The new EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime lacks corruption focus

On 7th December, after years of talks and preparatory works in 2020, the European Council announced the adoption of the new EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. This new sanction regime does not have a specific geographic focus and will allow the EU to target individuals and entities involved in serious human rights violations and abuses across Read more about The new EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime lacks corruption focus[…]

Can international anti-corruption sanctions help advance sustainable development?

On 3rd September 2020 CiFAR participated in the first Global Forum on Illicit Financial Flows and Sustainable Development, organised by the German and Norwegian governments. One of the workshops we organised focused on the potential of international targeted sanctions to fight corruption.

Hunting Saleh’s treasure – CiFAR’s interview with the Zenith magazine

The assets of Yemeni ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was murdered in 2017, are probably distributed among at least 20 countries. The repatriation of the illegally accumulated funds is proving to be particularly tricky. In early 2020, CiFAR published a report Yemen’s Stolen Assets: Past and Future, explaining both some of the challenges that led to Read more about Hunting Saleh’s treasure – CiFAR’s interview with the Zenith magazine[…]

Freeze, confiscate, restore? Swiss ideas for future EU sanctions

This article is drawn from Clara Portela’s report for CiFAR – Sanctioning kleptocrats: An assessment of EU misappropriation sanctions written for CiFAR’s EU Sanctions Watch project. The blog was initially written for the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and can be read in full on their website.  Sanctions for ‘misappropriation’ have proved their worth in forging ties Read more about Freeze, confiscate, restore? Swiss ideas for future EU sanctions[…]

What are the EU misappropriation sanctions and what are we doing about them?

With the help of their corrupt networks, kleptocrats steal billions from their citizens every year. One of the tools the European Union has at its disposal to fight kleptocrats are sanctions that freeze their assets. On 6th of March, at a Brussels event co-organised by our partners at Transparency International EU, CiFAR launched EU Sanctions Watch – Read more about What are the EU misappropriation sanctions and what are we doing about them?[…]

How to ensure a bright future for investigative journalism? – Reflections from the 18th IACC

Over the past few years, we have witnessed over and over again how immensely important and at the same time incredibly dangerous is the work of investigative journalists. To enhance the support for cross-border investigative journalism, in cooperation with the GIZ, we organised a workshop at the 18th International Anti-corruption Conference that took place between 22nd and 24th of Read more about How to ensure a bright future for investigative journalism? – Reflections from the 18th IACC[…]

The NeverEnding Story: the Yanukovych asset recovery

This blog is a part of our Ukraine series – written and researched by Michael Howard. The day Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych fled to Russia in 2014 the entire Ukrainian treasury had a few thousand dollars. During 4 years in power, he and his cronies allegedly looted billions from the country (some say as much as Read more about The NeverEnding Story: the Yanukovych asset recovery[…]