Director General/Executive Director
Distinguished participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am delighted to be here to mark the achievements of the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative over the past seven years, and to chart the road ahead for the years to come.
After the UNCAC came into force, it was evident that while we had successfully created the international legal framework, there was more work to be done. States and the international community needed the necessary tools and specialized knowledge to make it work.
It was already clear during the negotiations of the Convention that asset recovery would be a top priority in our common fight against corruption.
As a response, UNODC, in partnership with the World Bank, launched the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative in 2007.
Since then, we have supported countries in establishing effective institutional capacities for asset recovery, adopting the relevant legal tools, and through quiet diplomacy, facilitating the pursuit of concrete asset recovery cases.
StAR has provided requesting countries with case-related support, including through continuous strategic and tactical advice, facilitated direct communication among practitioners in requesting and receiving countries, and offered specific, case-related capacity building.
We have also developed a comprehensive body of specialized knowledge, as well as tools supporting asset recovery practitioners in both developing countries and financial centres.
Last but not least, we have informed the international policy debate and standard setting process with a view to creating a legal and policy environment more conducive to the recovery and return of assets.
Thus far I think we can conclude that we are on the right track.
Now we are embarking on the second cycle of the review of the UNCAC, which will include its chapter on asset recovery.
StAR will remain a key resource available to the international community to support the effective review and implementation of Chapter V of the Convention.
Today's event provides an opportunity to take stock of the achievements, as well as the challenges of the first 7 years of StAR. It brings together StAR clients, partners and supporters to review the progress made and the lessons learned, and will complement an internal review just completed by StAR.
We hope that you will share your experiences in working with StAR, provide feedback and outline your expectations for the future.
In charting the way forward, we depend on your input and guidance to identify the most relevant bottlenecks to the effective implementation of Chapter V of UNCAC, with a view to further refining the services and tools that StAR provides to help tackle these challenges.
I am also glad to say that there is an agreement to extend the StAR Initiative for a further seven years.
Over the previous seven years, we have moved resolutely from trust building to knowledge building to successfully supporting countries in the field of asset recovery.
I look forward to seven more years of working in partnership with the World Bank to make the recovery of stolen assets a global reality, to end impunity, to ensure that the corrupt do not enjoy the proceeds of their crimes, and to return stolen assets to the people who have suffered most from corruption.
But we need your continued cooperation and support to achieve this vision.
Thank you.