working Group has called upon States parties to the Convention to offer one another the widest possible mutual legal assistance, especially for the benefit of developing countries, in order to facilitate the return of assets and to enhance the capacity to freeze, seize, and confiscate assets obtained through corruption. The Working Group has also focused on technical assistance, training, and building capacity among the States in the area of asset recovery. Actions taken in relation to the aforementioned three main themes of the Conference and Working Group are reported. Suggestions are offered for additional steps the Conference might take in facilitating the ability of States to design, legislate, and implement efficient systems of asset recovery.