Addis V: International Expert Meeting
Two weeks ago we were in Ethiopia for the International Expert Meeting on Asset Return and Sustainable Development, otherwise known as Addis V, co-organised by Switzerland, Ethiopia, UNODC and StAR.
The meeting was an opportunity for practitioners from across the globe to come together to discuss experiences in asset recovery, discuss new policy, and meet in bilateral and multilateral groupings to identify ways to make progress in cases. Importantly, this meeting is grounded in an explicit link between the restitution of the proceeds of corruption and sustainable development.
Several sessions of the conference focussed on country experiences with asset recovery and it was promising to learn that several new cases are underway or likely to be initiated soon and that cooperation between governments on asset recovery is strengthening.
For our work, two documents are likely to have important impacts in how governments engage in international asset recovery.
1) Guidelines for the role of international organisations in asset return
These guidelines, currently under development by StAR, are designed to be a tool for governments to use when considering using an international organisation as part of an international return.
At CiFAR, we have a strong interest in and have in the past contributed to discussions on the role of third parties, such as international organisations, in asset returns. Through policy analysis and recommendations for improvement, we have highlighted the advantages and limitations of these mechanisms. See out reports:
As well as our page on Return Mechanisms.
Planned for release in the coming months, the guidelines aim to set out ideas for when it might be appropriate for international organisations to be involved in a return, as well as at what stage. They also will set out ideas for the ways international organisations could be deployed, including considerations around information disclosure and civil society engagement.
2) A draft template agreement for asset return in support of sustainable development
A second promising discussion was around a potential draft template to be developed for international asset return agreements. The idea here was to explore whether it might be useful to develop a template for an asset return agreement and what some of the features for that might be.
Developments such as these and broader discussions that include civil society and see civil society as a vital part of the asset recovery process are shaping the future of how states recover and restitute the proceeds of corruption. They can help set the ground for asset returns that are more transparent, accountable, participatory and – crucially – learn from previous returns.