Doha, December 16 (QNA) - The Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) discussed avenues for boosting international cooperation in the field of asset recovery during a session themed: "Global Forum on the Asset Recovery Procedures Chain", within the second day of the Doha conference deliberations.
The forum was organized by the StAR Initiative, in collaboration with the Basel Institute on Governance under the International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR), and the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre (IACCC), with the participation of officials, experts, and representatives of international organizations and bodies concerned with combating corruption.
In addition, the forum explored mechanisms to bolster coordination between requesting and requested countries in global asset recovery cases, alongside the exchange of practical experiences and highlighting progress achieved in this field, contributing to strengthening transparency and accountability and supporting anti-corruption global efforts.
The speakers emphasized that the forum represents an overarching global platform to deliberate on asset recovery issues from a practical perspective through corralling international partners, including the World Bank, as well as government practitioners and financial institutions, to further discuss existing challenges and share the best practices in this field.
The most menacing forms of corruption are represented in plundering the public funds allocated to serving the citizens, the speakers underlined. They pointed out that recovering these funds is of utmost priority not solely to pursue perpetrators, but rather to relay a clear message that impunity is unacceptable.
Head of Delegation and Representative of the Algerian Ministry of Justice, Abdelrazak Ben Salem, affirmed that the Ministry has established an expert committee comprising all relevant sectors, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Treasury, the Directorates of Property, and all competent authorities, to advance a comprehensive strategy for asset recovery and to monitor compensatory measures at both the criminal and civil levels.
Abdelrazak clarified that the committee has created a national database and identified priority countries for collaboration in this domain, while appointing focal points within each diplomatic mission to ensure the speed and efficiency of procedures.
Algeria has submitted 54 recovery requests to 11 countries, focusing on cooperation with European states, particularly France, Spain, Switzerland, and Luxembourg, he noted.
Abdelrazak further elaborated that working with the StAR Initiative, INTERPOL, and other global initiatives has contributed to accelerating asset recovery, emphasizing the Ministry's enduring commitment to recovering public funds and ensuring international justice.
For his part, Deputy Head of the Asset Recovery and Management Unit (ARMU) at the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Justice, Selimat Adesheun Lawal, said asset recovery in Nigeria underscored the importance of operating a robust surveillance mechanism to ensure transparency and prevent exploitation and abuse.
The salient challenges facing recovery are the long delays in the recovery process, which continue for years in most common cases, Lawal highlighted, calling for dedicating professional teams to ensure prompt future recovery.
Furthermore, the participants highlighted the nexus between asset recovery and human rights, stressing the importance of striking a balance between combating corruption and respecting fair trial guarantees, with the announcement of a new publication by the StAR Initiative providing practical guidance for practitioners based on international judicial rulings.
The discussions wrapped up by emphasizing that combating corruption and asset recovery are a collective responsibility that no country can undertake alone, asserting that reinforcing international cooperation, sharing information, and enforcing fair international standards can transform international obligations into concrete results that are beneficial for communities. (QNA)