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Gateway to Asset Recovery Knowledge |
Knowledge Products
The Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR) is a partnership between the World Bank Group and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) that supports international efforts to end safe havens for corrupt funds. StAR has produced a number of important publications on asset recovery topics, including analytical studies and guidance for practitioners. |
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On the Take - Criminalizing Illicit Enrichment to Fight Corruption: This study provides policy makers, prosecutors, and other practitioners with a better understanding of the features of illicit enrichment. It draws on the preparatory work of international conventions, reviews of existing domestic provisions, and the jurisprudence on illicit enrichment. It is the StAR Initiative's hope that the study will inform the work of decision makers considering adopting an illicit enrichment offense, and assist those implementing illicit enrichment to do so in a way that contributes to effective prosecution, confiscation, and asset recovery.
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A Good Practice Guide for Non-conviction-based Asset Forfeiture: Non-conviction based (NCB) asset forfeiture is a critical tool for recovering the proceeds and instrumentalities of corruption, particularly in cases where the proceeds are transferred abroad. This guide is a practical tool to help countries recover stolen assets. Thirty six key concepts are explored through practical experiences, examples from cases, and excerpts from NCB asset forfeiture legislation. Included in the book and companion CD-ROM are tools that can be used by practitioners, such as samples of cases, investigative forms, court pleadings, and pre-seizure planning guidelines.
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A joint StAR-OECD Publication - Tracking Anti-Corruption and Asset Recovery Commitments: StAR and the OECD have measured the progress of 30 donor countries in meeting their Accra commitments to (1) combat corruption by individuals or corporations, and (2) track, freeze, and recover stolen assets. The report describes challenges in meeting the commitments, as well as good practices and recommendations for countries of origin and destination of stolen assets.
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A joint StAR-OECD Publication - The Identification and Quantification of Proceeds of Bribery: The new StAR and OECD study shows that financial gains from bribery can be accurately calculated and confiscated. The study draws on cases from six countries to show several methods of quantification that are already in use, and challenges the commonly-held perception that calculating the gains made by bribe-paying companies is too complicated.
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StAR Publication - The Puppet Masters: How the Corrupt Use Legal Structures to Hide Stolen Assets and What to Do About It: This new StAR report examines how bribes, embezzled state assets and other criminal proceeds are being hidden via legal structures - shell companies, foundations, trusts and others. The study also provides policy makers with practical recommendations on how to step up ongoing international efforts to uncover flows of criminal funds and prevent criminals from misusing shell companies and other legal entities.
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Asset Recovery Handbook: A Guide for Practitioners provides practitioners with a how-to guide for recovering stolen assets and draws on the experience of a wide range of countries and legal traditions.
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Barriers to Asset Recovery: An Analysis to the Key Barriers and Recommendations for Action recommends eight strategic actions and other recommendations for policy makers, legislators and practitioners.
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Towards a Global Architecture for Asset Recovery, a policy note which identifies some of the measures that national authorities and international bodies can undertake to accelerate the pace of asset return.
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Politically Exposed Persons: Preventive Measures for the Banking Sector combines policy recommendations and good practices aimed at making it harder for corrupt PEPs to launder their money, and make it easier to get stolen assets back.
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Income and Asset Declarations: Tools and Trade-offs provides practical advice and options for countries that want to build effective asset disclosure systems to prevent, uncover and prosecute corruption.
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Laws and Regulations
Laws and regulations from over 175 jurisdictions containing provisions pertinent to the implementation of Chapter V (Asset recovery) of the United Nations Convention against Corruption are available in the UNODC Legal Library.
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Asset Recovery Cases
Asset Recovery Watch launched by the World Bank Group and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's (UNODC) Stolen Asset Recovery (StAR) Initiative, is the first systematic compilation of information on past and current recovery cases involving corruption. Among 75 cases, StAR Asset Recovery Watch features 52 countries of origin of corrupt public officials and 34 jurisdictions from which stolen assets have been recovered since 1980.
http://star.worldbank.org/corruption-cases/arwcases
Asset Recovery Digest
The Digest of Asset Recovery Cases was developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The Digest presents data on both successful and unsuccessful attempts by States to recover proceeds of corruption transferred to foreign jurisdictions, and draws on cases submitted by States, as well as public sources of information. It provides an analysis of past experience, problems faced and lessons learned in the implementation of asset recovery and mutual legal assistance frameworks, particularly Chapter V of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, thus allowing the efficiency and effectiveness of asset recovery efforts to be enhanced.
[Link to come]
Central Authorities and Asset Recovery Focal Points
[Summary and link to come]
Asset Recovery MLA Writer Tool
The Asset Recovery Mutual Legal Assistance Writer Tool was developed by UNODC as part of its legal assistance services and in an effort to help practitioners draft effective and accurate Asset Recovery MLA requests, receive more useful responses and streamline the relevant process. The software also contains Internet links to a wide range of information on treaties, national legislation and contact particulars of central authorities and contact persons for direct communication. It is available free of charge and can be downloaded here.
[Link to come]